Automating velocity?

[Per-Anders Edwards]

I assume there is a midi CC set up for...

I assume there is a midi CC set up for this that controls a global velocity multiplier, but which one is it?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.8
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

I assume there is a midi CC set up for this that controls a global velocity multiplier, but which one is it?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.8
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

Topic

[John]

Well, without reading every sentence in this thread:

1. MIDI coming from your DAW would have to have real-time transformation happening, like automating Velocity Curves for every instrument (static ones are available in SD3).
2. MIDI notes/sections for any/all instrument(s) on the SD3 Song Track can be selected and “Ramped” up or down for building into or out of a section.
   There’s a tool for it in the upper corners of the Velocity Lane. Doing it this way also makes sure you can tame notes suddenly being too loud or too soft by adjusting the overall Velocity or Dynamics of the selected notes.

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Per-Anders Edwards]

Thank you, I understand what is possible currently then.  As a user I expect to be able to add an automation lane in my DAW of choice to attenuate Velocity in realtime within my DAW.  That is all.

Competing products allow this.  It’s even possible to set up a workaround to do this in most DAWs although you lose access to SD’s play style controls in doing so (see attached screenshot for a method that does this using a Player in Reason).

Here’s the thing.  When a user requests a feature they don’t care how it’s done.  Nor should they.  For all you know I’m a random musician who zero technical knowledge. But from inference it should be evident I do know – how to use a DAW, the extremely pedestrian nomenclature of an “automation lane”, and that when I say “Velocity” I don’t mean Donald Duck.  As amusing as it must be to some trolls here to waste time winding others up it sets a very negative message about attitudes towards paying customers that this is allowed on your own forums.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.1
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

[Mark King]

Have you tried enabling multiple outputs and then automating them in your DAW. I use Cubase and this can be done quite simply and it also gives you more control over individual components. I think we just got a little confused over what you meant. I know I did.

SD3 with older sdx,s plus Rooms of Hansa and Death & Darkness. Cubase and wavelab current versions. Roland TD50x using all trigger inputs for triggering SD3 only. Windows 11 computer. Various keyboards and outboard gear as well as VST instruments. Acoustic drums: Yamaha 9000 natural wood and Pearl masters. Various snare drums. RME BabyFace Pro FS and Adam A7X monitors

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Thank you so much for that picture. That could not have been a better illustration of the difference between automation and transformation. Saved me a whole lot of typing. And just so there is no further misunderstanding, let me supplement this with another image illustrating one key point you left out:

In other words, you are not automating MIDI velocity. You are automating a knob labelled velocity. You are not even automating an instrument in this case. What you are automating is a single parameter of a Reason Player that affects the incoming MIDI data. And guess what Reason Players are… that’s right… Tranformers!  You are nowhere near the MIDI velocity. That player is doing all of the work to alter the incoming MIDI to whatever instrument. All you are doing is automating a knob that happens to adjust how much the player itself will adjust the MIDI velocity. That is a huge difference to what you believe is happening. There is no MIDI velocity automation lane. MIDI velocity in and of itself cannot be automated and you just proved it.

And the “paying customer” BS… that’s just self-entitlement, which in this case is masking an unreasonable request.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 3 years ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[Per-Anders Edwards]

Why are you still typing.@Bear Faced Cow?  You clearly don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, absolutely nothing about workflow, even less about event system in plugins nor the midi spec, yet here you are insisting on continuing to blather on.  And again it continues to be irrelevant.  If I have to spell out why this is irrelevant then here goes – because I’m asking for a workflow, how that’s achieved quite literally doesn’t matter to me and given that it’s already been achieved elsewhere there is no technical excuse (no matter how defensive) to be found for its lack here.  The only three reasons for not doing it are – priorities/time, unmaintainable code base or intentional design decision.  None of which any of us out here have control over or knowledge of.  Therefore, irrelevant discussion.

What I asked for was perfectly clear first time, continues to be clear now.  Ask anyone who uses a daw to “automate” something and they will do the same things.  You can add automation lanes to any device you need not directly access an interface control, if you do it is via MIDI parameter automation.  The “transformation” is a resulting internal function of the control itself if one exists, but need not be visible (see Mod Wheel, Pitch Bend etc which may have no corresponding virtual control), exposing the parameter for automation is a matter of tying to a MIDI channel in VST2 or utilizing the VST 3 event system.

