I have a basic Dimension question,

I've been playing with it today and using the GPO a bit.

Do you need a different instance for each track/instrument? I fooled with the multi sample features. But I'm thinking that if I want another MIDI track with another instrument I need to insert a new instance. Is that correct? I don't see any instrument "channels" (i.e. Banks and Patches).

thanks,
mike

Mike - You can set up Dimension Pro to be multi-timbral. In this mode the 4 elements will respond to midi chanels 1-4. You need to press the Options button (diagonal arrow button - top middle) to set this up. I checked a lot of the GPO programs and they seem to be set up with just one element. So by default, they don't have it set up this way. But you could create your own patches and load up the other elements with other programs. Then you'd need only one instance for 4 different instruments. I use Dimension a lot, but have never done this. I always load one instance for each instrument which can add up to many instances. However, I could see if you're doing big orchestral scores, to save on system resources, this might be a good idea.

Thanks for the info.

I should have been more clear... I'm using Dimension LE and the Pocket Orchestra. I can't find the options menu.

thanks,
mike

Yes, you need to create multiple instances. I went through this a few weeks ago. Dim LE is not a multi channel device. I've stacked 3 or 4 at a time with different sounds in each assigned to a different channel. Will depend on your hardware though as to have many you can stack on top of other tracks. As stated, Dim Pro can handle up to 4 channels with different parts of a program assigned to each channel.

Do you need a different instance for each track/instrument? ... I'm using Dimension LE and the Pocket Orchestra. I can't find the options menu.

I put together an illustration of a technique that will work in DimPro or Rapture; Pro or LE.
It involves temporarily loading up two instances in adjacent tracks.

The first instance is where you audition presets. The second instance becomes the destination synth where you'll save the results. Many presets are confined to Element 1. Call up a preset, copy the Element (or Elements) that makes up the program, and paste that Element into the second instance. When you save the results there, as a .prog file, you'll have a repeatable 'orchestration'.

This alone won't get you multitimbral, but it's useful for creating your own one-track sub-mixes. That said, there really isn't all that much more overhead with multiple instances of these synths. Sample memory is shared. 'Duplicate' multisamples are referenced.

Thanks for the information, i didn't know i could load more then one instrument

(Tom, that was very thoughtful of you do draw that!)

Even if you upgraded to DimPro (a 10X enhancement for your DAW); I personally found it easier to Save as Template File and/or export to track-templates, with multi-intances.

(DimPro has become the most addictive synth on my s-rack.)

Now I myself average about 7-8 DimPros and aspiring for about 12+ (without freezing tracks), seeing DimPro renders MIDI GM2 obsolete for sophisticated pianos, guitars, and orchestra.

(Off-topic: I've had to beware of playing with DimPro interface-graphs too much. Maybe I saved them wrong or something but they don't seem to always save in the way I've saved them. For me, its been better to try to make only minor changes to the DimPro presets ... i.e., Volume, Effects, etc. ... which seem to save without mishaps)

I am new to Dimension Pro (have Sonar) but don't seem to be able to go to a different track and get a different sound, even if a have multi-timbral assigned.  I had element 1 and a track with one sound, went to another assigned another midi track (1 for 1st track, 2 for second) and tried a different sound - and both tracks play the new sound, old sound is gone.  Feels like I should be able to do more than 1 sound with the multi-timbral but can't get that - are you guys saying this can't be done?  It will take new midi parts, but not a new sound in multi-timbral?

If that's the case, if you use alot of dimension pro instances in a project does it take a lot of cpu or does it freeze up?

Thanks for the help with this.