Unify 2 released

[dionenoid]

There is no issue loading VST3's inside of Unify and no issue running Unify itself as a VST3. I think people are confusing that with the fact that the "Unified" external plugin libraries like the Diva patch library use the VST2 version of the plugin and not the VST3 version.

Unify 1 can load VST3's, but can not use VST3 features like for example VST3 presets, auto migration, dynamic bypass, auto macros, and more such basic stuff.

Unify 1 itself can run as VST3 but also doesn't support any of these features.

Hence my question : Did this change with this update ? There's zero information about it.

[macmoffatt]

I think dionenoid meant loading VST3 inside Unify?
I gathered that from his reply. I am mainly a Logic user. I have in the last few hours loaded VST3 plugins into Reason 13, Fl Studio and Unify2 to compare them.All work exactly the same as far as I can see, in Cubase it may be a different ball game I haven't used that since version 4.
I think Unify 2 is a really good product so far, what did I get for $ 49
Audio in - as many as my Audio Interface can handle, not tried that in a DAW.
Audio out - as many as my Audio Interface can handle, tried that in a DAW 16 outs = 8 stereo in Logic, Ace !
what is more I can record the outputs within Unify together or separate stems, midi the same.
A load of features and parameter improvements I will probably never use.
Plus a mega sample bonus Library and read above, I Think its magic, been waiting a long time for this. further comments see above
This is my honest opinion after today, others are entitled to have their own opinions

[dune_rave]

Unify2 finally got the gui it deserves.
I have this drag and drop problem with windows, but that was good i was able to browse the 4 files of the factory content.
I was thinking whether its possible to save the chosen background image....iirc i had to set it again after restarting...will check again next time.
One more thing: somehow i was not able to insert the new sequencer in one step / first i inserted an empty midi track, then i managed to load the sequencer

[Dewdman42]

I got all excited by Unify when I found it thinking it could be a software replacement for Kore, but it's missing the main feature that eludes me for live performance, a patch change ability to quickly switch from one complete chain of instrument and X to the next like Kore could do. So far it looks like Unify 2 also cannot instantly change from one to the next.

Yea I don't think that feature made it in, but I also agree with you to a certain degree its a needed feature..or maybe not. I also was left slightly disappointed by Unify1 for certain things, hopeful about Unify2 but they didn't deliver what I need either, so given the $50 price for upgrade I am going to wait a year and see what they do, if ever.

Regarding your use case, I don't know if you're on Mac or PC...and I'm not familiar with the details of gig performer for PC, but on MainStage they basically handle this so you don't need PC changes going to the actual plugin. MainStage itself can receive a PC midi message and that selects a MainStage patch. A MainStage patch will have a plugin and current preset settings loaded. So basically that will do what you want without any plugin needing to be able to receive PC messages. I would ASSUME that Unify saves its current state with its host's setup, if you load unify into a project and save, that state of unify is saved. So anyway what you want to do, you could do with Unify1 and MainStage. I can't speak for Gigperformer.

If you can't use MainStage because you're wanting to use Ableton as the main hosting app....then I could see why you'd wish for Unify to be able to receive the PC messages and map them to specific presets. In my experience the folks at PluginGuru have a bit myopic view about what Unify should do, which is centered around PluginGuru selling a lot of patch libraries. I know they have not even understood my requests related to orchestra articulation switching concerns, much less shown any interest to address some simple features that would provide more utilitarian support for that. And Unify2 indeed did not add anything I personally wanted in that area. There are SOOOO many areas related to live performance I doubt that they will go down that rabbit hole, their focus is on monster patching making platform and not catering to every live performance automation scenario and given their myopic view, I doubt they will even think about it. If you do that then everyone will want it to be come an alternative to gig performer or MainStage and ask for a million things.

But if Ableton is supposed to be about live performance I would think it ought to have the ability to select a patch or scene or plugin chain with a PC command, and that Ableton patch would then have the right Unify instance in it, just like can be done with MainStage. But I don't know anything about Ableton Live. Anyway I feel your pain, I doubt Unify2 is going to bring that.

[mutagen]

Did anyone get an incomplete download of part 4 of the Library?

Mine was oddly named but seemed to import properly.

