Convert Pitch Bend data to Filter Frequency control

[bkshepard]

Is it possible to convert the Pitch Bend data from a MIDI track to Frequency control data for the MW EQ on an audio track. I tried to do that with the Reassign Continuous Data... tool, but it won't let me paste the result into an audio track. Is there a step I'm missing?

Screenshot 2025-04-27 at 22.32.41.png (185.3 KiB) Viewed 291 times

[bkshepard]

Unfortunately, the DP User Manual offers absolutely no assistance in how to use this tool.

[stubbsonic]

I'd be happy to help do some experimentation. Seems like the big question is once it converts the MIDI data (from a MIDI track) to automation data, where does it go?

I'll mess with it and see if I notice anything useful. BRB.

[stubbsonic]

Yea, I couldn't get it to work.

I wonder what those lists are that say 1st, 2nd, 3rd...

This would be useful, especially as Pitch is a 14-bit bipolar control right there in the bog standard MIDI 1.0-- though it seems now more of the current generation of $#!++y controllers only have 8-bit pitch wheels (grr).

[bkshepard]

Thanks for giving it a try! Yeah, the whole window is undocumented in the manual and that list of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc., is really weird. Since a frequency control is usually bipolar, using converted pitch bend data would be ideal, but alas…

[stubbsonic]

I think I figured out what the 1st, 2nd, 3rd... 20th list is. It's only available when the EFFECT AUTOMATION is chosen as source or destination.

On a hunch, I went to the mixer window and tried to increase the number of insert slots to 21, but it would not allow it. Twenty is the maximum number of insert slots. So I believe the list: 1st, 2nd, 3rd... 20th is actually directing the data to that specific insert slot-- so, if you had say MW EQ in the first slot, and then a compressor, then another MW EQ post compressor-- it would allow you to specify to which insert (and instance) to direct your automation. Weirdly though, you can't choose which chunk or track to direct the data to.

Still doesn't work, but that's what that list appears to mean.

[bkshepard]

That's good thinking on that weird dropdown list.

For me, the really odd part is that the window implies that you can convert between MIDI data and audio plugin data. The problem is you can't specify tracks and since MIDI tracks don't have audio plugins and Audio Tracks don't have MIDI data, there doesn't appear to be any way to actually use this tool.

[HCMarkus]

That's good thinking on that weird dropdown list.

For me, the really odd part is that the window implies that you can convert between MIDI data and audio plugin data. The problem is you can't specify tracks and since MIDI tracks don't have audio plugins and Audio Tracks don't have MIDI data, there doesn't appear to be any way to actually use this tool.

I suspect this tool was intended to be used on VI Combo Tracks (MIDI and VI on same track), where CC Data controls Audio Plugins on the VI.

[HCMarkus]

If my above comment is correct, could one use a VI to sample the desired audio, then use the PB Data to modulate a plugin effecting the VI?

Take The Long Way Home...

[stubbsonic]

The only trouble with that theory is that the ability to reassign MIDI data to effect parameter automation has existed since at least DP8, possibly earlier. Hmmm. It's a head-scratcher.

I suppose someone (me?) could contact MOTU support. Worst case, they could remove the effect automation from the options. It does work to reassign MIDI data to different MIDI data.

[HCMarkus]

The only trouble with that theory is that the ability to reassign MIDI data to effect parameter automation has existed since at least DP8, possibly earlier. Hmmm. It's a head-scratcher.

I suppose someone (me?) could contact MOTU support. Worst case, they could remove the effect automation from the options. It does work to reassign MIDI data to different MIDI data.

My suggestion might allow BK to accomplish his goal in the specific situation. But it is, again, a loooong way home.

[Tidwells@aol.com]

The other question/consideration if you succeed in getting the pitch bend data converted to eq frequency data is this: Is the numerical range of pitch bend data (I think approximately from -8930 to +8930) going to be appropriate for your eq frequency changes? If not, perhaps you can do some further scaling of the data values to get them in the range you need....

[bkshepard]

I assumed I would need to scale the PB data to fit the frequency data, but I can’t even get it converted.

To paraphrase HCMarkus,

Take The Long Way Home...

I took the long way home and just redrew the frequency data to “match” the PD data. It wasn’t exact, but it was close enough to accomplish what I needed. Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. I do wish MOTU would either fix this tool, or at least explain how it’s supposed to work.