A known issue w/EZPlayer and Cubase 4

[123suckamc]

So I see where the “Known Issues” list acknowledges that Cubase Studio 4 will say: “This mixer expected EZPlayer to be Stereo.  It has Mono.  It will be silent.” 

But I’m not sure what to do about it.  The FAQ doesn’t advise me… short of waiting on an update, I suppose.  And yes, I’m a noob.

Topic

[Scott]

Try to use Instrument Channels instead of an Instrument Track when using a sampler and EZplayer and Cubase.

– Click F11 to open the VST Instrument rack
– Load S2 (or YFDS) in one empty slot and EZplayer into another empty slot
– Create 1, new MIDI track
– Set EZplayer as MIDI IN and S2 (or YFDS) as MIDI OUT on that track
– Activate the ‘Monitor button’ on that MIDI track

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[123suckamc]

Awesome.  Thanks Scott!  By the way, I assume this will be remedied in the future?  That I will be able to use an Instrument Track?

Thanks again!

[Rogue]

as far as I know, this is an issue that Steinberg resolved either through a free or paid upgrade to the latest version. Don’t quote me on this though.

Regardless I am 99% sure that the error can be ignored without any operation penalty (besides the message coming up every time), if using an Instrument track is somewhat useful for you.

Rogue Marechal - Toontrack
Configuration Manager

[Scott]

I’m not sure if Steinberg resolved this issue in C5 or not, I’m still using C4.

Having said that, if you plan on using EZplayer with any sampler (i.e. feeding EZplayer MIDI into S2, EZD, or whatever), NOT running it as an Instrument Track is the only way to roll.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Har Maes]

It’s indeed solved in Cubase 5. EZPlayer is still operational in C4 as Rogue mentioned.

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[123suckamc]

I know this will show the extent of my noobishness, but what’s the advantage of an Instrument Channel over an Instrument Track?

[Scott]

I never use Instrument Tracks so I’m not entirely sure but I don’t think you can route one VSTi to another without using Instrument Channels. The way I use EZplayer (as described above) is I route the MIDI from EZplayer to play the sounds in S2. Not sure if you can do that any other way.

Instrument Tracks are also limited to stereo only operation. So, if you want to send multiple channels out of EZD/S2, you have to use Instrument Channels. I do this all the time as I like to use processing plugin (UAD, etc.) in the Cubase mixer.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[123suckamc]

Okay, last question and I’m done, I swear:

I’m reading the EZPlayer manual trying to figure this out, but… I can drag and drop into the Cubase channel and it’s working great.  Everything’s triggering Battery like it’s supposed to.  But I can’t get the PREVIEW functions to work… like, I can’t listen to the grooves from WITHIN EZPlayer, prior to dragging to Cubase.  I’ve fiddled with the “Midi Channel” variable over and over and can’t get it right.

[Scott]

If set up like described above, you should just be able to hit the preview play button and hear the groove playback.

If it doesn’t work, tell me what you are doing so I can tell what what to fix.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[123suckamc]

Hopefully I’ll include all relevant data (I’m sure some will be irrelevant):

1) When I add EZP to the VST Instruments, I make a corresponding midi track, but I DON’T make such a track when I add Battery 3 to the VST list.
2) I put EZP as the input of that track, Battery as the output.
3) In the Master Map Wrap, I set it to Battery (like I said, draggng and dropping works great into Battery)
4) On the EZP’s midi track in Cubase, it seems to say that it’s on Channel 1.  At least, there’s a 1 in the midi channel slot.
5) In EZP, I’ve messed w/the Map Wraps on both the master and the track 1, but I can’t get it to work.

[123suckamc]

Oh wait!  I didn’t press the “monitor” button on the midi track.  I think that’s the problem. Seems to be working now!  Yes, I’m an idiot!

[Scott]

To preview a groove before dragging it to Cubase or even onto an Arranger Track in EZplayer, hit the play button (see pic below).

The only other thing I could think of is to make sure you’ve click the monitor button (the small speaker icon) on the MIDI track.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[123suckamc]

Hahaha, yeah, I just beat you to it.  Thanks man.  Now to figure out why it’s so much quieter than EZDrummer. 

Thanks Scott!  I appreciate all of the help!

[Author]

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