When i imported the last part, it did not show the samples uploaded like the other parts.

Did you have the same experience?

Mine had the loading bar and the success message but apparently there was a problem, there's a newer download for part 4 in the user area now.

[machinesworking]

But if Ableton is supposed to be about live performance I would think it ought to have the ability to select a patch or scene or plugin chain with a PC command, and that Ableton patch would then have the right Unify instance in it, just like can be done with MainStage. But I don't know anything about Ableton Live. Anyway I feel your pain, I doubt Unify2 is going to bring that.

Yeah, years ago Ableton sort of took refuge in their Rack system, where basically you can switch between different racked plugins, the issue being it doesn't really release CPU back to Live, which Kore did. I have set up elaborate clips in Live that would turn off power in the clip that was just playing etc. via PC or other midi messages, but it's just not elegant, and the on/off nature of the setup runs into some issues. Might be worth addressing again since it's been forever since I tried it, things could be better now.

What would be the best is if Mainstage could be instantiated in Logic or other DAWs as an AUi. Since like you mention you can already change patches in Mainstage with midi messages. That's not going to happen though.

[Dewdman42]

so BlueCatAudio patchwork can assign incoming PC (bank message also required), to patchwork presets. You could hypothetically put a bunch of presets together in patchwork which have just a single unify plugin and then basically you could get that work, but its kind of annoying to have the instruments 3 levels deep below Ableton. Or you could just use Patchwork and forget Unify. Unify is a bit more pleasing GUI to work for putting complex layered patches together and provides a lot of keyboard zoning features and stuff that would not be trivial directly in patchwork.

Unfortunately Patchwork is currently setup with factory presets on bank #0, which I find annoying, but it is what it is. Potentially you could just move all the factory presets to some other place, in order that you're own presets would be on bank#0 and so no bank message needed. Otherwise you have bank#1 and up for user presets in patchwork.

[Dewdman42]

One of the nice things about MainStage is also you have the choice set things up so that if you for example have a bunch of sample based patches, they can all be loaded ahead of time so that changing patches is "instant". If using unify or patchwork presets, it would not be instant for large patches requiring stuff to be loaded, especially sample based but even just loading plugins takes time.

[trusampler]

Unify 2 - if i go to plugin page - right click - tell it to remove certain plugins - but then rescan plugins, it still tries to scan the ones I just told it not to use..

what's the point in that ?

[Dewdman42]

submit bug report to them. it should have a "reset" feature to reset the full list when needed, or else always continue to ignore the ones you are wanting to hide or ignore, yet scan for anything else new. There will probably be a lot of bug fixes in coming months, IMHO

[IvyBirds]

What would be the best is if Mainstage could be instantiated in Logic or other DAWs as an AUi. Since like you mention you can already change patches in Mainstage with midi messages. That's not going to happen though.

You have been able to do exactly that in Gig Performer for a while now using the Gig Performer Relayer plugin. Essentially you load the GP Relayer as an AU and then you can send audio and/or MIDI from Logic to Gig Performer or from Gig Performer to Logic and even round trip both

There is a VST3 version for DAWs that support VST3 also

[trusampler]

right on, yes they've emailed me back, thanks !

[HydrogenHuman]

I've always had this weird issue since Unify V1 where the patches will all disappear every time I load up the plugin for the first time after turning on my computer, and loading up my DAW.

I'm able to get all the patches back by rebuilding, but I never understood why that was happening in the first place. Same issue happens with V2.

[zeph]

Did anyone get an incomplete download of part 4 of the Library?

Mine was oddly named but seemed to import properly.

When i imported the last part, it did not show the samples uploaded like the other parts.

Did you have the same experience?

Mine had the loading bar and the success message but apparently there was a problem, there's a newer download for part 4 in the user area now.

Thanks so much for your update.

I can not download part 4 again - as I used up my number of downloads - VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!!!

Do you mind providing a link to this file?

Thanks

[dune_rave]

Ahhhh, man... When I load a new preset as a new UNIFY layer (In Reaper), these new unify layers are not even audible !!!!!!!!!! Anyone else had this problem or just me?
---> I also encounter with this problem in FlStudio2025