Multi-timbral VSTis in A9 - What is best practice?

[MIAR]

Hi guys,

Nearly on my feet now with Ableton but have another setup question. How do you setup a multi-timbral VSTi in A9? In my old DAW I would create 16 midi channels and be able to route there outputs to the VST but I don't see such options in a midi channel in A9.

Also no midi volume fader? Whats up with that?

[Muzik 4 Machines]

use external instruments for the returns (and the MIDI channels)

[outsidesys]

There's a step-by-step in the manual. I think it's towards the end of the Routing and IO chapter.

[MIAR]

Cool will check it. Thanks

[JBlongz]

I specialize in this: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F42D9325EA9C6D

[MIAR]

Cheers Jb

Will follow along your video and see how I get on...

[MIAR]

Video is too blurred here. Question: My Kontakt outputs do not read 3/4 5/6 7/8 etc..

There are 4 Aux outs and then another 10 unassigned. Making 16. So I assume by selecting consequtive outs this will suffice but if theres a cleaner way please let me know Jb.

Want to set this as a default template so best to get it perfect.

Thanks dude!

UPDATED:
I'm getting a little confused now. When selecting 1 of the Kontakt midi tracks and play on my keyboard, every channel is receiving the midi data. I have even setup another "External Ins" for my EMU Proteus h/w synth and that too is responding. Getting a little lost here... Any idea where I'm going wrong?

[JBlongz]

Gotta play the video in HD

I also posted an update video of how the latest version of Kontakt automatically sets the output once you have the blank instruments setup.

As for your midi issue, watch closely as I set each midi channel separate as well as audio.

Make your synth's local midi is OFF. This is way it only accepts midi from Ableton's direction.

[MIAR]

Thanks JB.

Duno where I'm going wrong but even with Kontakt's batch output (now set to 1/2 to 15/16) I still don't see those audio options available in external ins choosers. Still have 1st 4 as aux and then the rest are numbers.

Maybe its how I'm selecting the original Kontakt from my plugins list?

Anyway yes I understand the Midi selections for each so thats cool.


Much thanks for your help...

[JBlongz]

If there is something missing from Live that you saw in the video, let me know which timeframe it was.

[MIAR]

Hey again JB,

Your vid seems spot on but I don't see the same outputs listed for my Kontakt 5 instrument. I have also setup 16 blank instrument slots in K5 and have used the automatic batch out to "create 1 out per instrument" as your follow up video suggested.

Highlighted here in pic

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eqcxd3m3b7hwcpa/A9Setup.jpg

Any thoughts where I could have gone wrong?

p.s. not sure why pic isn't coming out here but offer link in case

[UltimateOutsider]

Your vid seems spot on but I don't see the same outputs listed for my Kontakt 5 instrument. I have also setup 16 blank instrument slots in K5 and have used the automatic batch out to "create 1 out per instrument" as your follow up video suggested.

Any thoughts where I could have gone wrong?

This is confusing as hell and it took me a few days to figure out. I wrote out steps for setting this up (and I credit JBlongz in my post because his video pointed me in the right direction), but I also have a map of Kontakt-outputs-to-Live-inputs, because if you simply go by the port names it doesn't make sense.

Here's the chart I put together, but my post explains what it means if it doesn't make immediate sense:

[mholloway]

unless you have a really old, weak computer, what's the point in using Kontakt multi-timbrally anyway?

using multiple instances with one instrument per-instance is no longer the CPU issue it used to be, for most modern home systems. and it results in a much less cluttered mixer / channel setup, not to mention all the routing work it saves you.

come to think of it, I can't think of a single benefit of using it multi-timbrally, unless you have some sort of elaborte master-FX setup inside kontakt that you need all the instruments running through (and even then...)

[MIAR]

Much thank Uoutsider. This is helpful but indeed very confusing.

I had no trouble with Battery 4. All its outs are listed sensibly and reflected in the external instrument choosers also.

Also why would one person's config differ from JB's video?

[UltimateOutsider]

Much thank Uoutsider. This is helpful but indeed very confusing.

I had no trouble with Battery 4. All its outs are listed sensibly and reflected in the external instrument choosers also.

Also why would one person's config differ from JB's video?

If I remember right, he just didn't go far enough into it that he would have run into the weirdness with the "aux" outs. It's been a year since I saw the video though.

But you're right- you master Kontakt, any other multi-timbral plugin is a breeze.