[rotomtom]

Advantages:
– low latency performance for MIDI notes to the Synth
– med latency for Controller and SysEx data but maximum routing flexibility:
–use external or standalone editors /library managers simultaneously with Ctrlr VST on the same synth
–use ToucheSE with Ctrlr embedded in Lie driving my MKS-80 if I want to use it this way (Lie is also managed via loopMIDI/MIDI-OX)
–record the SysEx MIDI stream back into an empty MIDI track (enable virtual midi out as MIDI IN device) save the data in a MIDI file for sharing or with a song. or use MIDI OX to manage MIDI data
– And that’s my favorite next to low latency MIDI notes: leverage the benefits of the “External Instrument” feature in Cubase/Nuendo (or simikar in Ableton Live)! So I can easily use within one track all VST-FX, MIDI-FX, Freeze Audio of the track etc. Hassle free and perfect for me.

Bytheway:
I’m using e.g. MomoMueller MKS-80 Ctrlr panel with my little monster. Works similar with other synths.
The only thing I’ struggling:
The loop back from the Synth is not reflected in the panel. So I need external editors. And I love to use the external MPG-80 controller. Right now it’s for programming the temp/play memory of the synth to save the data to the synth internal memory banks. Simultaneously recording the SysEx from the MPG-80 into a PC editor doesn’t work so far, at least I’m still searching for a good solution. (Nerd-mode on) Right now I record 3 different bursts of MIDI SysEx (uppper tone, lower tone, patch) but need to edit the HEX data of the tone bursts to mark them as as upper or lower tone. Works ok-ish (place it on a MIDI track to load the sound before the next notes. (nerd-mode off 😉
Any ideas are welcome :)!

[rotomtom]

My 2cents: Here’s a low-latency MIDI approach with Ctrlr VST in Cubase/Nuendo
You need:
1. Windows 10 64Bit
2. Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo (works similar in Ableton Live)
3. an Audio Card
4. a MIDI interface with multiclient drivers that ports are connected to your Synth’s MIDI IN and OUT. Plus an additional MIDI IN for your MIDI keyboard
5. a virtual MIDI cable driver like loopMIDI or LoopBe
6. a MIDI router like MIDI-OX (no worries about 32 Bit!)

The setup:
• Open e.g. loopMIDI and create 2 virtual MIDI cables named:
o “to Synth MIDI”
o “from Synth MIDI”
o Close the program (the driver will keep running in the Windows 10 system tray)
• Open MIDI-OX and do following MIDI Device connections/routings:
o Connect “to Synth MIDI” with the MIDI interface MIDI OUT (that is sending to the Synth MIDI IN)
o Connect “from Synth MIDI” with the MIDI interface MIDI IN (that is receiving from the Synth MIDI OUT)
o Keep MIDI-OX running (sometimes when the routing stops or does not function as expected: close the program and restart it. You can do this anytime, even when Cubase/Nuendo is running)
• In Cubase/Nuendo
o Activate the physical MIDI interface driver ports where the external synth is connected to MIDI IN and OUT
o Disable the virtual MIDI port(s) “to Synth MIDI” and “from Synth MIDI” from the Windows MIDI IN and MIDI OUT drivers list (to avoid the risk for feedback loops – note: there is some use to keep this active for internal routing purposes, but this would be a different topic to discuss. If you want to keep then at least remove the check at “All MIDI inputs” for that virtual MIDI ports. Tip: disable also the “All Midi Input” setting of the physical Midi Interface MIDI IN the synth is sending to, just in case to avoid feedback loops).
o Create a Midi Device called “Synth” in Studio\Options\Midi Devices (chose whatever name you want)
o Create an External Instrument in Studio\Audio Connections named “Synth” (chose whatever name you want)
 Connect it to your Audio Card AUDIO IN
 Connect it to the “Synth” MIDI Device
 Tip: you can adjust the latency compensation in ms. Use a one-bar MIDI event with 16th quantized notes and a play a percussive dry sound at your Synth at 60 bpm from that MIDI event in an Instrument Track playing the External Instrument “Synth”. Record the incoming audio from the synth in a different audio track. Open the audio event, zoom in and check the delay the recording lands from the note’s original positions (switch the grit to “Seconds”). Adjust the delay compensation of your External Instrument “Synth” accordingly in Audio Connections/External Instruments. Note: the MIDI delay will usually vary from take to take. This is “normal” due to the serial and slow MIDI protocol and latency of your synth and sometimes bad Karma. So: adjust to a best compromise.
o Create an Instrument Track 1 with Ctrlr-VST
 in the Ctrlr Plugin
• connect the virtual MIDI cables
o MIDI OUT: “to Synth MIDI”
o MIDI IN: “from Synth MIDI”
• Set MIDI Plugin Options: Input from host to comparator: on
 Enable Automation Read+Write
  all Ctrlr movements will be recorded/played/managed in and from this track with Automation
 No MIDI notes will be played here (of yourse you can, but you have to enable Midi Thru / Plugin Host to Output Device. Expect a slightly longer latency than using the physical MIDI interface driver (ca 1-3ms depending on your PC/system).
o Create an Instrument Track 2 with the External Instrument “Synth”
 Set “Record Enable“ (Midi Thru) and connect your Keyboard to the MIDI IN of this track (use a separate additional MIDI interface port for this keyboard).
 Now you can play your external Synth at lowest latency.
 As by design of an External Instrument Track, you can hear your Synth’s audio coming in thru your Audio Card and you can use MIDI- and Audio-Plugins here.
 Do all MIDI notes recording in this track and since it’s an External Instrument you can record / bounce the audio from your synth according to the MIDI events in this track.

If you have other ideas, just reply and add your thoughts and experiences.

Have fun ?!

[Author]

Posts