I see that the global parts are for loading instruments that are going to play in each and every song. Fine. I thought that instruments that are commonly used could be loaded, but not necessarily in all. For example, let me explain: I’m a drummer using SD3, and in my group we play, let’s say, 15 songs. In 6 of them I use a drum kit, in 5 of them another kit, and in the remaining 4 a different kit for each of them. I understand that the 4 songs with unique drum kits have to load an instance of SD3 on each song. But isn’t there an option to load into global parts (semi-global parts?) two SD3 instances with shared drums just once and decide which SD3 instance I want to use for each song (or each part)? If I have to load in each song (or even in each part) an instance of SD3, the RAM will burst.
I’ve realized (or so I think) that I can’t mute an instrument in global parts independently on each part, it mutes on all of them. As well as regulating the volume independently in each song, it seems that that instrument will always sound at the same volume, and even if the instrument is the same, the sound level does not have to be. Or maybe I’m missing something.
Did you try “Shared”? If the plugin can deal with Program Changes (or load several sets that can be selected by MIDI channel) one instance is sufficient.
I can’t get it, I don’t understand. Basically I need to load an instance of Superior Drummer 3 with an X drum kit and be able to use it on multiple songs, without having to load that kit (and thus a separate instance) on each song that uses it. And do the same for another instance of Superior Drummer 3 with a Z drum kit. SD3 cannot load multiple kits in a single instance. Can VST Live do what I need? If it can’t I think it would be absolutely necessary, otherwise it’s an incredible waste of PC resources.
new project, has Song 1, Part 1, Layer 1, set to SD3 with kit No. 1
add Song (Song 2) with Part 1, Layer 1, set to SD3 with kit No. 2
add Song (Song 3) with Part 1, Layer 1, set to Shared with “SD3 Song 1 Part 1 Layer1”
Song 3 will now use SD3 of the very first Layer with kit No. 1, w/o creating a new instance. Isn’t that what you want?
rtfm
OMG! Found! It took me a while but I got it haha, thanks.
Once this is done, I assume that any volume, pan, sends, and effects edits will affect any song that uses the shared instrument. As an idea, it would be pretty cool if in the parts you use an instrument from another song, it would automatically be routed to a separate channel for that song where you can adjust the volume, effects and so on according to what the song in question needs. . Using the same instrument in different songs does not mean that they all need to be played at the same volume, or with the same amount of reverb, or whatever. As it is right now, I think it works for me, but it gives me the feeling that sooner rather than later I will miss that functionality.
By the way, about rtfm (I didn’t know what it meant, I had to Google it)… I always look for what I don’t know before asking here, but I haven’t found the information. My native language is Spanish, and I don’t speak too much English. I have translated the manual with a pdf translator, but with the program in English, the words in the manual do not coincide with those in the program menu, so it is of little help in the end. My motto in life is ‘do not disturb’, sorry if I have, but I needed the information. Thank you anyway.
Sorry you didn’t find what you wanted with the translator. I thought “Shared” should be sufficient to find it…no need to apologize, and sorry for “rtfm”
No. Shared means that the plugin instance (instrument) is shared, not the Layer.
However, you can simply copy/paste a Layer with a shared instrument, or drag it to the Media Bay (“Layer”) in the right zone, and from there drag to the Layers view whenever you need it and modify as required.
No problem. I attach a video with my procedure and its result. Any changes you make are reflected in all songs on the shared instrument. Same result copying and pasting the layer or saving to the Media Bay. Maybe I’m missing something and I’m skipping a step, I don’t know. In any case, I can’t think of what else to try. A video is worth a thousand words:
An Instrument has an audio channel. What you show are the changes applied to the shared instrument(!)s audio channel. Other controls of the Layer are not affected.
When you set a Layer to a shared instrument, it deliberately switches the channel items to “MIDI”, because you will control specific Layer changes via MIDI controllers instead of audio, as the audio channel controls belong to the instrument, and are thus shared across all Layers refering that shared instrument.
Of course you are right, seen from your point of view, that Layers do share the audio channel controls of a shared instrument. It may be confusing to understand that the audio channel belongs to the instrument, not the Layer.
The initial use of shared instruments is with multitimbral instruments. For instance, if you set Halion Sonic SE (delivered with VST Live) in its options tab - “Program Change” to GM Mode, there are 16 MIDI slots that can be filled with various sounds. Then, you can create multiple Layers set to that shared instrument, which can address each slot via the MIDI channel. And you control the volume of each slot via the MIDI (!) slider in the Layer. Audio controls however change the volume of the shared instrument, which means it changes the volume of all slots at once. This, again, is why it automatically switches to MIDI controls when you select a shared instrument. AFAIK it also gives you a warning that changes to the instrument (and that includes its audio channel) apply to all Layers refering to that instrument.
Hope that clears it up a bit.
Now yes, all clear. I am now understanding how it works. It would be nice to be able to tweak the channel controls independently for each song or part, somehow. In any case, as it is now, I think it can work well for me. Thanks!
I’ll have to look that up in the manual. Thanks