11.5

Software / VST instruments 225
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Loading/Save patches/banks: Here you can save an instrument's settings and
sounds. The standard formats for this are: *.fxp for patches or *.fxb for whole
banks. Some instruments have their own patch/bank format, settings are then
loaded and saved directly via the instrument's interface.
Set parameters randomly: Use this function to set all parameters of an
instrument to a random value. This option can lead to surprising results and
provides interesting ideas for sound design, thanks to the random generation
of a new sound. However, you should note that parameters can only be set
when they are accessible via the interface. For some very complex virtual
synthesizers (e.g. modular systems), some parameters may not be modifiable
using this option. Please note that thanks to the random placement of various
parameters, very extreme sounds can be generated. This may lead to no
sound being produced at all or extremely loud volumes and frequency ranges
being reached. For this reason you should keep an eye on the preview volume
when experimenting with this function.
Play and monitor instruments live
Requirements for playing live
In order to play virtual software instruments, you will require a MIDI device to
enter the data. This is typically a MIDI keyboard. Of course, you can also use
any other PC that transmits MIDI data or a hardware synthesizer.
For direct monitoring while playing you will in any case require an audio
interface with ASIO drivers. Simply playing instruments, however, is also
possible with MME or WDM drivers.
Monitoring
In order to play virtual software instruments you require a device to enter the
data. Typically this would be a MIDI keyboard. Of course you can also use any
other PC that transmits MIDI data or a hardware synthesizer.
For direct monitoring while playing you will in any case require an audio
interface with ASIO drivers. Simply playing instruments, however, is also
possible with MME or WDM drivers.
 For live monitoring you also have to make the following settings:
 ASIO drivers (System/Options -> System/Devices -> Global audio options ->
Playback devices -> Driver system)
 Activate global record monitoring in the transport control ("Rec M" button)
 Activate the track monitoring button (loudspeaker symbol)