Hi folks,
I want to use Waves’ X-FDBK with VST Live for controlling microphone feedback within my vocal stack. I’m unsure how to do this, as I’ve saved various presets within X-FDBK for the various venues I’ve played. Therefore, how do I set the preset for the venue without having to go into every song and manually change this preset in every stack for each setlist?
I’m currently using Cubase for my live shows, so the process is really easy, as it’s just one project per gig. I set the X-FDBK preset on my vocal track and I’m done. Not so with VST Live, as the songs are individual projects within themselves.
I appreciate certain aspects of VST Live’s mixer are independent of the songs, so I’m guessing it’s a routing issue? Do I route my vocal stack to a channel on the mixer that doesn’t change when a new song is loaded/played, thereby enabling me to set the X-FDBK preset for the entire setlist? I’m a bit lost…
Apparently, you can use X-FDBK on the main output. But, as I’ve found personally, especially with hollow stages, if there is an excess of bass frequencies within the feedback, X-FDBK will remove too much bass on the overall mix. This is why I only use it on the vocal channel.
It looks like you can save the settings to a preset after you have rung out the mike. If all your instances are set to the same preset that might work.
I notice that Waves intend you to ring out the mike during the sound check rather than have the auto-sensing running during the show.
You could route your mike into a global stack with fbdk inserted on it, which means you would only have one instance of the vst. The gotcha is that the volume control is also global but you can get round this with automation if needed.
Yes, that’s what I’m doing. I’m ringing out the PA, then saving the preset. My issue is that for each venue, I need to set it’s preset within X-FDBK before I perform. With Global Stacks, you can’t automate anything. I need to turn VST FX on and off etc. So, the only option as I can see it, apart from using X-FDBK on the main output, is to create a setlist, then go into every part of every song, choose the preset and then re-save the songs (and media content), every time I want to do a gig.
Surely there’s a way of doing it without all this hassle…?
Not true. An automation track can control things like pan, mute, volume either in the stack itself or in its mixer channel.
When you have a VST loaded you can address the vst from the automation track - the stack will have more than one target, the stack itself or one of its VSTs.
You also have the quick controls for the vst (the dot at the bottom left of the stack “in volume” slider, they can be automated as well.
Maybe, if your fbdk is not selecting the saved program in all songs, you should try reloading the project after you have saved the program so that it is refreshed. Afaik saved programs within a vst are global, so if they’re all set to the same program (eg “TonightsGig”) this should work.
Also Waves products have a MIDI implementation but, for some strange reason, you have to request it from Waves.
Apologies for not being clearer in regard to the VST FX…
I also have different reverb presets. These are within the plugins themselves. I change reverb types, delay times etc using parts. I’ve tried the automation track on a global stack, but it doesn’t give me enough access to the parameters I need to change as each song progresses. Yes, I can turn inserts on and off etc, but I can’t change the actual plugin presets.
To be honest, it’ll just be easier having X-FDBK on the main output. You can fine tune the EQ notches once it’s done it’s reading, so if it detects too much low end, I can always dial it back.
That’s why I think you should get the MIDI implementation. Different method of control possibly with more parameters than you can currently see.
Then again, simple is usually best…