Hello. New to VST Live and considering a move from Camelot Pro. So far so good except that I would like to see the layers with my external synths appear as a separate strip in the mixer.
I typically have two layers with external synths plus additional VSTs. Each VST automatically gets its own channel strip but the external synths do not. I expect it’s something to do with routing (or just me) but would appreciate any help. Thanks.
Hi! You mean external (physical) synths from e.g. MIDI tracks via cable?
It’s hard to understand your setup and the need.
What do you mean with “two layers with external synths”?
Anything that produces sound in VST Live has its own strip in the Mixer. Even a metronome.
Create a Global Stack and connect it to an input that you set up in Connections. It’ll then have a fader in the mixer. You can also set up a Stack in each Song or a mixture of both.
If your saying that you have more than one output from your synth you’ll need a stack for each one.
If your problem is MIDI volume then set up a MIDI track (doesn’t have to have anything recorded on it) and it’ll get a slider in the Song sub mix.
Exactly. I have a Nord Electro 5 and a Roland RD88 cabled in via USB. The Roland is also used as the audio interface. Thanks.
check your “Connections” / MIDI if all the “OUT” ports (to your external synths) are corect
Thanks for your prompt attention. I have one song part with 2 layers:
1. is Nord (midi controller keyboard) IN and HALion OUT. Routing shows (Stereo Out). Works fine and has its own channel strip in the mixer.
2. is Roland RD-88 IN and RD-88 Out. Routing shows (n/c) and there is no other option. It plays as expected, it accepts bank change and the volume slider works (set to MIDI). It does not have a channel strip in the mixer.
Note: I have named the field at the top right of the layer window ‘routing’ as it does not appear in the manual. Options are ‘stereo out’, ‘song 1’ and ‘n/c’ for the HALion layer. No options other than ‘n/c’ for the external synth.
With these two layers, the mixer has channel strips for:
HALion. Fader, mute etc works as expected.
Song 1. No signal is received to this from either layer and fader, mute etc. do nothing.
Stereo Out. Fader, mute etc. works on HALion signal only.
What I would like to see is a channel strip for the RD-88 so I can easily balance the volumes for performance. Is it because the mixer mixes an audio signal only?
Let’s clarify your situation.
1st route = MIDI from Nord comes to VST Live, Layer1 is receiving and it has Halion as target. The Halion as a virtual instrument has it’s Audio Out and is routed to Stereo Out of VST Live. I hope there is no questions why it’s so 
Nord MIDI → Layer1 → Halion (audio)-> Stero Out
2nd route = MIDI from RD-88 comes to VST Live, Layer2 is receiving and it has MIDI Out as target, so received MIDI goes back to RD-88. There is no need to do that unless you use some transformation of MIDI data. Okay, it’s by you.
RD-88 MIDI → Layer2 → RD-88 MIDI
or
RD-88 MIDI → MIDI Track for Layer2 → Layer2 → RD-88 MIDI
So from this you see that in second case there is nothing about an audio signal, therefore there is no place to put Mixer stripe. But as the only audio device, you have Stereo Out stripe for RD-88. I would recommend to add serious audio device for your non-easy tasks.
Of course! Because that third routing parameter is Audio Out of the Layer. If you use Layer just to receive MIDI and send MIDI and maybe transform MIDI inside Layer and/or use MIDI Track to record and play MIDI, also then there is nothing that can be managed in the Mixer as an Audio channel. In case of use MIDI Track attached to the Layer (with R button or routing it), you only have MIDI strip in Mixer.
Additionally, maybe your RD-88 theoretically can be splitted in two - synth and audio device? In this case there could be a parameter on board that disconnects both. I just guessing.
Just try - add a Stack that will receive audio signal from RD-88. Stacks are only Audio, so by default you have Stereo Out on the out, but can be changed to any other audio bus (group).
RD-88 Audio → Stack1 (also an audio strip in Mixer) → Stereo Out
So I will wonder if it works, because in your setup this could create an infinite loop. Therefore before try this, remove headphones from head and/or lower volume on amplifier.
Tell us the progress. I would like to know is the RD-88 capable to do two different tasks - be a synth for virtual playback and audio device simultaneously but without soldered connection.
I asked a little help from AI and it told this:
This dual capability is enabled by installing the Roland USB driver and setting the RD-88 to Vendor mode, which unlocks full MIDI and audio integration over a single USB cable.
Thank you Arthur.
All good with VST and yes, I want the ability to set/save volumes, bank change etc for the external synth.
For me, the Audio Interface in the RD-88 is more than adequate for a keyboard set up. I tried the interface in my A&H CQ20b and it did not make any noticeable difference.
The mixer is audio only…. Now I understand.
I tried your suggestion It kept me busy for a while but you can set up a stack and use the RD-88 audio out without any changes. However, it doubles up on the sound and you get some distortion. If you drop the audio fader, you still get sound from the MIDI layer source.
It does not make a difference if I use another Audio Interface for the main OUT.
There are settings on the RD-88 for USB audio. The manual states for ‘USB Audio THRU’:
Specifies whether the input from USB audio is sent through to USB audio
output (ON) or not sent through (OFF).
The audio loop is harsh (I did turn the amp down).
Camelot Pro seems to accommodate external synths better but I’m still likely to move as I like the interface and additional features of VST Live.
Again. Many thanks. If you think of something else, please let me know. Tim
I tried similar setup, not equal because I don’t have synth as audio device. So I have Yamaha CS1x and UR242. The MIDI comes from synth and goes through Layer back to the synth (as I wrote for you), but the audio from synth goes through UR242 audio in to the DAW, then back to the UR242. Therefore I mute the Line-In channel in the UR242 device using its tool (mixer app) and it goes only to the DAW. This prevents the audio signal to sound twice with a little delay while going through DAW making abnormal chorus or distortion if both are too loud.
The problem is that you’ve got accustomed to Camelot before jumping into VST Live. If vice versa, you probably wouldn’t know Camelot at all, because I see VST Live is best that happens to me this century 