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Tutorial - Blue Cat's Digital Peak Meter Pro In Sonar
Tutorial - Blue Cat's Digital Peak Meter Pro In Sonar
This tutorial shows how to use the DP Meter Pro plugin (DPMP) in Cakewalk Sonar, in order to modify the parameters of an effect on a track according to the envelope of an other track.

Step By Step

01 - Insert the DPMP on the drums track:

Step 01 - Insert the DPMP on the drums track

02 - Select the DPMP preset settings in the main menu (right click on the background):

Step 02 - Select the DPMP preset settings in the main menu (right click on the background)

03 - Enable the DPMP Midi output for the transformed peak envelope, and set the CC number:

Step 03 - Enable the DPMP Midi output for the transformed peak envelope, and set the CC number

04 - Insert the Stereo Chorus effect in an instrument track:

Step 04 - Insert the Stereo Chorus effect in an instrument track

05 - Select the chorus presets settings in the main menu:

Step 05 - Select the chorus presets settings in the main menu

06 - Enable the chorus MIDI input for one or several parameters, and set the MIDI Channel to Omni (0) and the MIDI CC to the same value as for the DPMP output:

Step 06 - Enable the chorus MIDI input for one or several parameters, and set the MIDI Channel to Omni (0) and the MIDI CC to the same value as for the DPMP output

07 - Insert a MIDI track:

Step 07 - Insert a MIDI track

08 - Setup the MIDI track output to the Stereo Chorus DXi:

Step 08 - Setup the MIDI track output to the Stereo Chorus DXi

09 - Setup MIDI track echo on:

Step 09 - Setup MIDI track echo on

10 - Open the Options - Global Settings panel:

Step 10 - Open the Options - Global Settings panel

11 - Select 'Echo soft synth input to all MIDI tracks' so that the Peak Meter MIDI CC messages are sent to all tracks:

Step 11 - Select 'Echo soft synth input to all MIDI tracks' so that the Peak Meter MIDI CC messages are sent to all tracks

11.1 - (For Sonar 6 and newer) Open the synth rack view and enable the MIDI output for the DPMP:

Step 11.1 - (For Sonar 6 and newer) Open the synth rack view and enable the MIDI output for the DPMP

12 - Hit Play - the chorus rate slider is now moving with the drum track:

Step 12 - Hit Play - the chorus rate slider is now moving with the drum track

13 - Hide the RMS curves on the DPMP to monitor only the peaks:

Step 13 - Hide the RMS curves on the DPMP to monitor only the peaks

14 - Tweak the Amount and offset parameters of the DPMP:

Step 14 - Tweak the Amount and offset parameters of the DPMP

15 - Tweak the Chorus MIDI response curve parameters (Min,Max,Response):

Step 15 - Tweak the Chorus MIDI response curve parameters (Min,Max,Response)

16 - Tweak the DPMP MIDI output response:

Step 16 - Tweak the DPMP MIDI output response

17 - Arm chorus parameters:

Step 17 - Arm chorus parameters

18 - Select the same parameter(s) you chose to enable in the MIDI input settings:

Step 18 - Select the same  parameter(s) you chose to enable in the  MIDI input settings

19 - Hit the record automation button:

Step 19 - Hit the record automation button

20 - The result is an automation envelope in sync with the drums track:

Step 20 - The result is an automation envelope in sync with the drums track

21 - You can then assign the automation envelope with any parameter of the track:

Step 21 - You can then assign the automation envelope with any parameter of the track

22 - You can do the same on the DPMP track by directly recording any output parameter:

Step 22 - You can do the same on the DPMP track by directly recording any output parameter

22.1 - On the most recent versions of the plugin, check that automation output is enabled in the current preset settings:

Step 22.1 - On the most recent versions of the plugin, check that automation output is enabled in the current preset settings

23 - Enjoy:

Step 23 - Enjoy
You have learnt how to use the DP Meter Pro plugin (DPMP) in Cakewalk Sonar: you are now able to perform real time true side chaining on multiple tracks or record automation curves. This technique can be used for side chain compression, ducking, voice over etc. Experiment with many effect parameters, and do not hesitate to spend some time tweaking the MIDI response curves for an optimal result.

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