Suggestion: Revamped MIDI Plug-ins

[philbrown]

This came up in another thread and something I've thought about for years.
I'd really like to see MOTU spend a little effort on the MIDI plug-ins. They are really showing their age, both in GUI and in options, specifically MIDI controllability. Reason and Live both have extensive MIDI control available with 1 mouse click+1 controller move. Easy Peasy. MOTU should implement that all through the entire GUI but for now if you can imagine controlling arpeggiator patterns/octaves, or transpose keys/octave, MIDI delay etc with MIDI controllers... I know a lot of you don't work that way, but I do with my more experimental electronic stuff. I've been known to stack 3 different arpeggiators all running different patterns.
That's what I do in my spare time. I can definitely see some more possibilities with the Arp plug-in specifically, for creative purposes, especially with real-time control.



As far as updated GUI's for this sort of thing- steal from Omnisphere!
Spectrasonics has it down as far as taking a lot of control possibilities and making them accessible but not intimidating.
MOTU could take the GUI of the Pattern Gate and expand on it.
So when you'd call up the MIDI Transpose, Aprpeggiator, etc plug-in you would see something like this:

[stubbsonic]

If I understand you, there's really two main areas for development. First, would be updating the existing MIDI plug-ins so that some real-time switching and controls could be incorporated.

Secondly, having a "MIDI Control" plug-in that acts as a control tool-box both for controlling the MIDI streams and as a source for various plug-ins (effects, VI's, mixer, MIDI, etc.).

It might be that something like Numerology or others could do some of this, but not without some major tooling.

[monkey man]

+1

I can't disagree with anything you've said, Phil.

[monkey man]

If I understand you, there's really two main areas for development. First, would be updating the existing MIDI plug-ins so that some real-time switching and controls could be incorporated.

Correct weight, Stubbsy.

Secondly, having a "MIDI Control" plug-in that acts as a control tool-box both for controlling the MIDI streams and as a source for various plug-ins (effects, VI's, mixer, MIDI, etc.).
It might be that something like Numerology or others could do some of this, but not without some major tooling.

No, I think you're complicating it unnecessarily. All Phil's asking for is updated GUIs and MIDI-controllability of the plugs (automation, if you will), and the timing of this issue arose from the "MIDI Transpose" thread.

EDIT: Doh! I meant to hit "edit" but must've slammed the "quote" button. I usually glance up at the top of Safari's window pane to verify that I'm in fact in the correct mode, but made a rare exception to my modicum operetta. This cheap approach to posting should be condomed... I mean, condemned by all and sundry... and saturdry for that matter. Bad Monkey!

[philbrown]

If I understand you, there's really two main areas for development. First, would be updating the existing MIDI plug-ins so that some real-time switching and controls could be incorporated.

Secondly, having a "MIDI Control" plug-in that acts as a control tool-box both for controlling the MIDI streams and as a source for various plug-ins (effects, VI's, mixer, MIDI, etc.).

It might be that something like Numerology or others could do some of this, but not without some major tooling.

Maybe I wasn't clear.
I'm talking about:
1. New prettier GUI's for the MIDI plug-ins (not audio plugs)
2. Add features/options where possible, and I definitely have ideas on this as
regards the Arpeggiator plug-in and surely others could be improved too.
3. Direct MIDI control. In reason or Live you:
A. Put the Pgm in a MIDI learn mode,
B. Click on a knob, slider or button anywhere on the screen
C. Move your MIDI controller of choice (physical slider or knob or whatever)
D. Confirm (usually by hitting return or clicking an on-screen confirmation)

Examples of #3:
you could change arpeggiator patterns or octave spread on the fly with a physical slider on your keyboard
Change scale transposition/keys/octaves etc from your keyboard controller
"And much more."

New GUI's would be nice at the very least vs old OS9-looking dialog boxes, wouldn't they?