How do I simply change the volume of a MIDI track without it affecting all the tracks routed to the same Instrument? I’m making a demo for a client, where I’m just using stock Halion sounds for now. If I try to lower the volume of track 2, it lowers the volume on track 1 (and 3, and so on).
The midi volume changes the volume in halion for that channel, not just the notes coming from that midi track.
Are your other midi tracks on separate midi channels?
If you set the midi volume on midi track one to 50% and it is sending on midi channel one. All other midi tracks set to transmit on channel one will also be played back at 50%.
The only way around this is to use velocity on the individual notes, and halion must be setup so that patch 100% responds to velocity.
Yes, all my instruments are on separate MIDI channels. The same thing happens in Kontakt, Opus, etc. I can have several MIDI tracks all routed to one instance of a virtual instrument, but if I change the volume of one, they ALL change.
On your first two screenshots you show the fader for the instrument’s audio return channel. It seems the instrument sends out all sounds on the same audio channel. If you change its volume setting it will naturally affect everything.
I think on the 3rd screenshot you wonder why the faders are on the bottom in their “off” position. These are midi channel volume faders. Midi (1.0) does not have a standard to retrieve the current value from a midi device so the faders do not necessarily show the current value.
I stopped using MIDI volume tracks YEARS ago…
Maybe it is still useful to some ?
But for me, way better to :
- hide all MIDI tracks from mixer
- automate volume of MIDI notes directly in the key editor or drum editor
- automate resulting AUDIO volume on the plugin volume track
That saves from having double the tracks in the mixer …
Just my own workflow, if that can help, though I’d understand if others may do things differently.
It looks like you are using a Rack-instrument?
My choice would be to use a Track-intrument, and use the Halions sonics Mix page
to set up the sounds level (internaly halion) and output to separate chanels so the Cubase mixer shows separate audio channels for each sound. Then you would av oid the midi channels in the mixer aswell, as far as I remeber.
Okay, automating it in the key editor works fine, but is an extra step for me as I prefer using staff notation when composing, and then using the traditional mixer when mixing (like when working with “real” instruments). I wish there were a way around this, so I could just use the faders!
There is! Just use a separate instrument track for each sound.
Absolutely the way to go. Setup Halion or other instruments as multiple outs and mix volumes and FX directly on each output.
I never use MIDI tracks, I think they may only be there for those controlling outboard MIDI gear, otherwise absolutely no point for VST instruments (as far as I know!).