VST control messages vs MIDI messages

Harbinger · July 24, 2009, 21:40:52

Technical question for the manual:

What is the difference between how MPT controls VSTs and external MIDI devices?
Are they the same function, except one is software-driven and the other is device-driven?
Are parameter controls for VSTs simply glorified MIDI data, or are MIDI messages simply a specific set of parameter controls?

Saga Musix · July 24, 2009, 22:43:47

Am I missing something? Since when is OpenMPT capable of addressing external MIDI hardware?

BTW, VSTs are controlled by MIDI as well. MPT passes parameter data to plugins just like any other host, so the best part to find out the details would be the Steinberg docs.

Harbinger · July 24, 2009, 23:00:02

Uh-oh. And i did a write-up on using MIDI devices in the upcoming manual... :oops:

MPT can NOT work with MIDI instruments?? Isn't that what the CC assignments are for? I thought you could input notes from an external keyboard?

Help me understand what MPT can and cannot do with MIDI.

LPChip · July 25, 2009, 08:07:27

Indeed, OpenMPT cannot send its midi data to a Midi out port.

It can only send it to plugins. The only reason is that there is no external midi port selector.

You can however, use a VSTi to access the external hardware.

Saga Musix · July 25, 2009, 10:05:18

VST2MID from the "midibag" can do this indeed. However, it can't send all stuff (or it simply doesn't receive all stuff from OpenMPT). Works well enough for my purposes, though.

QuoteIsn't that what the CC assignments are for?

As I said before, VSTs work by sending and receiving MIDI data - hence why VSTis are called "virtual synthesizers" - so you can also pass CC data to them.

Harbinger · July 25, 2009, 19:57:57

OKay. I think i have VST2MID somewhere in my VST folder. I'll see what i can do with that. Any tips on using that for MIDI devices would be helpful, Jojo.

So i wanna make sure i understand correctly: VST parameter control messages are simply plain-old MIDI messages?

Saga Musix · July 25, 2009, 20:11:21

Quote. I'll see what i can do with that. Any tips on using that for MIDI devices would be helpful, Jojo.

I dunno what I should recommend here. I plugged my synth in and it worked. If something doesn't work, simply send it as a MIDI CC and it will work, hopefully.

QuoteVST parameter control messages are simply plain-old MIDI messages?

As far as I can tell, yes.