Hi, guys and gals. I stumbled on to a feature I was not aware of. You can drag a VST instrument in to the ProChannel Inspector window and it automatically sets it in an FX Chain block. The instruments still respond to automation written in the controller lanes. By putting in the Inspector window instead the track FX bin, it cuts down on having to open and closing the track just to tweak something on the instruments!
This has cut my workflow almost in half. I suggest to try this if you have not already.

That's weird. I didn't think we were supposed to put VST instruments in bins? In my world they have an audio track and you can leave the GUI open on your second monitor or simply double click the instrument icon to open. 

Cactus Music
That's weird. I didn't think we were supposed to put VST instruments in bins? In my world they have an audio track and you can leave the GUI open on your second monitor or simply double click the instrument icon to open. 

That's what I do too. I would be interested to see if them being in the PC inspector adds any functionality.

I am talking about putting them in the FX Chain in the audio track for the synth or drum plug. Just drag the plug to the ProChannel Inspector space and it will automatically wrap it as an FX Chain rack. All functions are working for automation. Really saves a lot of steps tweaking instruments.

I will try this in the next coupe of days. !

I believe he is talking about putting plug-in effects in the prochannel. This has been supported via the FX chain module for several years. Dragging a plug-in from the browser into the prochannel will automatically wrap it in an effects chain so it is ready for use.
 
OTOH putting an instrument in the prochannel will treat it the same way as an instrument inserted inside a normal fx rack on an audio track. i.e. it will be inserted as a transformer so should only be used if its a synth that can pass through audio or is an fx processor itself.
 

"i.e. it will be inserted as a transformer so should only be used if its a synth that can pass through audio or is an fx processor itself."
 
What are some synths that "pass through audio or is an fx processor"?

"Racks" or shells seem to be all the rage. Waves has a vst shell. TRacks have a shell that holds all their plugins. Ozone has a Rack that allows for addition of 3rd party plugins.
  
I see the PC as a similar idea. Mainly an fx bin that accepts PC Modules or a PC bin that accepts vst plugins in a wrapper. Add to this the ability to save your personal setup for other mixes and you have a  powerful set of tools.
How is using automation in the PC an added advantage though? Do you see the knobs in the PC?
 
 

Noel is correct. The only stumbling block is if you have say Kontakt with JayBass plus an amp simulator  in the same Chainer you can NOT save the FX Chainer to the library! The work around is drag Kontakt in to the ProChannel inspector, then drag the amp simulator as a separate Chainer under Kontakt Chainer. This has really cut down on the cumbersome and time burning process of opening and closing the track to access the FX bin just to tweak the instrument. With it in the Inspector, it's already there to just click and open. I have been experimenting with the controllers and they all are listed and work it seems. I have been using this technique the last several days with great results. My workflow has been substantially affected.

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk
Dragging a plug-in from the browser into the prochannel will automatically wrap it in an effects chain so it is ready for use.

Doing it that way, it's not available as a MIDI destination here. By first creating the FX chain, and then dragging the plug-in into it, it does appear as MIDI destination. Some synths that act as audio processor require note input to trigger its envelopes. AFAIK this can't be done with automation, or can it?