automation of plug-in presets

ToBeJazz · Post by **ToBeJazz** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:08 pm

Hi,

I want to be able to use automation to go from one plug-in preset to another - is this possible?

I have different presets of, for example, the MW EQ, and at bar 11 I want to go to preset "First", then at bar 24 I want to jump to preset "Second", then at bar 29 I want to go back to preset "First".
I don't want to automate each parameter separately, instead just move from one preset to another which would be so much easier. At first glance this doesn't seem possible…?

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:19 pm

I don't think you can automate presets to change but I can think of several workarounds. For example, split the track at the point you want the change to happen and have the presets you want in each track.

You might also try taking snapshots in the mixer but I'm not sure it captures all presets in plugs.

Finally, you could just automate the various parameters from the presets to go to where you want them at a particular time.

I'm sure there are other ways to do this as well in a recorded sequence. In a live performance, you could just change the chunk or the track you are accessing.

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:20 pm

There might be a simpler way, but here's what came to mind if switching presets automatically is not an option. (I'd have to go look.)

Insert 2 EQ plugs...one with one preset and one with the other.

Then at the appropriate time, mute one and unmute the other.

Buzzy

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:21 pm

Oops.

MLC and I must have posted within seconds of each other!

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:21 pm

That's even better and could be automated. Good one Buzzy.

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:40 pm

Just checked.

Switching presets is not an option in the menu inserts.

ToBeJazz · Post by **ToBeJazz** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:50 pm

Unfortunately having multiple tracks or plug-in instances is not an option here since I need to have many presets to go between, app. 40 presets.
Having a plug-in with about 25 parameters makes it very inefficient to have to automate and change all those parameters instead of just being able to load a preset.

Radiogal · Post by **Radiogal** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:22 pm

Presets need time to load and process. Automation of presets would therefore probably give artifacts like clicks and pops and sync problems.

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:25 pm

Radiogal wrote:Presets need time to load and process. Automation of presets would therefore probably give artifacts like clicks and pops and sync problems.

Didn't even think of that.

Buzzy

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:52 pm

Sounds too "experimental" for me. You may want to rethink your project.

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:22 pm

This is one of the few thing that I turn to Guitar Rig, if it's basic for it to handle. There's a way of setting up two parallel signal flows and cross fading between them. I wish DP had something like this built in.

HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:37 pm

Prime Mover wrote:This is one of the few thing that I turn to Guitar Rig, if it's basic for it to handle. There's a way of setting up two parallel signal flows and cross fading between them. I wish DP had something like this built in.

You could set it up with a stereo track, EQ plug that allows independant settings L and R, bus to mono and use track pan to crossfade...

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:12 pm

Sure, but it would be kinda inconvenient, as well as confusing if you ever forgot you'd set it up that way.

Seriously, though, I do think it would be nice if DP had some kind of "pedalboard" sub host. For one thing, it would be a lot nicer for stacking all these new guitar plugs they've been raving about. Imagine being able to have several instances of MW EQ and crossfade between them with a single control.

ToBeJazz · Post by **ToBeJazz** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:49 pm

One idea would be to have an equivalent of program change to presets, "preset change" that could be sent to a plug-in. I understand the problem of pops and clicks during the change of preset, but it should/could be used in the gaps between sound from the track (just like you would normally use a program change).

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:55 pm

So far, you have told us how you want to do ... but you haven't told us what ... is. There may be another way to accomplish your goal besides wishing for something that apparently isn't available.

If you could give a concrete example, it might help.

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