Topic: VST3 expression parameters?

Dorico uses VST3 expression parameters for polyphonic re-tuning (of instruments in microtonal music). However, when I used Pianoteq 6.2.1 as a VSTi in Dorico, it did not respond to the microtuning at all. Does Pianoteq 6 not support the VST3 expression parameters at all, or do I have to activate them in some setting? I used the default full-featured MIDI mapping but I suppose that has nothing to do with the VST parameters.

Re: VST3 expression parameters?

Pianoteq supports MIDI tuning standard, not VST3 expression.

http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com/MIDItuning.html

Hard work and guts!

Re: VST3 expression parameters?

No; Pianoteq does not support MTS. Pianoteq has its own microtuning settings, and it supports the .scl and .kbm file formats, as well as real-time multi-channel pitchbend tuning (with only one instance of the instrument).

Using VST3 expression parameters for microtuning is an excellent new method (polyphonic, no 128-notes-per-channel limitation)  that the Steinberg notation software Dorico 2 uses for Steinberg's VST3 instruments. 
As Pianoteq is indeed a VST3 instrument, I hope that future versions Pianoteq - the leading microtonal software instrument - will respond to this VST3 data.
Alternatively, the per-note detune parameter of VST2 could be used. Dorico retunes VST2 instruments using that parameter, but there are few instruments that support VST2 per-note detune. It seems that Pianoteq does not. NotePerformer is an example of VST2  instruments that do.

Re: VST3 expression parameters?

Yes, it does support MTS realtime messages.

https://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic.php?id=5754

See Niclas' replies.

Last edited by EvilDragon (21-08-2018 12:39)
Hard work and guts!

Re: VST3 expression parameters?

OK, thanks; I wasn't aware of this as it's undocumented.

Meanwhile, I've found out that, at present, Dorico only uses VST3 expression for retuning the Halion Sonic SE sampler that it comes  equipped with, and VST2 per-note detune for all other VST3 and VST2 instruments.

So support of the VST2 per-note detune parameter is what would be needed in Pianoteq, if used for playback of microtonal notation in Dorico.

Re: VST3 expression parameters?

It would actually make more sense if Steinberg followed the MIDI spec and supported and sent MTS where necessary in their own software, but that isn't happening because it's Steinberg we're talking about here, heh.

Last edited by EvilDragon (21-08-2018 15:26)
Hard work and guts!

Re: VST3 expression parameters?

I'm another Dorico user who would find future support for VST3 expression very useful.

Re: VST3 expression parameters?

jameso wrote:

I'm another Dorico user who would find future support for VST3 expression very useful.

This is an old thread but I decided to mention that Pianoteq now does support Dorico's playback of microtonal notation, ie. VST tuning.