going completly OT, answering vs. Davids curiosity
i understand your curiosity !
i have to open a own discussion on that matter at some point.
I´d say, there is something to discuss
in short: different usecases ! (which would be point of discussion / cause: it leeds to different forms how we would deal with GP)
David, you know eurorack modular, do you ? (you mentioned it)
I use GP like it was the blank frame for an eurorack synth.
the plugins, mainly the FX -and the GP internals for routing- are the “modules” i do “patch” with.
GP has turned my PC into a plugin based -kind of a- modularsynth
i do NOT play in band context ( while i have been a bandcontext musician bevore my accident. / Bassist. Had to quit afterwards)
what i do is the “realtime-play” thing.
I do quasi “realtime-play sounddesign”, sort of patches.
Think of Stephan Schmitts C-15 synth. What he has created within that synth, thats what i do within GP…we share same thinking shemes. ( just that i can´t programm in Reaktor)
My modular has around 900 Hardware knobs.
and a patch would consist of so and so many knobs that are relevant for a “performance” (home - jam)
I do same with GP, just now based on playing keyboard.
…and by mapping all relevant knobs to my HW controls.
So, i´m very much used to deal wit complex HW control setups
(key is: repeat ever and ever same thinking shemes)
also:
my patches have options inclouded.
i can mute (CPU-bypass quasi everything, or most of my FX,…and also mostoften all instruments)
So, one patch can be this, or it can be that.
I can use the different “FX thematics” each on its own, or combine them.
Fact is also: ALOTS of my widgets/mappings is vs. “Audio Routing options” !
there is ALOTS of Audio routings involved in my patches.
and no, so far i´m not on stage with this (keyboardplaying). (starts with: i have no car)
But my patches have reached a level, where “nice” -improvised- One man shows would become possible. I can do with GP stunnings things.
Ofcourse also thanks to todays plugin FX power. which is just insane ! to say the least.
sorry for OT !