Dilemma with multi-timbral/multi-output sampler plugins... Help?

It seems that there are many plugins out there, such as samplers, that have multi-timbral/multi-output capabilities. In other words, you can send several MIDI tracks to a single instance of the plugin in by send them through difference channels.

For me, I have SampleTank 2 and I can do exactly what I described above. For example, I can send a piano track to channel 1, bass track to channel 2, and violin track to channel 3, and keep a single instance of SampleTank 2 in one instrument track. Of course, this is good as you only need to have one instance of the plugin open for the entire project, isntead of one for each track that needs it.

However, here is my problem: Audio Effects. Having one instance of SampleTank, I can only apply audio effects to that one instrument track... and usually, I need seperate types of effects each instrument. For example, I may use the PercussionStrip for the drum samples, but would not want it for Piano.

How can I solve this? Do I have no choice but to use multiple instances of SampleTank? Yes, SampleTank has its own effects built in, but there are times I need Cakewalk-specific effects (like I said, Percussion Strip).

For SampleTank specifically, the built-in effects are usually all you need. They are very good, and you can use them either as insert or send effects. It's rare that I need any further effects with SampleTank.

However, you can assign each of ST's instruments to separate outputs if you like, run them to separate audio tracks and effect them like any other audio track. The same is true for other multi-timbral sample players such as Kontakt.

The trick in ST is that you have to tell it how many outputs to configure. I think by default it only gives you two stereo pairs. Go into the Preferences and tell it how many outputs to configure. I am not at my computer right now but IIRC you can have up to 16 outputs.

brundlefly


I don't know SampleTank, but multitimbral synths generally have a separate output (mono or stereo, depending on the synth) for every voice/part it supports. You just need to create an audio track to host each output, or let SONAR do it for you when you insert the synth.

oh WOW. I can't believe I didn't notice this before.


so I can just change the input of each audio track to the particular channel I want, correct? Well the question that comes up with that is, since I have a seperate midi tracks sent to the synth, will I have two tracks (one for the midi input, one for the midi output) per instrument? I can't combine those two into a single instrument track, can i?

have a seperate midi tracks sent to the synth, will I have two tracks (one for the midi input, one for the midi output) per instrument? I can't combine those two into a single instrument track, can i?

Make that one for MIDI input to the synth, and one for audio output from the synth. But no, you can't make each pair into an instrument track, because SONAR only allows one instrument track per synth. I think this is a limitation of soft synth architecture, but I could be wrong.

so I can just change the input of each audio track to the particular channel I want, correct? Well the question that comes up with that is, since I have a seperate midi tracks sent to the synth, will I have two tracks (one for the midi input, one for the midi output) per instrument? I can't combine those two into a single instrument track, can i?

Just bag the whole concept of instrument tracks when using multi-timbral synths. An instrument track is merely a MIDI/audio track pair displayed as if they were one object. It's a convenient illusion for one-voice synths such as Rapture, but a pretty useless concept for SampleTank-type multi-timbral sample players.

Just use separate MIDI and audio tracks for each voice. That gives you the maximum flexibility for routing and effects anyway. Within ST, you can drive more than one voice from a single MIDI track (e.g. when overlaying voices for complex tones, split keyboards, or switching samples based on velocity), plus you can route more than one voice to a single audio output (e.g. multiple voices for percussion or strings that go to a common audio track).

bitflipper

so I can just change the input of each audio track to the particular channel I want, correct? Well the question that comes up with that is, since I have a seperate midi tracks sent to the synth, will I have two tracks (one for the midi input, one for the midi output) per instrument? I can't combine those two into a single instrument track, can i?

Just bag the whole concept of instrument tracks when using multi-timbral synths. An instrument track is merely a MIDI/audio track pair displayed as if they were one object. It's a convenient illusion for one-voice synths such as Rapture, but a pretty useless concept for SampleTank-type multi-timbral sample players.

Just use separate MIDI and audio tracks for each voice. That gives you the maximum flexibility for routing and effects anyway. Within ST, you can drive more than one voice from a single MIDI track (e.g. when overlaying voices for complex tones, split keyboards, or switching samples based on velocity), plus you can route more than one voice to a single audio output (e.g. multiple voices for percussion or strings that go to a common audio track).

This is all good stuff. I just wish I knew more about it before doing my project which I'm pretty much finished with now.


The only thing is that, I'll probably never need to send more than one MIDI to a single output in ST, so I just wish there was a way to not have two tracks (one MIDI, one Audio) per voice. Because I'll literally have twice as many tracks as I have instruments in my projects. But oh well, small price to pay I suppose.

Thanks for everyones input, and any additional inputs are welcomed.