How to use a multi-timbral VSTi in Mulab?

[Veronica1965]

I've recently installed the multi-timbral Versilian Chamber Orchestra. I tried to use it in Mulab, but I could only hear Channel 1, the flute. I haven't used one of these before. Does anyone know how to set up the MIDI channels so that I can use all of the sounds at once? I've tried to figure it out, but I really have little practical knowledge of MuLab. I'm used to recording on 4-track or 8-track cassette, and I've only used MuLab to plug-and-play the VSTIs, so I don't understand most of the controls and will need step-by-step instructions. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[MuTools]

Create mutiple tracks, all pointing to that same VST, but each track targetting a different channel.

In detail:

* Click [+] track button
* Drag-drop the VST rack name on the track. This will make the track play that VST rack.
* Right-click the track -> Choose MIDI Channel -> Set it to any channel you want to use.

Same for other tracks/channels.

[Veronica1965]

Thanks very much for the help! I'll try that.

[Veronica1965]

I tried it. When I clicked + to add track, I had to choose between instrument, audio, etc. I chose the plain 'add track' option, dragged and dropped the rack, and chose the channels. Still can't hear anything but the flute on channel 1.

[MuTools]

You can insert a Event Monitor before the VST so to check that the events effectively have the right channel. If not, then you might have to double-check things.
Attached a very simple project that demonstrates how to use different channels for the same plugin module. In this example the Basic Synth is not a multi-timbral synth but that doesn't matter, it's about the principle of sending events on multiple channels, see the Event Monitor.

[Veronica1965]

Thanks again. I'll give it a try.

[Veronica1965]

How do I insert an event monitor? I can't seem to find those controls.

[MuTools]

Here are the docs: http://www.mutools.com/info/docs/

I also recommend watching the tutorial movies: https://www.youtube.com/mutools

[Veronica1965]

I was trying the docs earlier, but it didn't help. I read that events can be monitored by using the List Editor, but despite repeated searches I can't find anything on how to turn the list editor on, where to find the list editor, what an event is, or how to start an event.

[BlackWinny]

I was trying the docs earlier, but it didn't help. I read that events can be monitored by using the List Editor, but despite repeated searches I can't find anything on how to turn the list editor on, where to find the list editor, what an event is, or how to start an event.

To understand, here is an example.

1. Open Mulab with "New" to begin a new project.

We shall do extremely simple. We shall simply survey the events coming from the keyboard, it will be our example.

2. At the top of Mulab, click the button "Modular".

You see graphically the most simple basis which is the same for all the projects.

3. Now, somewhere on the area (where you want at an empty room), preferentially below the object named "Master" click with the right button of your mouse. A menu opens. In this menu, choose "Add module". A new menu appears. In this menu, open the group "Mutools", then "Modules", then "Event processors", then choose "Event Monitor". It puts a new object, named "Event Monitor" at the place where you had opened the menu. You can see that this "Event monitor" has a blue connector at its top and another blue connector at its bottom.

In Mulab and MUX, blue connectors are connectors for events, while red connectors are connectors for audio.

4. With your mouse select the blue connector which is at the top or the Event Monitor, don't release the mouse button but move the mouse toward one of the blue connectors which are at the bottom of the "Master", then only now release the button of the mouse. You see now a cable linking a "event output" of the Master to a "event input" of the "Event Monitor".

5. Now double-click the object named "Event Monitor". A white screen appears.

6. Now press a key on your musical keyboard or on the virtual keyboard at the top of the Mulab screen. You can see the MIDI events (which are some of the innumerable events occurring in a patch) which are sent by your keyboard.

For example if you press the musical key C4 and keep the key pressed, you can watch a line appearing:
Note, Chan 1, C4, 127.0

It means "On the MIDI channel number 1, I (it is the Monitor who is talking) receive an event "Note On" (told by the number "127.0") coming from the key C4.

7. Now release the key C4 of your keyboard. You can now watch a new line appearing:
Note, Chan 1, C4, 0.0

It means "On the MIDI channel number 1, I receive an event "Note Off" (told by the number "0.0") coming from the key C4.


Ok ?

This was the most simple example to do to learn how works the "Event Monitor".


It is that way that you can monitor all the MIDI events produced in your patch or at the output of any VST instrument or MIDI controller as long as there are MIDI events outed by these elements. It means that not only you must put your monitor events (you can put as many as you want in your patch to debug it) at the right places to watch the right events but you must also know how to interpret, how to read the MIDI events.


Now why is there an event output at the bottom of the Event Monitor ? Simply because the Event Monitor sends "as is" to its output what comes into its input. That way you can insert one of these monitors between the output of an upstream element and the input of a downstream other element. This output of the Event Monitor is purely optional, personally I never use it.

[Veronica1965]

Thank you! This is just the sort of explanation I need. I'll try it out, thanks again.

[Veronica1965]

I was able to successfully set up an event monitor. Still can't get any sound out of this VSTi except for flute, though. Something tells me I'm in far over my head.

[BlackWinny]

I'm gonna try tomorrow (currently it is three o'clock in the morning here in France and I begin to yawn) with Versilian Chamber Orchestra to see what is exactly the problem that you face, and if it is solvable I'll show you (graphically) how to do.

Give us an important precision : do you have the version 1 or the version 2 of Versilian Chamber Orchestra ?

And did you take it in the original website (here) or by BigCat ? Because the version made by BigCat is NOT multi-timbral as it is written here (at the chapter "Did you know...") in the original website.

So : do you have the version 1 or the version 2 ? And where did you download it ?


For the moment... for me, time to sleep.



Cheers!
Jacques

[BlackWinny]

Impossible to sleep, the issue was too much running through my head... so I reopened my computer.

And eventually, I think I have found the problem : Q. How do I switch instruments in VSCO 1?

Look at what is written in pale grey in the chapter and as say all the younger people : LOL !

Conclusion : forget this crap, because it means that they haven't even tested it before having begun to distribute it!
If you want other orchestras, we're gonna see together if you agree. Even for free orchestras...

[Veronica1965]

Hi again!
Please don't lose sleep over it--I'll find other orchestras, lol. But to answer your question above, I am not sure which version it is. I took it from this page here: http://vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=VSCO&id=1891 and it doesn't specify whether this is version 1 or 2. I tend to think it's 1 because of that. Thanks for the FAQ page.