Hey, everyone- notice I'm just bursting with questions!
So basically, I cannot for my life figure out how to make my pitch bend wheel control the automation/draw the envelope of a soft synth?
Basically, I can do, for example, pitch bend on a MIDI track. I can also do NRPN values of a soft synth through the MIDI track, as long as the values are envelope shapes and not MIDI data/envelopes.

What I need to be able to do is have live control over drawing the 'shapes' envelope, while of course being able to hear the changes. How will I set that up?

What synth.  Most are already wired to midi control #s.  Cake's are.

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Highlight the MIDI track (X2 and 853) ... assuming all drivers are installed and the MIDI-USB cable connnected.

Wait. Phil, I'll need you to go in depth on that.

EDIT: And AT, I'm wondering is there a way to pretty much use the pitch bend as a param modulation?~

I don't understand what you are trying to do.  Pitch bend is a midi control number.  Pitch bend on a synthesizer is just a rolling knob.  It sends a control signal which, in dimpro or rapt you can use to control any visable parameter in the modulation matrix.

You talk in #1 about the envelope of a soft synth.  What envelope?  Pitch envelope?  Filter resonance?  An envelope is another controller - ADHR being the standard.

Exactly what are you trying to accomplish?

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Perhaps, I've been unclear, allow me to try to put this in basic terms:

I have a MIDI keyboard with a pitch bend wheel.
I want to be able to control certain parameters- e.g., in Superwave P8, the Attack of Oscillator 1 using said pitch bend wheel.

A big thing is that JUST TODAY I found out that those parameters can be controlled either from the Audio OR the attached MIDI track, and additionally, on the MIDI track, with a MIDI data curves (in controller pane) OR a 'shapes' envelope.

So in short, I want to be able to control parameters of a software synthesizer with my pitch bend wheel.

I recorded something a few years ago which was "traditional Japanese instrumentation" done with synths.

The stringed instrument has bends in it and I did that with the pitch wheel on my keyboard. I simply recorded the track and did the pitchwheel in real time and that was captured to the track. 

I was able to go back and punch in and fix....add & delete... as needed on the pitchwheel. 

unfortunately, neither of those songs are on the web at this time.


you should be able to record the pitch wheel event "over" the existing midi. That's what I had to do on a few notes that I wanted to bend after they were recorded straight. there's a setting that lets you write into the track without removing the existing stuff. 

Your example of using the pitchbend to control a synth's attack envelope is dependent upon the synth.  Take a look at Rapture/DimPro if you have it - there is a modulation matrix (which many synths have) that allow you to route a host of controller data (like pitch bend wheel) to many othere things.  That is a function of the synth, however.

Controling a synth parameter, which I guess you are talking about, with audio (what audio?) is possible w/ an envelope follower, which is a synth function not often found.  I think you might be confused by the fact that SONAR used to use double tracks (midi and audio) tracks as default - today the default is a single track.  Offhand, I don't know of a way to control the synth audio track directly w/ the pitchbend wheel while doing midi, too.  Many midi contollers allow you to control audio tracks - using knobs to adjust volume and you can record that w/ automation, but I don't think that is what you are talking about.

Midi is simply data.  You can record it or route it to control software such as a soft synth or volume envelope or a button on/off status.

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davdud101


So in short, I want to be able to control parameters of a software synthesizer with my pitch bend wheel.

Do be aware that the pitch bend controller is different from the mod wheel and probably all other sliders and knobs you have on your MIDI keyboard.  Pitch bend messages have values between 0 and 65535.  MIDI control change messages have values between 0 and 127.  Therefore your synth may or may not allow pitch bend in modulation that otherwise is allowed with MIDI controllers.  Try your modulation first with your mod wheel (MIDI controller 1) and once that's working, try to change the modulation source to pitch bend.