One midi controller to control multiple plugins separately

General discussion about Gig Performer
1

Hey everyone,

Want to start by saying I am relatively new to GP and love how expansive the resources for learning are. So many videos and forum discussions. That being said, not knowing the perfect search terms combined with the immense volume of resources might be why I haven’t been able to find exactly what I am looking for. So I am asking either for direct ideas on solutions, or guidance on where/how to search for these kinds of solutions. Again, I am pretty new to GP and still trying to figure things out so please let me know if you need any more info and sorry if some of this doesn’t make sense lol.

Summary
I have 1 midi controller, and lots of synth plugins. The main capability I want is to be able to change the parameters of multiple synth plugins separately using the same midi controller, but still be able to use one keyboard to play multiple plugins at the same time.

Current configuration:
This could be the totally wrong approach to this but maybe its helpful to know.

I have 1 rackspace with multiple panels of widgets mapped to similar parameters on each plugin (ex. 1 knob mapped to 2 widgets controlling similar parameters on 2 separate plugins). Or in other words: channel 1 CC #24 mapped to the attack of synth A and synth B.

Useful considerations:

  • Can I somehow lock/unlock a group of widgets? (and map that to a midi control)
  • I want the midi controller layout to be similar for all plugins (ex. same knob controls the attack of each synth plugin)
  • I don’t want to have to using multiple rackspaces because then I cant play all the plugins togethers.
  • If I use one instance of GP for each plugin I would need like 6-8 instances open at a time.
  • Is the solution just creating multiple layouts on my midi controller using different midi channels? But would that prevent me from being able to play multiple plugins at the same time?

Let me know if you need any more info and thank you so much for your time and attention,

Quaz

2

My suggestion is to consider not using Midi cc’s to control parameters of plugins.

Maybe search map widget to parameters.

Look into the Rig Manager and check out this video for setting up your controllers so you can easily map it to widgets.

You can put multiple plugins in each rackspace. This includes duplicates of the same plug in where you are using different “sounds” (e.g., Kontakt).

Look at the Mid In Block to create splits and layers to your hearts content.

Watch this video:

But, always be aware that GP has evolved over time. So, things might be a bit different depending on the date the video was created.

I hope this is a bit helpful.

Jeff

1 Like
3

How should GP know which plugin it is supposed to control if you’re always sending the same messages out?

Why not?

Why? You can configure your MIDI In blocks to map incoming messages to channel 1 no matter what channel was used to send them from your controller

1 Like
4

Also note that you would not be controlling parameters of synth plugins directly - you would be controlling widgets which would be mapped to parameters.

So you could just create multiple rows of widgets, assign each set to your MIDI controller knobs using a different MIDI channel for each set

2 Likes
5

Sorry if I wasn’t super clear about it in the original post, but I understand that I’m controlling widgets, not parameters directly.

This might be the most straightforward solution assuming I can ensure all midi information coming from the keyboard of my midi controller would still activate all my vst synths. I could create layouts on my midi controller where the knobs/buttons use different midi channels but the keyboard is always on channel 1. And use midi out block with program change to switch between layout on the controller. Does this seem make sense? Any other considerations you have?

6

Look into the MIDI rechannelizer and MIDI filter blocks, both under the “MIDI processors and Monitoring” item in the context menu on the Wiring screen. These can give you total control over what MIDI messages are sent and received by whom and on what channels, no matter what channel the original MIDI data from your controller came in on.

1 Like
7

Thanks for the advice, I have looked into these but they don’t seem to have an effect when I move knobs/buttons on my midi controller. I can control widgets with the knobs and I see the assigned channel and CC value, but when I use the midi rechannelizer, nothing happens. I don’t even see anything happening when I have a midi monitor wired in. I only see input in the midi monitor and rechannelizer when I hit notes on the keyboard. Not sure why that is.

8

You don’t need the rechannelizer - and it has nothing to do with widgets - it’s solely for mapping channels in the wiring view.

Not sure what you are using the rechannelizer for, but you don’t need it in your scenario

2 Likes