Possible to change VSTi presets using Zxx commands?

[Rylo]

I am just wondering if this is something that's possible with ModPlug tracker? It would be handy to have one VSTi which I could switch to different presets during the song rather than loading up multiple versions of the same synth.

Regards
Rylo

[Saga Musix]

Sure, but Zxx is the more complicated way. The simple way is to assign two instruments to the same plugin, but with different MIDI Program / MIDI Bank parameters. This is also more logical from the composer's perspective, because you have two different instruments. For accessing presets >= 128, you have to use a higher bank number, f.e. presets 0 - 127 = bank 0, 128 - 255 = bank 1, etc...

However, it's theoretically possible with Zxx as well, if you want to go the hardcore way... Use the MIDI CC 00 (Bank) and 32 (Patch), but I'm not sure if that will actually properly work with VSTi, I have justed tested this method with VST2MID any my (real) synthesizer!

[psishock]

well, to be honest, you're better of loading all your sounds to different instances, switching "on the fly" usually makes several unwanted artifacts/glitches on the synth. It may sounds nice in theory (less instances, less memory, less cpu load), but its really not comfortable in the practice (only trouble).

[Saga Musix]

"in the practice" is a matter of what you are doing. Sometimes, you have to use just one instance, for example with some badly coded plugins, or for example with the V2 synth, if you want to make a demo tune and record it to V2M - Using several V2 instances is impossible then.

[psishock]

sure.

[Rylo]

Jojo, that's great. I'll look into that method you suggested!

Cheers!

Rylo