Helm VST (64 bit) sound issue

[the4lchemist]

Hi there. I'm testing Helm VST synth (64 bit, ver. 0.9.0) with the latest version of OMPT (64 bit, ver. 1.30.08.00). Right after the plugin loading, it is unable to produce any sound. It starts generating sounds only after selecting a random preset. When I play a pattern with notes from an Helm instrument, it again stops playing. The only way to hear anything is to select another preset. 

Do you experience a similar behavior with Helm or other plugins?

[Saga Musix]

Helm works just fine here. After loading the plugin, a default patch just consisting of a sawtooth is loaded. Can you share a module file this happens with?

[the4lchemist]

Hi Saga Musix, great to hear from you. You can find an example in the attached module.

[Saga Musix]

So in that particular file, the master volume on the plugin (in the top-center of the plugin GUI) is set to 0. I don't see how anything in the module itself could trigger that, also if I change the volume, save and re-open the file, it stays at the correct volume. Does this keep happening for you if you do the same, or if you add another instance of the plugin?

[the4lchemist]

Ah, didn't see the volume slider. That is a very good point, thanks. Just noticed that the VST's volume goes straight to 0 when I stop playing the module (F5 key). Why is this happening?

[Saga Musix]

The plugin isn't doing that here. Did you install it from https://tytel.org/helm/downloads/ or some other source?

[the4lchemist]

Yes, I got it from the official source. The download page seems to be broken so I found this link from the HTML source.

[Saga Musix]

I think I see what happened now. Most likely at some point you right-clicked the volume slider and (accidentally?) selected "Learn MIDI Assignment". This makes the plugin wait for a MIDI CC message to be sent, and will then map any future occurences of this MIDI CC to that function of the synthesizer. OpenMPT sends some MIDI CCs every time playback is stopped, so if the plugin is in MIDI learn mode while stopping playback, it will remember to bind one of those CCs that OpenMPT sends to that function. Helm will also remember those MIDI learn assignments across plugin instances, so if you do it once the problem will keep happening everytime you stop playback. You can fix it by right-clicking the volume slider and choose "Clear MIDI Assignment".

[the4lchemist]

Dear Saga Musix, you nailed it! I was going crazy Of course that was accidental and your solution fixes the issue.

BTW, is there a way to see all stored MIDI CCs within a plugin?

[Saga Musix]

No, every plugin manages that in its own way, if it supports this feature at all.

[the4lchemist]

Yes, that makes sense...

Thanks a lot for your quick support!