KVR Audio

Lixx · Post by **Lixx** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 9:10 pm

Does anyone know if there's a way to add addition midi fx plugins to sonar 3? Or at the very least pass midi data through a midi plugin, to a vst plugin ? Basically, i'm trying to use a chord generating midi plugin on a vsti but can't get it to work as Sonar seems to ONLY recognize audio plugins.

dougsyo · Post by **dougsyo** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 9:31 pm

Lixx wrote:Does anyone know if there's a way to add addition midi fx plugins to sonar 3? Or at the very least pass midi data through a midi plugin, to a vst plugin ? Basically, i'm trying to use a chord generating midi plugin on a vsti but can't get it to work as Sonar seems to ONLY recognize audio plugins.

One short answer: get EnergyXT. It allows this and much more.

I don't believe that MIDI-generating VSTI (as opposed to MFX) work as-expected in Sonar, as the Cakewalk wrapper doesn't have a MIDI out to catch the output MIDI. DirectIXer (the "other" wrapper) offers a virtual MIDI output port to capture MIDI out from VSTI like Groove Agent.

Doug

Sepheritoh · Post by **Sepheritoh** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 9:37 pm

Yes you can. There are many installed with your Sonar and you can get many more very good ones from Markleford @ tencrazy.com and Musiclab.

Markleford · Post by **Markleford** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 11:41 pm

SONAR cannot use VST-based MIDI-generating plugins (such as the various SynthEdit creations out there). It uses MFX plugins natively, instead.

Place the MFX plugin in the controlling MIDI track, not the audio track. But your chord-generating plugin will have to use the MFX spec to do this.

- m

Lixx · Post by **Lixx** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:13 am

I don't quite understand this whole mfx thing? What exactly is it and how does it relate to my chord generating midi plugin? Sorry if that's a stupid question

dougsyo · Post by **dougsyo** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:26 am

Lixx wrote:I don't quite understand this whole mfx thing? What exactly is it and how does it relate to my chord generating midi plugin? Sorry if that's a stupid question

Well, you said "addition midi fx plugins". There really is a type of DirectX plugin called a MFX - that is a "Midi Effect". Rhythm & Chords is an example of one that came with some Sonar versions. These would do things like chords, strumming, etc. Markleford distributed additional ones at http://www.tencrazy.com/gadgets/

But if by "midi fx", you mean something like Topaz' chorder or programs from Tobybear's Midibag, those are "MIDI plugins" or "MIDI effects" - but not "MFX". I don't believe the Sonar DX wrapper can translate these into MFX-type plugins.

In order to drive a VSTI by them, I would use EnergyXT - insert EnergyXT, insert midi plugin, insert desired vsti, connect the wires, you're set.

Doug

Lixx · Post by **Lixx** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:06 pm

Thank you Doug!!

Lixx · Post by **Lixx** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 3:49 am

damnit........this seems more complicated then it sounded doug. Do i need to get the midxt and vstnetmid plugins to get this to work? Also, do i load energyxt as an fx or vsti plugin?

dougsyo · Post by **dougsyo** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:22 am

Lixx wrote:damnit........this seems more complicated then it sounded doug. Do i need to get the midxt and vstnetmid plugins to get this to work? Also, do i load energyxt as an fx or vsti plugin?

First, you don't need midxt or vstnetmid. Those were just some examples I gave of "VST that output MIDI effects" (as opposed to MFX).

(1) Load EnergyXT as a VSTI, because your input is MIDI and your output is audio.
(2) Load your chord plugin.
(3) Load your VST instrument.
(4) Connect the MIDI in to your chord plugin.
(5) Connect the MIDI out of your chord plugin to the MIDI in of your VST instrument
(6) Connect the audio out of your VSTI instrument to the master out.
(7) Play. You can treat the whole assembly (from the host perspective) as one unit, evan though you can tweak the individual components.

If you want to make sure things are working, connect the MIDI in directly to the instrument first... then disconnect that, insert the chord plugin and make the new connections.

You'll find the EnergyXT is a wonderful asset to most hosts - it has its own chord and arpeggio tool, you can use it to layer multiple plugins (say DaHornet and FreeAlpha), etc.

Doug

redhanded97 · Post by **redhanded97** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:24 am

Hey Doug, you make a great sales pitch for EnergyXT. You certainly got my interest going. Is there a demo version out?

ew · Post by ew » Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:28 pm

Sure there's a demo-the only difference between the demo and registered versions is that it won't load XT presets(you can save them,though).
Go here to download it.
ew

Help with Sonar 3 again plz!