lalamusic
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3
- Joined: 2013/10/03 02:08:23
- Status: offline
Multiple Synth Tracks (multi-output soft synth) - Sonar X2 + Miroslav Philharmonik
Hi,
I've had home studio versions of Cakewalk for years, but am new to this forum and a proud new owner of the upgrade, Sonar X2. :-) I've gotten useful information from the forum as I've been setting things up, getting things to work together, so thank you, helpful posters!! I'm an amateur in much of this, so I apologize in advance for any incorrectly-used or confusing terms, or long-windedness in trying to explain since music tech/recording is not my area of expertise. Feel free to ask for clarification.
I have Windows 7 64-bit, Sonar X2 Essential, M-Audio M-Track Plus + midi keyboard controller (a Roland, if that matters. probably not). I'm using the Miroslav Philharmonik orchestra plug-in and Garritan Jazz Band plug-in soft synths, mainly, so far. I'm having trouble getting the Miroslav Philharmonik soft synth to split into multiple outputs. Whenever I insert a new track for Miroslav, it creates a new instance of the soft synth. I don't want/need multiple instances running when I can use 16 instruments with the multiple-output feature, per single instance of the Miroslav soft synth. I've been able to make this work with past set-ups, but now that I have a new computer, new software and hardware, I've run into various snags such as this one.
I think part of my problem may be the overall setup, and/or my in/out's are incorrectly set...? When I insert one of Cakewalk's soft synths, it goes to In: None (or Omni) and Out: Master. When I insert a Miroslav soft synth and use the same setup, it plays the first instrument of the first instance (e.g., if #1 in Miroslav1 is set to "Grand Piano"). The problem is figuring out how to set up more instruments using the same instance of Miroslav.
I've tried reading the tutorial, "Inserting soft synths." I had already inserted one instance of Miroslav, and had the first instrument of it set to "grand piano," which worked fine. I went to insert a 2nd synth to try following what I understood from the tutorial, in order to get multi-output in one soft synth. From the "insert soft synth options" dialog box, since I want to create separate synth tracks for each of the soft synth's outputs (e.g., 1) trombone, 2) harp, 3) trumpet, 4) cello, and so on... all within one instance of Miroslav Philharmonik), I tried their suggestion of selecting the "Create These Tracks: All Synth Audio Outputs" check box. It created all 16 tracks and automatically set the "in" to the 2nd instance of Miroslav + different numbers at the end of the name (instruments 1-16), so it looked fine. "Out" was still set to Master. But it's not playing any of the instruments I have selected within Miroslav2. Instead, it plays whatever non-Miroslav2 track sound I last played, even though I have the new track selected (e.g., In: Phlhrm2P1S or Phlhrm2P2S - Philharmonik - 2nd instance - instr.1? - stereo).
I've tried playing around with In's and Out's, but to no avail. There also aren't many options under "Out." Ideas? Questions for clarification?
Thank you for any help!!
|
harmony gardens
Max Output Level: -40.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3490
- Joined: 2004/01/10 18:50:48
- Location: Richland Center WI
- Status: offline
Re: Multiple Synth Tracks (multi-output soft synth) - Sonar X2 + Miroslav Philharmonik
2013/10/03 04:09:20
(permalink)
The interface is actually a thing of beauty, once you get used to it. To help you, let's look at the interface first. The rows going up and down are numbered 1-16 and each row is capable of loading a sound in it... so it's possible to load 16 sounds in an instance. (this also applies to the Sampletank interface, which is the flagship interface for the whole Sampletank series, more on that later, probably tomorrow,,, lol)
When you click on a row, it gives you the ablity to load a sound into that row. The sounds are located in the library tree on the right side of the interface, so highlight a row and double click on a sound in the library and it loads the sound into the row. Now click on the 2nd row and select another sound from the tree. Now we have two sounds loaded. The first row defaults to channel one, the second row defaults to channel 2, row three to channel 3,,, etc. You can change the channel by holding your mouse over the channel column in each row. Hold your mouse over the CH row, which in column 2 would be where the 2 is. Click on your mouse and move it up and down. You will see the channel scrolling through midi channels 1, 2, 3, etc. Set the channel in row 2 to channel 1. Now you should hear both sounds blended when you press a key. You can then adjust the volume of each sound by using the same mouse technique to adjust the volume for each sound. Same applies to the pan in the pan column, too.
