Reference Guide

864 Software instruments

Multi-port soft synths

A multi-port soft synth allows you the option of using a different synth track for every output that the

soft synth has. This allows you to use different plug-in effects for each sound (or in some cases,

group of sounds) that a soft synth produces. For example, if a soft synth can produce 16 sounds at

the same time, and has 4 outputs, you can send any of the 16 sounds out through any of 4 different

outputs, giving you a choice of 4 different plug-in configurations for that soft synth. You would use 4

different synth tracks: one for each output. If a soft synth can produce 8 sounds at the same time,

and has 8 outputs, you could use 8 synth tracks and 8 plug-in configurations. If you need more plug-

in configurations or just more sounds, you can insert more copies of the same soft synth, using new

synth tracks for all of the new copy’s outputs. You can also send all the MIDI tracks out the same

output and synth track if you don’t need separate plug-ins for each sound, or just want to use the soft

synth’s internal effects.

The Insert Soft Synth Options dialog box gives you the option of automatically creating a separate

synth track for each audio output that the soft synth has, or creating just one synth track for Output 1

of that particular soft synth. Each new copy (also called an instance) of a soft synth is considered to

be a separate instrument, and appears in a separate row in the Synth Rack, with a number after its

name representing which copy it is.

For step by step instructions, see:

“Using the Synth Rack Browser” on page 628

“Synth tracks” on page 852

“Inserting soft synths” on page 853

“Playing a soft synth” on page 861

“Converting your soft synth tracks to audio” on page 864

“Muting and soloing soft synth tracks” on page 863

“To remove a soft synth from a track or bus” on page 862

Converting your soft synth tracks to audio

Once your project sounds the way you want it to, it’s extremely easy to convert your soft synth MIDI

tracks to either new audio tracks, or Wave, MP3, or other exported files.

You can also do a temporary conversion, called freezing. See “Freeze tracks and synths” on page

909 for more information.

To convert your soft synth tracks to new audio tracks

1. Mute all tracks that you don’t want to convert.

2. Click the Track view Tracks menu and choose Bounce to Track(s).

The Bounce to Track(s) dialog box appears.