abacab

Not to make waves here, but Softube requires the iLok e-licenser. Not a problem for me, but just thought to mention it for those that have an issue with iLok.

Have you checked out the Electro Drums that is bundled with Voltage Modular Core? It's got a Drum Trigger Sequencer module and 14 other drum source modules from Misfit Audio, including 94 wacky presets. Electronic drum machines aren't really my thing, but this is fun!

Scaler is a fairly deep tool that can do a lot of things in a lot of ways for different people. Trying to swallow the whole thing in a single video at Groove3, or anywhere else for that matter, is a big ask for anyone! But it sounds like you have it sorted as to what you expect to get out of it, so just focus on that aspect. It does appear to have some usable real-time performance features, but haven't checked them out yet as I only wanted it as a composition tool. Something for everybody, and all the point updates since 2.0 have been free! And I agree about annoyances with watching any video tuts that are done using Logic (and FL Studio or Pro Tools). I try to look for tuts made with one of the DAWs that I have on-hand. But sometimes the choices are limited to what the video presenter likes to work in, and with a few exceptions that is generally NOT Cakewalk.

Hope you didn't pay full price for that thing ($449)! I see that it sold for as low as $30.99 last September. https://musicsoftwaredeals.com/price-history/bx_console-amek-9099-by-brainworx/

As far as the Scaler mechanics of DAW usage in Cakewalk, you just insert Scaler on a simple instrument track in Cakewalk. Done. Scaler simply starts out as a playable virtual instrument. The default is using the internal sounds in Scaler, which are quite usable, especially just for setting up chord progressions. So there is actually nothing else you NEED to do in the DAW until you want to create a song. The part that may be DAW specific is when you want to trigger VSTs in other instrument tracks instead of using Scaler's internal sounds. That is very easy in Cakewalk! Just add another instrument track with VSTi of choice (yes, even Voltage Modular works), set it's track input to Scaler and then turn Scaler's internal sound off. You can play your controller through the Scaler track, with MIDI echo enabled on your second instrument track. Also when Scaler plays back a progression, it will directly trigger your VSTi on the second instrument track. Everything else you do in Scaler has to do with working with chords and chord progressions. That is the complex part, but worth learning! It's a music theory tool, and music theory cannot be learned in a day. But the fun is in experimenting, and even if you are already an expert with music theory, this tool might take you to some new places and get you out of a rut. And when you have something you like, just drag that MIDI from Scaler into your other instrument track. So that's the essentials you need to get started. Of course Scaler has been continuously updated since v1 and lots of additional features have been added, but you won't need to understand them right away. Don't let the videos scare you away! 30-day trial available here: https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/3-Studio-Tools/93-Music-Theory-Tools/6439-Scaler-2-FREE-3-Month-Subscription-to-Loopcloud

Exactly! Most of the cool new features since Waveform 8 are not documented in the user manual. Tracktion has even stated that they believe their user base prefers video tutorials. SMH... I don't have time to watch every video ever made just to find a few tips on how to use obscure features. That's what reference manuals are made for!? They don't have a tech writer on staff either, and cannot afford to hire one apparently. Otherwise it's a cool program! I really like the new browser they put in Waveform 12. The Tracktion team is a small group of nice guys trying very hard to create useful tools for musicians. I really hope they continue to succeed!

Actually, I'm not aware of any DAW with that feature, unless there might be some that allow you to assign MIDI channels per MIDI clip on a track, rather than per track.

"Installed"...