As for the claiming it’s “BS self entitlement” to go to a software companies forum looking for technical support and to give feedback without being trolled – firstly that’s an insanely entirely and freakishly fanboy POV and secondly where exactly do you get off on talking to ToonTracks customers like that?  Get over yourself.  Do you work for them?  I and others have sunk thousands into this product and everyone that has is absolutely entitled to support and should be driven by self interest to report and offer feedback that could help Toontrack improve their product.  It’s also self evidently in the best interests of a company to foster a good relationship with their customers. There is nothing entitled about it, everyone who’s bought their products has a right to come on here to find out if a basic feature exists from Toontrack’s support, and if it doesn’t to then request said feature and also has the right to not be harassed by a clique of deeply obnoxious and technically illiterate stans, dead set on obstructing help for other users and for ToonTrack, what you do is a disservice to everyone.  Please stop.

What’s needed to be requested has been requested.  What’s needed to be said has been said.  Mods please close this thread.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.1
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

[Bear-Faced Cow]

It is obvious that I have to communicate with you on the same level as my teenage granddaughter.

There is a word for people like you who not only don’t know what they’re talking about, but are so self-absorbed in their own opinions that when they are wrong they can only resort to call other people names. That word is TROLL!

it is obvious that you do not understand the difference between automating a parameter and transforming data. You even showed your complete obliviousness to how things are done by posting a picture in Reason. And when called on it, you have nothing better to do than resorts to any type of personal attack to save face.

even worse, rather than attempting to understand what is being told to you, and don’t bother telling me that you understand, because you clearly don’t, you’re incessantly long drivel of a post is nothing more than a condescending a personal attack. If you don’t like what other people are typing, then quit posting on an open forum. Plain and simple.

The fact that you consider yourself a paying customer is totally irrelevant. We are all paying customers. And the entire, “when I ask for a feature, I don’t care how it’s done“ is nothing more but a self entitled statement.

And yes, for your information I am a software developer and recognize the importance of customer input, seeing as my customers are all 14 million citizens of the province of Ontario, Canada. not to mention that I have probably been doing software development longer than you have been breathing. I have also written numerous MIDI software applications. So yes, I know the difference between a reasonable and an unreasonable request. So the only one who needs to get over themselves, is yourself.

and yes, I know the purpose of automation. It is for controlling UI PARAMETERS. IOW, knobs, buttons, and sliders. That is how automation works, and has worked for the last 30 years. Automation does not control data directly.

I am well aware of what you asked for: you want to automate the velocity component of MIDI data. Not only have you been told that Data itself is not automatable, but requires an outside component to automate it, you even proved it yourself by posting a picture. You also mentioned that you can do this in a DAW. Well, guess what, this isn’t a DAW but a plug-in within a DAW. You are comparing apples to oranges in this case. You are clearly not seeing that you require outside components to get this done.

Even the comparison of SD3 to either Kontakt or Reaktor. which are programmable and can transform MIDI data, it’s still apples to oranges because of their functionality and usage.

please, don’t feel the need that you have to respond and embarrass yourself further. All you are doing is providing fodder for my own entertainment and continued practicing skills for dictating to Siri. You’ve clearly shown your lack of understanding of what is required wrapped up in nothing more than personal attacks proving you have zero concept of how software is written, let alone music workflows.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 3 years ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[cnd333]

Just jumping on this thread as it seems utterly bizarre that the play style velocity and amount knobs cannot be automated – this seems like a complete no-brainier. I can drag my mouse in real-time and ‘play’ the velocity, so why can’t I automate, or link it to a midi cc?

Automating dynamics is key to a convincing sounding performance, so it makes no sense to omit this feature.

For anyone coming across this thread – a workaround is to have one instance of SD3 sending midi and another instance on a separate track receiving, with a velocity midi effect on the latter that can scale incoming midi data, and is automate-able. You can then dial dynamics up and down as needed.

Surely there’s a better way, anyone?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.3
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

[Robert]

Spending most of my day figuring out why this is not possible…..??? I don’t want to chop up my midi performance in tiny blocks  just to be able to adjust velocity (ramp up etc.) If I can turn the velocity play-style knob real time, why not automate it with a macro? Most daws do this (midi velocity automation curves) Just not the one I’m using (Studio One 6)

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

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