When you get a set up you like, name it and save it as a combination. This will allow you to allow you to call them up in the Combi loader (the black drop down menu at the top and middle of the interface).
The next thing is to add more midi tracks in Sonar for Sampletank. This is pretty simple, too, once you understand how to set the inputs and outputs.
1 Create a midi track in Sonar.
2 let's go ahead and put it into the Mirslov envelope so we don't have to hunt around for it later.
3 use the input dropdown menu to set the device you want to play the your sounds with
4 in the output menu, select Mirslov (or Sampletank if you are using that as your master Sampletank interface)
5 in the ch box, select the midi channel you want the track to send out. (let's set this one to channel 2)
6 Might want to go back to the original midi track and make sure that one is set to 1. ;)
Now we will go back to the Mirslov interface (or Sampletank) and let's highlight another row and select another sound from the library. Let's set the channel on the voice to channel 2.
Now we go back to Sonar. When you highlight the track it will play the voices set to the channel of each track.
hope this helps,,,
|
lalamusic
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3
- Joined: 2013/10/03 02:08:23
- Status: offline
Re: Multiple Synth Tracks (multi-output soft synth) - Sonar X2 + Miroslav Philharmonik
2013/10/03 10:22:58
(permalink)
Thanks for the quick response! I think maybe I didn't explain it clearly enough, so let me try to clarify. I'm actually really familiar with the Philharmonik interface; I've used it for several years and it hasn't changed. It's Sonar that has changed quite a bit since the original versions I had, to I think that's where some settings must not be correct.
I have selected several instruments on the different channels in Philharmonik. The problem is, when I go to play them through the different tracks in the Sonar X2 browser, none of the correct voices go through. If I had previously selected a non-Philharmonik track (or in the scenario I described above, the first instance of Philharmonik with Grand Piano as the first & only channel set up), that is the sound I hear when I'm playing, even though I have the new track (from the 2nd instance of Philharmonik, with instruments selected in the Philharmonik interface) selected.
That's why I'm wondering if my In/Out settings (described above) are incorrect, but it's the default Sonar gave me when I selected "All Synth Audio Outputs" from that dialog box.
Any other ideas?
|
harmony gardens
Max Output Level: -40.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3490
- Joined: 2004/01/10 18:50:48
- Location: Richland Center WI
- Status: offline
Re: Multiple Synth Tracks (multi-output soft synth) - Sonar X2 + Miroslav Philharmonik
2013/10/03 13:56:48
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby lalamusic 2013/10/05 18:11:32
Sorry, I missed in my answer. One thing I definately didn't put into my little tutorial that is important, is that when you load an instance of the softsynth to check the MIDI Source, Synth Track Folder, and First Audio Output boxes in the insert Soft Synth Options box for my tutorial to work.
When you check the All Synth Outputs you get a separate audio instance for each channel, which might be causing the confusion. Try checking the First Synth Audio output and see if that helps.
|
lalamusic
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3
- Joined: 2013/10/03 02:08:23
- Status: offline
Re: Multiple Synth Tracks (multi-output soft synth) - Sonar X2 + Miroslav Philharmonik
2013/10/05 18:11:15
(permalink)
☼ Best Answerby lalamusic 2013/10/05 18:11:23
Thanks, harmony gardens!
I've been working with it again for several hours and at first it was still having the same issues. Just now found the solution, and your recent answer helped get me on the right track!
I did what you suggested in the insert synth dialog box: selected MIDI Source, Synth Track Folder and First Synth Audio Output.
It still inserts the additional instance of Philharmonik, and for the sake of CPU, I delete it.
In the track settings:
- Audio Track - In: Left M-Audio-Analog Input 1 (M-Audio is my midi/audio usb interface), Out: Master
- MIDI Track - In: Omni, Out: Philharmonik 1
Then, still in MIDI track settings, under channel, I selected the channel from Philharmonik that I wanted (e.g., channel 2).
It's finally working and I'm now able to get the 16 channels/sounds from each instance of Philharmonik, in different tracks.
Thanks for the suggestions!
|
harmony gardens
Max Output Level: -40.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3490
- Joined: 2004/01/10 18:50:48
- Location: Richland Center WI
- Status: offline
Re: Multiple Synth Tracks (multi-output soft synth) - Sonar X2 + Miroslav Philharmonik
2013/10/05 19:52:47
(permalink)
Glad it's working for you!!
|