Configuration to replace a hardware acoustic set. Need your advices!

[La Tenaille]

Hello,
I am a live multi-instrument player (guitar, voice, flute, Didjeridoo...) and my goal is to replace all my hardware with usine.
I've bought a laptop and a RME fireface 400 with all my instruments plugged in.

My goal is to use usine as a kind of "multi track guitar pedal board" and I have a few questions about the configuration:

1. I'm performing with other musicians without any tempi synchronizations: does it mean that the sequencer view and live view will be useless for me?
2. Is it a good idea to create a track for each instrument and put all my effects on the patch grid (in rack mode)?
3. Do I have to create a workspace for each song, or is there a tip to use the sequencer to drop from tune to tune regardless of the tempo?

Thanks for your advices

[bsork]

Hi, I think 2) would be the easiest way to configure Usine for such a setup, at least if the maximum number of patches per channel/track doesn't exceed 16 and as long as your computer can handle it. Remember also that you can put master inserts on the in- and outputs as well. Using the conductor you can save and recall the state of the whole workspace, although I'm not sure whether the master inserts are stored, but I don't think so. They are after all more to accomodate different hardware setups.

You could use the sequencer for similar purposes by jumping from marker to marker to update the live view, but as you mention the timing info wouldn't be of much interest.

The main difference between these two approaches IMO is how you like to do your patching. The grid/rack option would be more like a stomp box pedal board or multi-effects unit per channel, while using the sequencer would be more appropiate if you like to create separate patches for each song.

Just my 2 øre (no cents here..!)

[La Tenaille]

Hi Bjørn
The conductor of course... I forgot it! Still a beginner...
I think 16 patches per track will be enough... if not, I imagine the conductor is ok to load/unload patches?
Thanks for your answer.

[bsork]

The conductor won't load or unload patches, but there there are modules for loading both workspaces and patches. I haven't tried this myself, but I guess you for example could program loading of a patch after recall of a certain conductor scene. A bit clumsy I think, though....

I've thought a bit further. As long as you have enough tracks, you could always use one as the input to another - effectively giving 32 patches available. Using busses, you could also use a combination of the grid and the sequencer, where the "special" patching per song could exist in the sequencer while the more commonly used stuff exists in the grid.

Another idea if you're using the same patch as an insert several places but not simultaniously, would be to create insert points using busses in patches in the instrument tracks that breaks the signal flow and goes to patches in another track (and obviously back again...). At least that's an idea to save on the RAM usage, because you don't have to have X instances loaded.

...decisions, decisions...

[La Tenaille]

It seems there are multiple solutions! I must continue practicing before deciding my method.
The sequencer is an interesting option: if I leave the sync off I can put a whole patch configuration per bar for example and switch from tune to tune with the markers as you wrote... and then I can use the live view.

Is there a way to change a VST preset without changing patch? When I change patch with a VST I have a crack...

Thanks again

[bsork]

If you mean just changing the VSTs internal preset - yes. It's just like any other parameter in that sense, and ctrl-dragging from the preset inlet of the module will create a combo box with all the preset names in it.

[La Tenaille]

Nice, I'll try that next week!
Many thanks for your help Bjørn

[La Tenaille]

Hello,
I've tried different approaches for my configuration this week, but I'm still a bit confused. Obviously, Usine isn't exactly designed for this use, but I like the challenge

1. I've tried to build a patch per song with all my effects wired in. Then I've dragged each patch in the sequencer view and put a marker for each song. The live view is correctly updated when I jump from marker to marker, but if I change parameters of a patch in the grid view, it's not updated, even if I save the patch. Does it means that when I drag my patch in the the sequencer, it makes a snapshot of the actual patch configuration, and the only way to update it is to delete and drag again?

2. For the VSTs presets, the combo dragged from the "program" pin works fine, but only shows the built-in presets. Do you have an idea to display my own saved preset?

3. I'd like the lyrics of the songs and my personal memos to be displayed on screen during live performances. I've thought about using the local interface builder inside a patch with the "auto show" function, but I don't understand the behaviour of this function; the interface window pops-up when I start usine or drag the patch in the sequencer, but it doesn't work in the live view when I skip from a patch to another...

4. I haven't understood yet the links between grid view and live view. Erasing or bypassing a patch in the grid view has no influence on the sequencer and live view... how does it work?


Sorry, a lot of questions, I'm still a beginner and the user manual seems helpless for me!
Thanks

[bsork]

1. & 4. The grid view and the sequencer/live view don't actually have anything to do with each other except sharing input and output sections, so yes; if you update a patch in grid view you have to manually update the corresponding patch in the sequencer as well. But there's nothing stopping you from editing the sequencer patch directly instead of editing in the grid view.

2. I hardly ever save any presets at all in VSTs myself, so maybe someone else has some good tips? All I know, is that the saving process can vary a bit.

3. I think Olivier stated in another thread that he's doing something with the "show" functionality that might help you out on this. But remember that you also can manipulate the "visible" parameter of a lot of modules.

[La Tenaille]

Hello Bjørn, you seem to be my personal online help, cool

I've seen the improvment Olivier is planning about the autoshow show/hide functions, that's a good new.
About the update between grid and live view, I'm going to ask Olivier.

Ciao