Layering and Multitimbral Instruments?

You can set key ranges in edit mode>instrument channel strip inspector>layer editor. You can grab either end of the colored layer bar and drag it to the desired key range or set high key and low key with the learn function. You see the layers/splits in the workspace, and even better in performance mode. See below.

Hi

Keys916 wrote:

I use layering all the time, and am familiar with the way it works for regular channel strips, but in the case where a multitimbral instrument is used, there is only one range available - I cannot adjust the ranges of the separate MIDI channels separately. This is the problem. Am I missing some way to unlock them from one another?

No...

You cannot currently split one channel strip, even if it is using a multi-timbral layer. If you loaded up two instances of the required plugin in different channel strips you would be "good to go" (but you may wish to avoid any memory hit)

It seems that you cannot "Paste as Alias" more than one instance per Patch either, such that you could use two alias's in the same Patch and keysplit them.

A workaround would be to "Paste as Alias" one strip at Set level, the other at Patch Level. Choose the required "multi-timbral" MIDI setup, and sort out keysplits for one at Set level, the other at Patch level.

To get 3 splits without using more than one instance, you'd probably have to add an Alias at Concert level (overriding as needed for the rest of the Concert).

hth

CCT

Hi,

I'm having the same issues like Keys916 reported.

There should really be a more efficient way to use multitimbral instruments like e.g. Omnisphere or UVI workstation inside Mainstage.

To create seperate channel strips with each containing the multitimbral instrument for layering and splitting is really a hit on memory and ressources.

Ok, you could split and layer inside the multitimbral instrument, but then you would lose the advantage of having different channels for mixing and fx.

From my point of view to have on of the following options would help:

1) Like already mentioned by CCTM: there should be an option to "paste as alias" within a patch. Then you could for example load 8 sounds inside Omnishere copy it eight times as alias but only use one instance instead of 8. Of course you would have to use the multi outputs of the AUi to route it to the different channels.

2) There could be a sort of "MIDI channel strip" that can send MIDI data to the "mother channel strip" which contains the multitimbral instrument. The channels could e.g. route MIDI data from channel 1 of the keyboard controller to channels 1 to 16 feeding the multitimbral AUi. So instead of audio sends to busses it should be midi sends to instruments. It's the same principle which is used in most common DAWs.

Any opinions on that?

Perhaps we will see this in an future update of mainstage, fingers crossed... ;-)

Best regards

I have a similar, if not identical question.

For example, I would like to load Kontakt in an instrument channel strip at the Concert level, and have a trumpet section on channel 1, sax section on channel 2 and a trombone section on channel 3. I'm only using one keyboard controller, and lets say it is transmitting on Channel 1.

I'd like to have some kind of virtual midi patch bay in Mainstage at the Patch level that would let me route the single-channel midi output of that keyboard controller to one or more other channels. That way I could create patches with layers and/or splits that would play different combinations of those Kontakt voices from the same keyboard. The Channel Strip Layer Editor could show a different layer for each channel to which I have assigned an instrument in Kontakt (or Omnisphere or some other multitimbral plugin). I'm pretty sure I'm describing the same thing that Keys916 is asking for in his/her original post.

That way we could load a single rack of instrument channel strips at a Concert or Set level, and then at the Patch level we could choose how we want to map the keyboard controller(s) to the instruments/channels in our rack.

I'm pretty sure that the Forte VST host for Windows allows you to do this... map incoming midi controller data to any number of different channels along with key range and transpose settings inside the host at the patch level.

Maybe there is some way to do it in Mainstage, and I'm just missing it?

I found this workaround.

First make sure your iac midi driver is on. Its in audio/midi configuration on your mac.

Now in your MainStage Layout create another keyboard with the iac driver as input.

Set Your Kontakt instance to be played from this keyboard.

Now on the keyboard you actually use you can make external instruments sending to different midi channels on the iac midibus.

Now you will be able to make all your sound layer and octave settings.

Thanks griepje! That almost works. I can map the new external instrument channel strips to the various channels in Kontakt or Omnisphere and the keyboard works as expected, but none of the other controller messages (sustain, expression, modulation, channel pressure, etc.) are getting any response.

At the Concert level Layout I added a Midi Activity Indicator and assigned it to the Bus 1 IAC Driver (channel 1-16).

Then at Concert level Edit I added the instrument channel strip with Midi input set to Bus 1 IAC Driver (1-16), and loaded a couple of instruments at channels 1 and 2.

Then I created a new Patch, and added a couple of External Instrument channel strips with Midi Input assigned to my keyboard, Midi output assigned to Bus 1 IAC Driver, and Midi Channels assigned to 1 and 2 respectively.

indeed I can now use the Layer Editor and Midi Input tabs to set the range and transpose settings.

But the Kontakt instruments aren't responding to my sustain or expression pedals, mod wheel, etc. I see both the Midi activity indicators for the keyboard and the IAC Driver flashing when I move those controls. I tried explicitly mapping them to the desired parameters of the External Instruments, but they still don't work. Can't map them to Kontakt at the Patch level, since Kontakt is at the Concert level. It seems like I can map them at the Concert level, but then only the instrument assigned to the same channel as my controller responds.

what am I missing?