Topic by RA

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Topic: Mono for one instance only, when there are multiple plugin instances?

I'm using Pianoteq within a digital audio workstation (DAW), and I'm using multiple instances of Rhodes MKII (with different instrument settings for each instance). Mostly, it works fine except for OPTIONS /  MAXIMUM POLYPHONY (in Pianoteq). I want one of the instances to be mono with the others being 32-voice polyphony. However, the plugins don't appear to save that parameter properly: The instances end up being all mono or all polyphonic. Does anyone know: Is this a limitation of Pianoteq? Or is it more likely a DAW limitation?

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Mono for one instance only, when there are multiple plugin instances?

I have never attempted to save different levels of polyphony per instance in a DAW - that's more of a Pianoteq global setting. I can imagine vsti and vst3  possibly behaving differently in this regard too, so maybe try both versions and see how you get along in your DAW .

However I don't believe to be honest that you would save much CPU if any at all - unless for some strange reason you are playing the same amount of notes on each instance?

If you aren't playing a lot of polyphony you aren't gaining anything by limiting polyphony.
If say you are playing a gentle slow piece with little sustain and not going beyond 32 notes then you could have polyphony set to maximum and it'll make no difference to your CPU.

Moving away from the polyphony question It is easy to have a mixture of mono tracks and stereo tracks in a DAW project. Just save some of your presets as a mono version within Pianoteq itself, and save your DAW  project. You could have mono with stereo effects - works best with Rhodes and other electric pianos for realism.

It might help to know which DAW you are using.

Reply by RA

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Re: Mono for one instance only, when there are multiple plugin instances?

Thanks. I've tried this using Waveform 13 (Tracktion) and Canabile 4. Either way I get the same result. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make VST3 work properly. I guess what I'll need to do is just find a different plugin to be the 'mono' instrument. (AS an aside: It's not a matter of trying to save CPU, but of achieving a particular musical result since I intend the bass notes to sound like a monophonic bass instrument rather than like a piano per se. And the whole endeavor is focused on live performance rather than on recording.)

Thanks again.


Key Fumbler wrote:

I have never attempted to save different levels of polyphony per instance in a DAW - that's more of a Pianoteq global setting. I can imagine vsti and vst3  possibly behaving differently in this regard too, so maybe try both versions and see how you get along in your DAW .

However I don't believe to be honest that you would save much CPU if any at all - unless for some strange reason you are playing the same amount of notes on each instance?

If you aren't playing a lot of polyphony you aren't gaining anything by limiting polyphony.
If say you are playing a gentle slow piece with little sustain and not going beyond 32 notes then you could have polyphony set to maximum and it'll make no difference to your CPU.

Moving away from the polyphony question It is easy to have a mixture of mono tracks and stereo tracks in a DAW project. Just save some of your presets as a mono version within Pianoteq itself, and save your DAW  project. You could have mono with stereo effects - works best with Rhodes and other electric pianos for realism.

It might help to know which DAW you are using.

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Mono for one instance only, when there are multiple plugin instances?

If you want mono polyphony then a combination with a different software instrument played with a different additional MIDI keyboard would be better anyway. Failing that a keyboard with split midi channel zones options.

Obviously all Rhodes pianos were designed as mechanically unlimited polyphony.

You could experiment with the guitar keyboard mode switch and legato within Pianoteq, but I don't think that's going to get the sound you are after. It's still poly.

I think there may still be a free version of IK Modo bass to try?

EDIT possible feature request:

Perhaps a mono or paraphonic legato switch with last played priority type choices would be a feature players would actually like to see in Pianoteq?

Last edited by Key Fumbler (19-05-2024 09:32)