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Tutorial - Using Blue Cat Audio plugins connectivity in Pro Tools

Tutorial Description

This tutorial shows how to use the MIDI connectivity of our plugins within Pro Tools. We use Blue Cat's Peak Meter Pro plugin as an example, but you can use any other audio plugin which provides output parameters, such as our audio analysis plugins.

These capabilities let you use any characteristic of a source audio signal to perform a side chain on any parameter of the destination track. Our example shows how to perform side chain filtering with this system: the Peak Meter Pro plugin is used to generate an envelope based on this source track amplitude to control the low pass filter gain of the Triple EQ free plugin on another track.

Our Pro Tools session is initially composed of two audio tracks: a source and destination track. We then add a MIDI track to carry the MIDI side chain control data.

Step By Step

01 - On the source track, insert the DPMP:
Step 01 - On the source track, insert the DPMP
02 - On the destination track, insert the plugin you want to control:
Step 02 - On the destination track, insert the plugin you want to control
03 - Create a new track:
Step 03 - Create a new track
03.1 This MIDI track will carry the control signal from the DPMP to the destination plugin:
Step 03.1 This MIDI track will carry the control signal from the DPMP to the destination plugin
04 - Assign the input of the MIDI track to the DPMP Midi output:
Step 04 - Assign the input of the MIDI track to the DPMP Midi output
05 - The output of the MIDI track should be assigned to the input of the destination plug-in:
Step 05 - The output of the MIDI track should be assigned to the input of the destination plug-in
06 - The MIDI track routing now shows the DPMP sending MIDI to our other plug-in:
Step 06 - The MIDI track routing now shows the DPMP sending MIDI to our other plug-in
06.1 - Arm the MIDI track for record so that MIDI events are routed to its output:
Step 06.1 - Arm the MIDI track for record so that MIDI events are routed to its output
07 - Activate the Transformed peak parameter MIDI out and select its MIDI channel and number:
Step 07 - Activate the Transformed peak parameter MIDI out and select its MIDI channel and number
08 - You can do the same in the preset settings window (more settings are available):
Step 08 - You can do the same in the preset settings window (more settings are available)
09 - Open the destination plugin settings window:
Step 09 - Open the destination plugin settings window
11 - Enable MIDI input for the Low gain parameter and setup the same MIDI channel and number as the DPMP output (or use MIDI learn):
Step 11 - Enable MIDI input for the Low gain parameter and setup the same MIDI channel and number as the DPMP output (or use MIDI learn)
11.1 - Modify the range of the control so that it only covers negative values (to avoid overshoot):
Step 11.1 - Modify the range of the control so that it only covers negative values (to avoid overshoot)
12 - Hit Play - the low pass filter gain is now following the source track peak level:
Step 12 - Hit Play - the low pass filter gain is now following the source track peak level
13 - You can now tweak the response curve of the transformed envelope to modify the way the side chain is controlled:
Step 13 - You can now tweak the response curve of the transformed envelope to modify the way the side chain is controlled

Conclusion

You have just learnt how to use the MIDI connectivity capabilities of our plugins in Pro Tools. This simple scenario shows how to setup a MIDI control side chain between an amplitude follower and a low pass filter. You can now experiment with many other effect sources and destination parameters. You can also check our other tutorials for more ideas.

This system also lets you control other plugins or external hardware, as long as they support MIDI input.


Any questions, comments? You want to submit your own tutorial to win a free license? Please post on our Forum!
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