There is no auto channel switching in available in Sonar or Cakewalk. Best workaround for live playing: Set up 3 MIDI tracks, one corresponding to each instrument in your instance of Kontakt. Assign each of the 3 MIDI tracks to output to different MIDI channels 1-3, respectively, so that each one controls one of your 3 musical instruments as you have described, making sure that the proper MIDI channel is also assigned in Kontakt for each instrument. To switch channels (and instruments) all you will need to do is select the desired track manually (by mouse click or using an external MIDI controller). The track will come into focus and the MIDI input echo will switch to the selected track. For recording MIDI tracks for later playback, the alternative would be: Record a new MIDI track for each instrument and channel #, for just the number of bars required, with recorded MIDI starting and ending on the correct bar #. Assuming that you are setting the MIDI channels as in the example above for the respective tracks. Arrange them accordingly on the timeline. You would need a new MIDI track for each channel change, stacked vertically in the timeline. The channel changes would then occur "automatically" as the playback moves across the timeline and the correct MIDI plays back each part at the assigned time, just as players in an ensemble would play each part in real time. If you were looking at this arrangement as score notation, the players not playing would be looking at "rest" bars. The "rest" bars in MIDI would just be empty MIDI bars in the timeline.

50% off at Plugin Boutique (exclusive): https://www.pluginboutique.com/products/8900 I'm seeing $45.95 USD at the moment. Have had this on my wishlist for a while. PluginGuru takes Crystalline for a test drive in this livestream (video is cued to the topic at 28:33):

https://careers.xlnaudio.com/#jobs

I'm not aware of a way to make them switch automatically, but with separate MIDI tracks set to ch 1, ch2, & ch3, going to each respective instrument in Kontakt you could select them manually (bring them into focus). And if you have a MIDI control surface set up (such as a basic MIDI controller keyboard with control surface functions), then you could use the track select buttons to switch tracks on demand while playing.

I believe that Win 11 Home users will be required to use a Microsoft ID to login, rather than a local account like you can with Win 10.

You read the article? I assume most folks only look at the pics...

Don't think that will be possible. Those libraries are stored in proprietary sample containers that 3rd party samplers cannot access. They are stored that way to prevent piracy.

Aside from my Waves Abbey Road Collection and Scheps Omni Channel, I could probably live without Waves. I like Cosmos/CR8 but I don't do all that much with loops & samples, so probably wouldn't miss that if it ever stopped working. But honestly, the Waves tool that I reach for most often is Scheps Omni Channel. That is handy to have in the toolbox...

Yep, there's that! ?

What's next? Your plugins stop working if you don't WUP?

I imagine there are many people that have been collecting serials from their freebie giveaways for resale later. This is probably Waves attempt to stop that "gray" market.

I would be totally tickled if Tracktion would just update their Waveform User Manual for reals... It's currently way behind the curve for anything past Tracktion 7 and Waveform 8. ?

Or just pop in an instance of Drumsynth 500. It is an 8 channel MIDI drum synth plugin: Kick & Snare use analog synth oscillators, Clap & Hats use analog noise oscillators, Toms & Percussion use FM synth operators, and there are 2 sampler slots open for your samples.

Did you buy your new systems with Windows 11 pre-installed? I've heard that is the most trouble-free way to get to Windows 11. Although not necessarily the low budget route ...

You don't need a control surface to control synthesizer parameters. Control surfaces are essentially designed to control the host DAW functions such as transport, track selection, panning and volume, etc. You just need something that can send MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) data from knobs, sliders, etc., to the various synths that you are using. A mini MIDI keyboard controller with knobs and sliders is probably the best minimal tool for that job, and shouldn't conflict with the control surface used with Cakewalk. There are a few models available in the $100 range that would work without having to mess with any DAW integration, although most will offer some of that. If you get the KORG working reliably with Cakewalk as a control surface, you could use a mini MIDI keyboard controller as a dedicated synth controller. A few popular brands for these are AKAI, M-Audio, Arturia, and Novation. This new one from Arturia looks interesting, for the price of $109. With 25 velocity sensitive slim keys, pitch bend and mod wheel touch strips, 8 rotary knobs, 4 sliders, 8 pads, and more, including virtual instruments Analog Lab Intro, UVI Model D grand piano, and NI The Gentleman upright piano. Arturia MiniLab 3 Mini Hybrid Keyboard Controller : https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/minilab-3/overview https://www.amazon.com/Arturia-MiniLab-Hybrid-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B0BGMNKCNT (some alternatives are listed at the bottom of this page)