Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar?

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Jonelforce
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2012/11/27 01:48:14 (permalink)

Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar?

Hello!

I am using SONAR 6 Producer's Edition, and I am using EWQL Colossus (VST instrument) to replace MIDI sounds. However, when I try and add envelopes to the recorded track, it has no effect whatsoever. Also, I tried the volume-modulator on the left hand side, but it too has no effect on the Colossus instrument sound.

I want to be able to fade-in and fade-out sounds using envelopes...

Any ideas? 
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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2012/11/27 04:13:40 (permalink)
    Make sure your volume envelopes go on the Audio track, not the Midi track.

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    Kalle Rantaaho
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2012/11/27 04:16:10 (permalink)
    Welcome to the forum!
    Are you using Simple Instrument Tracks or separate MIDI/Audio output tracks.
    Volume envelopes are added on the audio track. I've never used SITs so unfortunately I don't know how envelopes behave in them.

    My pettiness (and to help you avoid confusion in the future): There's no such thing as MIDI-sounds that could be replaced by the Colossus. MIDI is always pure data. The Colossus simply plays the MIDI.

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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2012/11/27 04:40:30 (permalink)
    I used SIT's once, way back in 8.0?

    Anyway, they made a horrendous mess of my track numbers in Sonar's PRV so that was it for me.

    I've no doubt their functionality has improved since then, but I prefer the flexibility of separate Audio + Midi tracks

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    Jonelforce
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2012/11/27 06:01:07 (permalink)
    Hmm... I don't even use audio tracks. I use MIDI tracks, and use the Colossus VST instrument to play the actual sound.

    I remember that I've always used this method before, and it has worked before... but now for some reason it doesn't!
    post edited by Jonelforce - 2012/11/27 06:02:21
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    Jonelforce
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/13 10:30:46 (permalink)
    I am still having problems with this, does anyone know of a solution? I mean... it seems like there is something ridiculously simple I am missing? 

    I am just recording a MIDI track through my MIDI keyboard, I then want to control the volume/etc on that track, but they have no effects. If I enter any envelope on that track, no effect whatsoever... I am using an EWQL VST to replace the MIDI sound, but I have always been able to manipulate the volume and MIDI effects through Sonar before.

    I have since bought Sonar X2, but the same issue persists ??
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    lawajava
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/13 16:14:13 (permalink)
    Jonesforce - Since you are using a VST do you not have an instrument track accompanying the midi track? That's where the audio and volume controls would be as long as you're not combining them in a simple instrument track.

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    Kalle Rantaaho
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/14 04:34:26 (permalink)
    Jonelforce


    Hmm... I don't even use audio tracks. I use MIDI tracks, and use the Colossus VST instrument to play the actual sound.

    I remember that I've always used this method before, and it has worked before... but now for some reason it doesn't!

    Either you are using Simple Instrument Tracks in which MIDI and audio tracks are "bundled" or you need an audio track to play back the sound of the soft synth. Otherwise you will hear no sound.


    The only other option is that the sound you hear is not from Colossus at all, but from the MS Wavetable synth.


    AS mentioned, you add the volume envelope on the audio track, not MIDI track.

    How do you insert the synth exactly? SIT or separate track? We need some details in order to answer but you're not giving any.

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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/15 05:23:42 (permalink)
    Jonelforce


    Hmm... I don't even use audio tracks. I use MIDI tracks, and use the Colossus VST instrument to play the actual sound.

    I remember that I've always used this method before, and it has worked before... but now for some reason it doesn't!


    Hmm... well you must use an audio track otherwise you won't hear anything. It's the audio track that takes your midi data and routes it through the soft synth and then, eventually, through your monitors (simplified version)

    Once you've got your audio track in place then you can add as many envelopes as you want to it.

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    daveny5
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/15 08:09:26 (permalink)
    If you're using a Simple Instrument Track for the softsynth, click on the Edit Filter button (the one with Clips on it) and select Automation-Volume. Then you can add your volume envelopes.

    Edit: Oops, I didn't notice you had Sonar 6. I don't remember how its done there. I use X2. I think you just right click on the track and select edit envelope or something similar to that. 
    post edited by daveny5 - 2013/04/15 08:14:14

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    bitflipper
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/15 09:42:06 (permalink)
    The problem is most likely with Colossus, not SONAR. Refer to the Colossus user manual for instructions on MIDI automation.

    If all you want to do is automate volume specifically, then the easiest way to do that is to automate the audio track rather than the MIDI track. As noted above, this will be simpler if you use separate MIDI and audio tracks rather than a Simple Instrument Track.


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    Kalle Rantaaho
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/15 12:17:36 (permalink)
    Did SONAR 6 already have SITs or were they introduced in 8?

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    bitflipper
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/15 13:25:32 (permalink)
    SITs were introduced in SONAR 8, I think. 


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    Kev999
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    Re:Can't I control VST with MIDI controls in Sonar? 2013/04/15 19:21:15 (permalink)
    bitflipper

    SITs were introduced in SONAR 8, I think. 
    I believe that's correct.  Simple Instrument Tracks were not present in versions 6 or 7.

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