I am trying to send specific PC messages to SampleTron on button click. The idea is to have a couple of buttons that each send a PC message that allows me to select presets. How can I go about this?
I’ll let others walk you through that.
But, before you do, consider whether you want to change sounds by using program messages.
If you are using it to change sounds, it can be problematic (and not recommended, I think) because it would mean new samples (etc.) are loaded while you are playing in real time.
GP was designed to avoid these issues by making sure all samples were ready in rackspaces so they could be switched in real time without any glitches.
So, you may be better off just loading in separate instances of Sampletron with the “sounds” you want and switch rackspaces. [Hence the slogan, “the rackspace is the preset”].
[In case I am totally off the mark,…sorry. ;)]
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You can map a button to a MIDI in plugin that is connected to Sample Tron and send a PC message.
In the widget curve of the widget you can set the max value to the desired pc value.
And YES, better you do what @jeffn1 is talking about.
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Thank you @jeffn1 and @pianopaul. I haven’t used Gig Performer for a long time, but Wouldn’t it be counterproductive to have rackspace for each preset using the same processing chain and plugins? I stand corrected, but I thought it better to create one rackspace, with multiple variations. The variations themselves should send a pc message to the plugin to change the preset. i.e. Rackspace = sampltron; variation1=preset1(PC0); variation2=preset2(PC1) etc. that way I would not have to redesign a rack for each preset. what do you think?
@pianopaul I have a button, I have set the max value as you have stated, but I do not know how to specifically send a PC message to a Midi In block. All I can see in the plugin mapping options are a bunch of parameters and CC numbers
If you are using exactly the same plugin and sound, you can reuse the rackspace (set list mode works great for this concept).
If it is a sound you use a lot, you can put it in the Global rackspace so it is only loaded into memory once.
If you always use them same effects, some people put that in the Global Rackspace. (I am a bit different in that I only use the Global Rackspace to load sample heavy sounds I use a lot).
[If the plugin is physically modeled, like many softsynths and Pianoteq, SWAM, Modo Bass, I don’t worry about ram use too much. I just create new instances.]
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Search for PC
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Depends what you’re trying to do — if you need instant sound switching you can’t depend on the use of program changes since the amount of time that a plugin needs to switch programs is indeterminate and many plugins don’t even respond to PC messages. There’s also an increased risk of a problem since some plugins just don’t handle them well and if you send MIDI notes to them before they’re finished switching, anything can happen (another reason why we prefer the rackspace concept)
That said, with GP4 or GP5, the easiest way to send different program changes when you switch variations is to use a SendProgramChange scriptlet. It’s attached below as is an example gigfile showing how to use it.
SendProgramChange.gpp_internal (1.7 KB)
ProgramChangeDemo.gig (33.5 KB)