I currently use Native Instruments B4 for live playing, using the standalone program. However, I'd also like to use soundfonts, via sfz. I'd like to have different instruments set up on different MIDI channels so I can switch between them easily from my MIDI keyboard.
Thanks!
Best VSTi host for live use?
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- KVRian
- 500 posts since 13 Oct, 2004 from Durham, NC USA
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- KVRist
- 34 posts since 16 Mar, 2004 from Berlin
hi learjeff,
try out ERA or EST. Both are powerful step-sequencers, which have been designed for live-use. Especially ERA let you trigger all your gear (VST's and hardware) and has many really cool live-features.
Demo's are available.
Visit the forum:
http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=39
Bye
Holger
try out ERA or EST. Both are powerful step-sequencers, which have been designed for live-use. Especially ERA let you trigger all your gear (VST's and hardware) and has many really cool live-features.
Demo's are available.
Visit the forum:
http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=39
Bye
Holger
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- KVRAF
- 2321 posts since 23 Mar, 2004 from Two lower than LS6
I think that the two best hosts are Ableton live and EnergyXT.
I prefer EnergyXY as it is:
- Waaay cheaper than Ableton
- You can do more routing in it
- Its far more fun!!
It will probably be more up your street as well if you are going to use it more for playing live than triggering audio (which you can do as well!)
I prefer EnergyXY as it is:
- Waaay cheaper than Ableton
- You can do more routing in it
- Its far more fun!!
It will probably be more up your street as well if you are going to use it more for playing live than triggering audio (which you can do as well!)
Phil
"The fool who persists in his folly will become wise" - William Blake
*No more band for me* | **My Host**
"The fool who persists in his folly will become wise" - William Blake
*No more band for me* | **My Host**
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- KVRAF
- 1619 posts since 19 Aug, 2004 from Toronto
I'm a Plogue Bidule fan.
I like the way multiple instrument controls can be linked to each other. You could, for instance, set it up to have C3 on your midi keyboard trigger 5 different things, or have a virtual knob in one VSTi adjust various parameters in a variety of other plugins at the same time.
This kind of functionality, to me, makes it ideally suited to live and/or perfomance based experimentation.
I highly recommend it.
SIDE NOTE: I often use Axxeom's Trollo VSTi in Bidule to assign midi functions to my mouse and/or keyboard. There are many similar devices, but I find this one works well (it continues working when it's window is not in focus and it's very flexable).
I like the way multiple instrument controls can be linked to each other. You could, for instance, set it up to have C3 on your midi keyboard trigger 5 different things, or have a virtual knob in one VSTi adjust various parameters in a variety of other plugins at the same time.
This kind of functionality, to me, makes it ideally suited to live and/or perfomance based experimentation.
I highly recommend it.
SIDE NOTE: I often use Axxeom's Trollo VSTi in Bidule to assign midi functions to my mouse and/or keyboard. There are many similar devices, but I find this one works well (it continues working when it's window is not in focus and it's very flexable).
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 500 posts since 13 Oct, 2004 from Durham, NC USA
Thanks, guys! I'll have to check those out.
BTW, I left out something really important -- I'm a penny-pinching cheapskate. Are any of these affordable, that is, under $50? Or better yet, free?
I don't think I need something with lots of powerful options and fancy features. Just MIDI data in, fed to VSTs based on MIDI channel.
BTW, I left out something really important -- I'm a penny-pinching cheapskate. Are any of these affordable, that is, under $50? Or better yet, free?
I don't think I need something with lots of powerful options and fancy features. Just MIDI data in, fed to VSTs based on MIDI channel.
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
For playing live, as if your soft synths were hardware keyboards, I recommend brainspawn forte. It's not a DAW, not a sequencer, doesn't record, doesn't play back -- just holds instruments and effects and lets you use them with a great deal of flexibility.
http://www.brainspawn.com/products/forte/
Costs $130, but if you want a streamlined, powerful host that doesn't add junk you don't need, forte is the bee's knees, cat's pajamas, and orang-utan's eyebrows. And more. There's a downloadable demo -- won't save racks and drops audio out periodically, but AFAIK it has all the other functionality of the full version.
Meffy
[edit] Windows only, I'm afraid. Them's the breaks.
http://www.brainspawn.com/products/forte/
Costs $130, but if you want a streamlined, powerful host that doesn't add junk you don't need, forte is the bee's knees, cat's pajamas, and orang-utan's eyebrows. And more. There's a downloadable demo -- won't save racks and drops audio out periodically, but AFAIK it has all the other functionality of the full version.
Meffy
[edit] Windows only, I'm afraid. Them's the breaks.
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- KVRist
- 209 posts since 25 Jun, 2004 from New England
check out chainer! it $60 and rock solid. you can create a separate 'rack' of instruments and effects per midi channel (up to ten midi channels). you can also automate things like muting, panning and volume. you can also record the output as a wave file.
you can find it here.
http://www.xlutop.com/html/chainer.html
you can find it here.
http://www.xlutop.com/html/chainer.html
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TechnoWeeniePas TechnoWeeniePas https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=27990
- KVRist
- 411 posts since 2 Jun, 2004 from Colorado
Why not take a look at something like V-stack. Its not free but if your just wanting multiple VSTs for live use seems to fit the bill. If you just want one running check out MiniHost.
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- KVRAF
- 1703 posts since 19 Apr, 2003 from Copenhagen, Denmark
Vaz 2010
A superb VSTi host.
And you will get the best analog sounding VSTi at the same time.
A superb VSTi host.
And you will get the best analog sounding VSTi at the same time.
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- KVRAF
- 2548 posts since 7 Jul, 2003 from Huntington, WV
I would suggest brainspawn forte, or perhaps Chainer, if you are using WinXP. Forte is very stable, and has the advantage that it is still supported and under development. The person who developed Chainer has dropped continued developement of that project.
If you are using Win98SE, then I would suggest Chainer. It's a good program. It just isn't ever going to be updated in the future. Unfortunately, Forte doesn't run under Win98SE.
take care,
McLilith
If you are using Win98SE, then I would suggest Chainer. It's a good program. It just isn't ever going to be updated in the future. Unfortunately, Forte doesn't run under Win98SE.
take care,
McLilith
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- KVRAF
- 8389 posts since 11 Apr, 2003 from back on the hillside again - but now with a garden!
..just to add another: Console..
Which is a modular VST host, and does DX/DXi as well, also offers itself as a VST/VSTi/DX/DXi to your main DAW...
I like it
DSP
Which is a modular VST host, and does DX/DXi as well, also offers itself as a VST/VSTi/DX/DXi to your main DAW...
I like it
DSP
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- KVRAF
- 3364 posts since 16 Feb, 2004 from atop a katamari
here, i direct you to THIS post for some ideas, and a guide on how to get it working in eXT...
http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic. ... di+channel
i hope that this helps you
http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic. ... di+channel
i hope that this helps you
Kick, punch, it's all in the mind.