Automating Cakewalk VST Instruments

[djwesley]

One thing I've never understood -- as in literally, I don't understand the underlying technology well enough -- is why Cakewalk instruments (Dimension Pro, Rapture, and now Z3TA+ 2 as well) apparently cannot be automated in Ableton Live. Could someone explain why, why not, and/or what I might be missing?

In literally every other VSTi I have, which consists mostly of Native Instruments products and the Sylenth analog modeler, all I have to do is move a control (knob, slider, etc.) in the VST's UI (user interface), and it instantly appears as an automatable parameter in the Ableton UI, where it can be manipulated easily over the timeline in arrangement view or within a MIDI clip in the corresponding track.

Cakewalk instruments? I can move controls in the VST's UI all day long, and nothing shows-up as an automatable parameter.

The worst part of this is that I love the sounds of their synths, and I do use them in some projects. But I'd use them a hell of a lot more if their sounds could be shaped over time with automation in Ableton, and it's hugely disappointing.

I just wish I understood: 1. If I'm missing some magic ingredient here. 2. If not, what it is about the VST interfaces as Cakewalk implements them vs. other people implement them that makes virtually everything else I have automatable, but not these?

Thanks for any and all comments.

[RickDawson]

I have just upgraded z3ta+ to z3ta+2

I agree with you here.

I'd like to map a few presets to the buttons on my novation launchpad
Manually going to ableton and then to z3ta+2 to select a preset is long winded during a dj set.
I play live keyboard in some of my sets.

Dj using traktor pro 2
Ableton to do ident drops and my intro at the start of a set.

Any quick way to do this would be really helpful.

[dentaku]

It's weird that certain VSTs just don't let you automate anything.
I don't have Rapture but this is how it's supposed to work. http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?high= ... =1#2362412

This doesn't work in Dimension Pro for some reason.