Inquiry from the MIDI impaired.

[irpacynot]

Just curious as to why, when I add an instrument plug-in to create a MIDI performance on a track, that plug-in always has to be the last plugin out in order to be heard?

Thanks

[imstre]

so the instruments have a dry and a wet signal It doesn't sound dry and to sound together there is a rack/

[Watchful]

Just curious as to why, when I add an instrument plug-in to create a MIDI performance on a track, that plug-in always has to be the last plugin out in order to be heard?

To be specific, it doesn't if you're modifying its audio. Waveform follows a traditional signal flow model, like a wired studio.

I want to hear just a synth by itself: } synth }

Now I want hear it with some reverb: } synth } reverb}

Now I want to EQ that reverb: } synth } reverb } EQ }

And send it to a different track: } synth } reverb } EQ } send }

And so on. You generate the sounds from the synth first, and then successively send its output through a series of effect units...just like if you had a physical keyboard and a rack of effects boxes. In that example, your plugin stays on the far left, but your audio processing builds to the right.

In other words, the synth plugin is first in line,,,last in line is always to the right in Waveform, just as if you drew out your audio signal flow on paper.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Yeah, it DEPENDS on what the plug-in does; and what's "current". Remember, there are basically 2 types of sound being processed:
1. Audio
2. MIDI events

Typically an INSTRUMENT plug-in takes MIDI as input, and has audio on output.
An EFFECTS (audio) plugin takes audio input, and modifies it.

So, if you put, say, delay in FRONT of a .VSTi, it will see "nothing" as it doesn't process MIDI events, and at that point there still is no audio to process. Plus, a side-effect is that most plugins will NOT send or pass-through what they aren't involved in...

What would often come BEFORE a VSTi would be an arpeggiator, a note modifier, a chord generator, or MIDI monitor; as they take MIDI in, process, and have MIDI out.

[Watchful]

Although, I'm wondering if the OP was curious why plugins, in general, go the the right when other DAWs place them on the left or at the top of a stack.

The original "Tracktion" concept was that the left side of the track is the input, the middle is the music, and the right is the outputs. In the original Tracktion worldview, the idea was that the MIDI clip is you producing the music on an imaginary keyboard... you produce the output of the notes, which goes to the input of the instrument, which then outputs to your effects, as Peter describes above.

Most DAWs use different concepts based on how either Cubase or ProTools did it way back in the day. People were familiar with this approach, so others copied it. Jules at Tracktion figured there was a better way more in tune with how music is physically produced. As someone pretty old school, this method absolutely appeals to me. Curiously, while Waveform's loyal followers will criticize the heck out of this product, we generally and universally agree the left-to-right philosophy is very fast at producing music.

Well, perhaps the OP was indeed asking about order of plugins, as stated...but with all the new folks jumping into Waveform, I'm hopeful the above was at least helpful.

[pough]

Just curious as to why, when I add an instrument plug-in to create a MIDI performance on a track, that plug-in always has to be the last plugin out in order to be heard?

Ove the years I have found that new users do unexpected things and get unexpected results. A bare track has a volume/pan plugin and a meter plugin. Any instruments are added by default to the left of those plugins, so they are not last but are still heard.

So what is it that you are doing? Showing us might help more than telling us.

[irpacynot]

Wow, thank you, folks. Yeah, I've never been very proficient with recording, even back in the days using a Tascam cassette multitrack. I'm always so focused on executing a musical inspiration, I tend to make silly mistakes that, unfortunately, often end up slowing down that process. Trying to be more mindful in my old age.

Again, very much appreciate the replies -- very helpful!

[Watchful]

You're welcome and glad to see you here!