Changing instruments in a Vst

[ok_computer]

Hi there. I was just wondering if this is possible. I can't figure out how to do it but I am using Absynth as Vst plugin and I am wanting to use 2 different sounds from the program at different parts of the song. Like for example I have a sustained C note that I want to sound like a Flute at the start of the song and then later in the song I want to change it to a Violin. Other than run 2 instances of Absynth (which takes up more RAM and slows down Cubase) how would I achieve this? I had the idea that Automation might work? Like I could change the sound in Absynth so when the cursor reaches the next part of the song, the instrument would have changed and the automation would capture it. I don't even know if thats possible though. Any advice would be really appreciated as I can't really think on how to do this. Hope I've explained myself well enough. Btw I am using Absynth 4 and Cubase 5.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Quite often, synths will let you have various simultaneous patches, fed from a range of midi channels.

If absynth has that, look for the box that says "midi channel - omni" or something like that.

Change it to channel one, then make sure the midi notation track that's being sent to this patch is only outputting on channel one.

Then you'd look for a tab that says "patch B" or similar. Do the same thing again, but this time set it to channel two.
Again, change the output for the relevant midi notation to channel two.

Rather than automating the change, you'd just have a few patches within one absynth, and you'd have several tracks of midi notation.

Like I say, I don't know if absynth caters for this, but if it does, that's what you should be looking for.

 

[ok_computer]

Ohh right Cool that makes sense I will try it out when I get home. Thank you.

 

[gecko zzed]

Another way of doing it is to insert a program change on your midi track.

Where you want it to play sound A, enter a program change number corresponding to sound A, then where sound B occurs, enter the program number for that sound. I don't know how Cubase does it, but most DAWS have a means of doing this, such as graphically or through a list editor. In the case of Absynth, the tricky part is figuring out which program number corresponds to which sound.

 

[mjbphotos]

You could also stem render each part separately (once you have them recorded/edited to satisfaction), getting rid of the RAM problem.