FTP - guitars, pedals, and VST keyboard switches

Started by Rens, December 28, 2015, 03:13:19 PM

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Rens

Hi-

I'm pretty new to MIDI guitar though I've been playing guitars since maggie and ronnie were around and keys for about half that time. Only
just putting the two together in the form of an FTP on a tele.

What do people do to manage keyswtches for articulation selection on an FTP? Any advice either general or specific from you gurus gratefully accepted. In particular:


  • What pedals work to send midi note keyswitches (as well as patch changes, etc.) that are actually rugged and portable and could be added to my board?
  • How do you get midi note from the pedals into the six different channels of the typical 6-vst multi? If I set up a patch with a single VST that takes 'omni' input from all channels , this works fine but if I set the FTP to 'mono' and go with one VST per channel they typical keyboard will only affect channel 1; the first string. Am I explaining that clearly enough?

And on another topic; what do people do to get the VSTs clock-synched with the rest of their rig? I use an eventide H9 on my electric signal chain which is my clock source, but as far as I can tell the FTP will not pass clock along even if I get it into the computer. If the answer is to ditch the FTP application as a vst host, how do people deal with synching the FTP config (poly vs mono, trigger/auto/step/smooth, transposition, etc) with the VST patch?

sorry if these are basic questions; I'm an FTP n00b!



tonemaster

#1
I am also very interested in how to figure this out.

I'm using the Sample Modeling Sax program, running as a VST in FTP. The program requires expression pedal input.

I have the pedal using CC 11 on channel 1 and it's attached to a MIDI pedal board (the Fractal Audio MFC101) connected to a M-Track audio/midi USB interface.

Problem is, the Sax program isn't "seeing" the expression pedal input. I'm able to monitor the pedal MIDI input via the MIDI OX program so I know the data is going into the computer. Plus, I've been able change patches in Triple Play with the patch change buttons on the MFC101.

Not sure if the issue is with my TP configuration, the Sax program, or something else. As per the instructions, I have the Sax set to CC11 for the expression pedal.

Thanks and any help is much appreciated!

Rens

#2
Half bump/half update:

I'm still looking for a recommendation on a floor controller to use with the FTP that will let me manage articulation selection (i.e. send arbitrary midi notes) to my VSTs. Does nobody do this?

Since I posted, I gigged with the FTP using a blueboard....never again. It worked but lost connectivity frequently in a way it does not at home. I suspect the mass of bluetooth devices in the audience but if someone knows better do tell.

from googling around the two that seem

tonemaster, did you get the MFC101 working?




shawnb

#4
Excellent bunch of questions - I'll help where I can. 

Quote from: Rens on December 28, 2015, 03:13:19 PMWhat pedals work to send midi note keyswitches (as well as patch changes, etc.) that are actually rugged and portable and could be added to my board?
I don't use keyswitches, can't provide first-hand experience here.  But I bet any programmable controller will help you out.  We have a lot of info on contollers here on the site.  One sample post:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=12355
In fact, there's a whole board (includes both foot pedals & keyboard controllers):
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=7.0

Quote from: Rens on December 28, 2015, 03:13:19 PMHow do you get midi note from the pedals into the six different channels of the typical 6-vst multi? If I set up a patch with a single VST that takes 'omni' input from all channels , this works fine but if I set the FTP to 'mono' and go with one VST per channel they typical keyboard will only affect channel 1; the first string. Am I explaining that clearly enough?
If you want to play mono mode (1 channel per string), your VST must be able to support multi mode - i.e., play 6 parts simultaneously, one per channel.  The channels used depends on how your FTP is configured.  More info on FTP channel usage here:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=13653.0

Quote from: Rens on December 28, 2015, 03:13:19 PMAnd on another topic; what do people do to get the VSTs clock-synched with the rest of their rig? I use an eventide H9 on my electric signal chain which is my clock source, but as far as I can tell the FTP will not pass clock along even if I get it into the computer. If the answer is to ditch the FTP application as a vst host, how do people deal with synching the FTP config (poly vs mono, trigger/auto/step/smooth, transposition, etc) with the VST patch?
The FTP app & vst do NOT PASS CLOCK.  In my opinion, that is the biggest gap with that software.  Different folks deal with timing differently.   Some folks use other VST hosts, such as Cantabile.   I use Usine Hollyhock, which is an extremely flexible host, almost a development environment.   Some folks avoid hosts/laptops altogether & use a USB to 5-pin MIDI converter along with a hardware synth. 

You could either use the FTP's "Basic" mode (if you can live with the 2-semitone bend limitation) or use the FTP's Hardware mode. 

Spider uses a HW synth and an iConnect:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=13064.msg98713#msg98713

Another thread about options for building your rig:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=13064.0

Info on USB to 5-pin converters:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=15763.msg112535#msg112535
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=50.0
Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

shawnb

#5
Quote from: Rens on December 28, 2015, 03:13:19 PM
How do you get midi note from the pedals into the six different channels of the typical 6-vst multi? If I set up a patch with a single VST that takes 'omni' input from all channels , this works fine but if I set the FTP to 'mono' and go with one VST per channel they typical keyboard will only affect channel 1; the first string. Am I explaining that clearly enough?

More on this...

Depending on how your rig is setup, you may need to propagate your MIDI controllers' output to 6 channels.  There are a few ways to do this.  All require some software between your controller & your synth running the multi patch. 

MIDI Solutions Event Processor Plus (MSEPP), a programmable MIDI hardware device:
Note since I don't do keyswitching, I only propagate CCs & PCs, but this could easily be modified to propagate notes to the 6 channels as well.  If you go this route, I'll help you get it working.   
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=9330.msg67223#msg67223

More on the MSEPP product itself here:
http://www.midisolutions.com/prodevp.htm

This is how I do it in Hollyhock, a programmable DAW/VST host:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=12087.msg87942#msg87942

Lots of other options.  I haven't used these tools, but they look promising:
  -  Bidule is a programmable VST (https://www.plogue.com/products/bidule/)
  -  Bome's MIDI translator (https://www.bome.com/products/miditranslator)
  -  Bome box (http://www.bome.com/products/bomebox)
  -  If you use Reaper as your DAW, I believe it is programmable as well (http://www.reaper.fm/sdk/js/js.php)


Plus, some of the MIDI pedals may be programmed to send multiple MIDI messages as well.
Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

shawnb

Last note on this - the Fishman FC-1 pedal appears to do the split function as well:

Quote from: zjanosy on January 06, 2016, 08:39:52 AM
Moreover, the FC-1 can be programmed to re-send an incoming controller value to all the MIDI channels used by a particular Synth or split. This feature greatly extends the usability of legacy MIDI controllers with a MIDI guitar in MONO mode. (This feature is not yet fully supported in the editor though.)
Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

Trevor

As stated before, Bome's MIDI Translator and Cantabile can do many varied amazing things, I control all my old outboard midi and VST's routed through the PC audio.

Rens

I just wanted to come back and thank everyone who replied to me on this topic; extremely helpful and helped me get up and running properly. I am using a softstep and bomes now on the mac, and midibridge on iOS.