Instrument definitions for samplers (Kontakt, Dimension Pro, etc.)

First of all, is it even possible to get Kontakt or Dimension Pro to obey Sonar's patch change commands? Or is there no way to get a sampler to load a different instrument without using the interface? If it is possible, then what steps do we need to take to get the sampler to obey patch change commands?

Assuming it's possible, then the next step is creating an instrument definition. I've been told that this is impractical, since people have different sample libraries and since samplers organize their instruments via the file system rather than banks and patches.

However, we know that Kontakt at least has an instrument database, where each instrument has properties associated with it. So hopefully there is some way to extract instrument names, and then associate them with patches. I have no idea if this is possible, but if it is, has anyone done it?

What if there were a program that could read in someone's Kontakt or Dimension Pro sample set and then create instrument definitions automatically? Would you find something like that useful?

I see, so instrument definitions are mostly for MIDI, whereas with soft synths there's little demand for them?

If DP has 4 instrments that can load at one time, isn't it just a matter of automation?

Tripecac


I see, so instrument definitions are mostly for MIDI, whereas with soft synths there's little demand for them?

I'll add "Hardware" after MIDI, which includes synths supplied by some audio interfaces like Creative (Sounblaster line.)
 
Brian

John

Guitarpima


If DP has 4 instrments that can load at one time, isn't it just a matter of automation?

Its also a matter of loading. That may take some noticeable time. In a hardware synth module there is nothing to load. All patches are in it ROM memory.

If all the 4 instruments are already loaded, why not just create the volume automations? I was refering to each instrment on each tab (I forget what it's  called, element?).

Frankly, I think it wont benefit a mix to have all these pathces changing all the time. It's rather more accurate to create a synth instance for each sound and freeze when you're happy. That way you have so much more in terms of mixing options anyways.

I'd love to see anything that provides tighter UI integration between Sonar and soft synths.  It's a shame that Cakewalk hasn't bothered to make Dimension Pro feel like an integral part of Sonar.  TTS-1 feels more Sonar-friendly than Dimension Pro, thanks I guess to its GM nature. 

Why can't Cakewalk think up a way to get its own synths (Dimension Pro, Session Instruments, etc.) to be even *more* integrated than GM synths?  And then give us (or companies) tools to get third party synths integrated nicely as well?

When Cakewalk abandoned Studioware I thought it was because they had something even more user-friendly on the horizon.  They didn't, so my hopes of getting my Triton or Pod Pro easier to use were crushed.

Now, in the day of facebook, social media, websites cooperating with websites, it would be nice if we saw more cooperation between Sonar and soft synths.  If Cakewalk doesn't have the time or money (due to the recession) to create that cooperation, then at least they should give users tools to do the integration work themselves. 

And if Cakewalk can't empower their users that way, then many Sonar users will be keeping an eye out for the first decent DAW that provides seamless integration, and we'll be out the door sooner than you can say "friendster".

The clock's ticking...