Controlling a VST instrument with another VST (such as Ripchord)?

[jonatello]

Some VST's out there, like this one I'd like to test out called Ripchord (a plugin for exploring chord progressions), are built to be able to control other instruments in your DAW. It spits out midi to the other instrument VST, and the chords can be recorded on the chosen instrument's midi track. What's the proper way of connecting a "controller plugin" like that to an instrument plugin?

I'm guessing it probably has something to do with channels or ports, and this is a total blind spot for me, not sure where to begin wrapping my head around it.

[whyterabbyt]

Its different from one DAW/host to another.

[whyterabbyt]

misread, sorry.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Simplest use is probably to just place it in front of your VST. Incoming midi notes would be processed by ripchord and then forwarded onto the vst instrument. Presumably automation could be recorded to capture any notes or changes to settings in Ripchord. This will regenerate the "created" midi each time you use it - which may and may not be identical each time (sort of like an arpeggiator - is the chosen mode/algorithm fixed or random...).

Next would be to place it on a track of its own, and send the output of the Ripchord track onto another track where the instrument is. I *think* those notes are then considered incoming note events, and can then be recorded onto the destination track. Make sure you arm/disarm that destination track when you actually INTEND to record/re-record content there.

[avid_d]

In situations where you may want a VST note generator sending to separate VSTs, the solution I use is to use create a rack with no VST in it but just linking the midi in to the midi out. Place an instance of this rack after your note generator VST and copy it to be in front of each of your instrument VSTs placed on separate tracks. Each VST instrument will then receive the midi note data. (Create this midi in/out rack once and save it for future use).

There is a rack utility within Waveform called (I think) something like midi channel splitter. This allows you to block/open specific midi channels. This can be useful for a multi-channel note generator (like Instacomposer), so that you can set up different VST tracks to receive the different channel data.

There are other ways to achieve all this, but I find this set up pretty quick. I hope this may be helpful.

[Peter Widdicombe]

That sounds useful for a live performance. Pretty sure that method would NOT capture the generated MIDI in a "studio"-type environment where you were making multiple takes and wanted to preserve several for comparison, unless you were capturing the audio itself.

[Watchful]

Indeed, that's a very cool technique, Avid_d!

[jonatello]

Hey everyone, thank you so much for these in-depth and thoughtful replies! I found a way that seems to work so far, and maybe you all can tell me if there's any unintentional consequences in store for me by doing it this way:

i load one track with the Ripchord vst (or other generator VST), i load a different track with the instrument VST. ...then, on the left side of the instrument's track, i right-click where you can arm it to record and choose the input device..."Route MIDI from track" and select the Ripchord track. Then, when i use the ripchord VST, the i can hear it playing out of the instrument on the other track, and the midi records to that track.

it was actually way easier than i expected lol

[Watchful]

That's a great way to do it. And if you want to complicate it further, you can take a third track, set its input to be the output of the instrument track, arm it, and record the audio for yourself for later processing and editing.

That gives you Ripchord, the MIDI track, and the audio all flowing together.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Yeah, you can PLAY with it all on one track, but if you are changing settings on the fly and want to RECORD that, the distinct track to capture the MIDI output from the generator will then play it the same every time; but you can then change the instrument/patch or other settings with a consistent input.

[jonatello]

That's a great way to do it. And if you want to complicate it further, you can take a third track, set its input to be the output of the instrument track, arm it, and record the audio for yourself for later processing and editing.

That gives you Ripchord, the MIDI track, and the audio all flowing together.

woah! lol that's exciting, and could be really fun/useful, thanks!

[jonatello]

Yeah, you can PLAY with it all on one track, but if you are changing settings on the fly and want to RECORD that, the distinct track to capture the MIDI output from the generator will then play it the same every time; but you can then change the instrument/patch or other settings with a consistent input.

ah good point

[Peter Widdicombe]

Most things there are 2 or 3 ways to accomplish; but they all have different side effects - some desired, some not. Try to understand what they are doing, so you can find the one most appropriate for your workflow. Try to be aware of the advantages/disadvantages of each/several...