How about an updated FX Chain module with Parallel, Crossover, M-S, multiband capabilities

I've been playing around a lot more with some of my amp sims, many of which allow parallel processing type set ups and it got me thinking it would be nice to be able to have multiple effects stacked in parallel directly within a track. This may already be possible but AFAIK you have to use multiple tracks/busses/sends or whatever to acheive the same thing.
 
Then as I thought about it more I realized maybe it could have more than just two stacks of FX in parallel.
 
Bear with me because I'm kind of sketchy on the details of how something like this would work or what would be needed to acheive certain things but here are some rough ideas and maybe ya'll can help flesh out the details then turn this into a request (if there is a need/want for this at all).
 
So the simplest set up would be just two chains of effects processing in parallel within the same Prochannel Module. Like the current effects chain but you add your VST effects (and it would be awesome if Prochannel only effects could be inserted as welll but that would be nice in the current FX chains as well...) in two stacks. The raw signal goes in then gets split into two and each stack of effects do their thing then get blended back into one signal before moving down to whatever's next in the PC then the output.
 
The module would have some default controls like Level and Pan so if the track is outputting stereo you could pan each chain and of course the Level would affect the blending of the two signals. Simple enough. Might cause problems for mono effects following the module I guess but I don't know how that works (sorry... stoopid) so maybe that could only happen if the Module was at the end of the chain before the output.
 
Then there could be extra processing options. Click a button and it turns into a crossover type mixer where you have all the same options but the high and low get passed through the separate chains individually. This would have a Frequency control to dial in where the crossover freq is situated.
 
So THAT got me thinking why not allow for multiband processing where you can add up to four (or five) bands each with their own chain of effects. This might look something like the Quad Curve with a vertical row of control for each band that control the crossover of each band, pan, level, etc. This is inspired from some of the Anderton multiband tricks for processing guits and stuff using multiband compressor set to not compress but just filter out frequencies which then get processed individually on multiple tracks or busses. Except this is all done within one track by the module.
 
The I was thinking about Mid Side stuff, bandpass, stuff and what have you BUT with a multiband function with the right controls in place I think those things could acheived by just setting the crossover frequencies and disabling a couple bands so perhaps able to be done as a preset type thing. Or maybe make it so you just click a button to add a band as needed. IDK... something like that.
 
Then because we are potentially dealing with SO many effects that people will likely want to map to controls on the module maybe have expandable drop down for each chain of FX in the module (so Chain 1 has a drop down, Chain 2 Has a dropdown, etc) and those could have the macro controls mapped from the various effect with each chain.
 
THEN I got to thinking there could be a flyout or full map/management screen that pops up where you do all the set up and finite control of everything. You pop that open and you get a full view of your chains and do all your mapping and finite adjustments there.
 
Just spitballing but I didn't want to lose the idea. Might be too crazy to implement but it almost seems like something Cake could charge for or use as one of the sooper cool extras for paid members. I think there are third party plugs that do this type of thing but really IDK.
 
So yeah... dumb? Cool? Impossible? Doable? Worth it? Already in the program?
 
Discuss.
 
;-)

Unfortunately, you can't do parallel effects within an FX chain natively unless you insert an effect that has parallel capabilities (e.g., TH2). It's a capability I'd like to see.

Isn't this much like Abelton has? Whenever I've watched mixing tutorials using Abelton I've always been impressed by the functionality and versatility of their FX chains.

Generally speaking you would use a hosting plug like MetaPlugin to do this kind of stuff. It seems impractical to implement it in the PC, to me.

This is exactly why I posted this. You all would know better than I how something like this would/could be set up. It is also educational to hear of some of the other options in this regard. I had never looked into MetaPlugin (sounds cool) and have not yet had a chance to play with Ableton (but I've got an LE copy on disc around here somewhere and am curious... if it does on track parallel VST processing it may get pulled out sooner than later just to treat/process specific tracks for import back into Sonar... and I really should poke at the bugger if I intend to be one of the smart kids).
 
For my immediate wants/needs... well I've been a fan of TH2 since it first got delivered to us in X2 and after I upgraded it well it's just very cool. However I have done an in depth study of GR5 and am realizing how good it can sound if you actually know WTF you are doing with it. If I could use them in parallel on the same track and blend between the two that would be killer. Obviously though being able to do this other plugs would awesome as well. Multiband with inserts under each band... right on the strip? Well that would make my pants feel funny.
 
Soooooo... I don't expect it or anything but just thought it would be cool to imaginate about.
 
Thanks for entertaining my daydream. This can get tossed into the Feature Request forum at any time if any passing Hosts think it would be better there.
 
Cheers.

TheMaartian
I'm just wondering about the difference in latency between parallel chains with different FX processors. How would you compensate for that when you blend the outputs?

I have been so spoiled by Sonar automagically (stealing werds from Bapu) doing that stuff that I hadn't even considered it. I guess that may add a layer of complexity and this may not work with lookahead style plugs (not that they really work well in simple tracking setups anyway though).
 
But maybe there would have to be automatic compensation like we already have and maybe a right click option and/or Settings area where users could adjust their own latency settings.
 
Honestly when I'm watching engineering tutorials of certain other DAWs where they have to set that crap manually I just think "Wow. How crappy would it be to have to do THAT all the time?". I'm assumign the competitors have similar auto compensation features like Sonar but still... ain't nobody got time for that.