Hi John,
 
a pre-question... Do you need the articulations from Kontakt to be routed to separate audio tracks in CakeLab?
 
I'm asking because I think the best would be to start with more simple setup just to make it work for now, I mean, let them play all from the same audio track like one instrument and focus on MIDI setup. We can come back to audio routing later. Is that ok?

chris.r
Hi John,
 
a pre-question... Do you need the articulations from Kontakt to be routed to separate audio tracks in CakeLab?

Is there another way?  I've spent a week between this forum and what I've found on the YouTube vids and this is the only way that seems to work.  If there's a simpler way I wish somebody would educate me somehow.
On the other hand, is there a problem with this way? If so, what?
 
There are two Kontakt/NI products that I use.  One is the Strummed Acoustic Guitar and the other Session Strings PRO.
I've just found out that it is really not necessary to use multiples for Strummed Acoustic because I'm learning to use the keyswitches for the different articulations/strumming patterns.  I thought I might be able to do the same with SSPRO but if I want different articulations (swells, cresendos, glissandos etc) in combination with using the Animator function (for arpeggios, spicatto patterns, pizzicatos, etc)  I have to create separate channels in that.  But I've learned another trick to keep the CPU usage down by purging.
 
John B.

Johnbee58...if I want different articulations (swells, cresendos, glissandos etc) in combination with using the Animator function (for arpeggios, spicatto patterns, pizzicatos, etc)  I have to create separate channels in that...

 
Are we still talking about MIDI channels or audio channels? Like I said, it's good to be clear about it to avoid confusion.
 
Yes, you can play all your Kontakt instruments from it's stereo output pair through just one audio track in CakeLab. It makes sens for different articulations of same instrument. If you load few guitar articulations and few strings articulations in one Kontakt instance, you may play them all through the same CakeLab audio track, but sometimes it makes sens to route them to separate outputs in Kontakt i.e. all guitar articulations through first (main) stereo pair and all strings articulations through a second pair of outputs (or aux tracks or however they are called, I'm not sure). Tha latter involves creating a second audio track in CakeLab and route Kontakt's strings outputs to this track's inputs. All this regarding audio routing.
 
But the main question is, did you manage to create MIDI tracks and route them (MIDI channels) to each articulation/instrument in Kontakt in order to be able to play some notes and/or control changes, and hear the effect?

chris.r

Johnbee58...if I want different articulations (swells, cresendos, glissandos etc) in combination with using the Animator function (for arpeggios, spicatto patterns, pizzicatos, etc)  I have to create separate channels in that...

 
Are we still talking about MIDI channels or audio channels? Like I said, it's good to be clear about it to avoid confusion.
 
Yes, you can play all your Kontakt instruments from it's stereo output pair through just one audio track in CakeLab. It makes sens for different articulations of same instrument. If you load few guitar articulations and few strings articulations in one Kontakt instance, you may play them all through the same CakeLab audio track, but sometimes it makes sens to route them to separate outputs in Kontakt i.e. all guitar articulations through first (main) stereo pair and all strings articulations through a second pair of outputs (or aux tracks or however they are called, I'm not sure). Tha latter involves creating a second audio track in CakeLab and route Kontakt's strings outputs to this track's inputs. All this regarding audio routing.
 
But the main question is, did you manage to create MIDI tracks and route them (MIDI channels) to each articulation/instrument in Kontakt in order to be able to play some notes and/or control changes, and hear the effect?

You know, I really don't know.  In Kontakt they are outputs channels, but I don't know if they're audio or MIDI.  I assume they're MIDI.  In Cakelab they are MIDI tracks.  Another thing I know is that it's producing the desired effect. 
 
John B
 
 

The output of any VST is an Audio track. 
Most VST are just one instrument so only need one audio output. But some, like Kontakt are multi instruments. TTS-1 is also mult instrument. And Drum VST's are multi too. 
When you insert a VST yu can choose a few options on how many audio channels you want to use. 
Midi is used as input to trigger the samples, the samples are audio. 
Because most multi instrument VST's have a built in mixer you only normally need the one stereo audio output. 
You can use the GUI VST mixer to add compression, EQ and effects and balance the level. 
The only reason for using multiple audio channels is so you can add better quality audio plug ins for certain instruments. Example the VST's supplied reverb or compressor is very basic so you want something more upscale. 
 

Cactus Music
The output of any VST is an Audio track. 
Most VST are just one instrument so only need one audio output. But some, like Kontakt are multi instruments. TTS-1 is also mult instrument. And Drum VST's are multi too. 
When you insert a VST yu can choose a few options on how many audio channels you want to use. 
Midi is used as input to trigger the samples, the samples are audio. 
Because most multi instrument VST's have a built in mixer you only normally need the one stereo audio output. 
You can use the GUI VST mixer to add compression, EQ and effects and balance the level. 
The only reason for using multiple audio channels is so you can add better quality audio plug ins for certain instruments. Example the VST's supplied reverb or compressor is very basic so you want something more upscale. 
 

I have the feeling that you're telling me I'm working too hard on the set up.
True?
JB

Well, No, not sure exactly what your doing, but me I have never needed to use more than the stereo output on any VST.  I'm happy enough with the effects that come with the ones I use. Xpand2 for example has a decent reverb. And AD2 I have dialed in a couple of kits and using the built in reverb and compression so have a drum sound that works just fine for me. I certainly wouldn't do that if I was producing a hit record :}  But I'm not.  
I play guitar so have no real need of that type of VST.  I have used Strum Session which doesn't sound like a guitar to me but can add an interesting part none the less.