energyXT Commands Guide v1.3.6

- - contains the Master Synchroniser and Mixer Sections for the components and Sequencer elements.
- - much of the Sequencer Mixer has been incorporated into this Mixer

Managing the Mixer

to hide/show the Main Mixer - right click, Mixer, or F7

- - there are 3 mixer view controls at the top of the mixer:

view Insert FX
view Send FX
view sections (All sections, Selected sections or Automatically)

to hide/show the Insert FX - click the Insert FX button Off/On
to hide/show the Send FX - click the Send FX button Off/On

to show all sections - select Show All in the Mixer View list
- - each mixer section may be open or closed
to show selected sections only - select Selected in the Mixer View list
- - mixer sections are shown only for those components that are selected in the Main window and each section may be open or closed
to show sections automatically - select Auto in the Mixer View list
- - all mixer sections are shown, sections are opened only for those components that are selected in the Main window
- - when a Sequencer is selected, a section is opened only for the current track
- - if you want to see the mixer sections for several VSTis at once, route an empty MIDI track to them all, minimise it and select that track

to re-order the mixer sections - right-click a section, Move Up
to close/open a mixer section - click the Close/Open button at the end of the section
to open a comp for editing - click the comp name in the mixer section, Edit
to scroll up/down the mixer - rotate the mouse-wheel

Master Section

- - VST versions of eXT can slave to the host's transporter, position and tempo
to set the tempo - drag the tempo value up or down
to add a folder to the Clicks favourites list - click the Metronome menu [...],Open, browse to the desired folder, right-click, Add to favourites
to remove a folder from the Clicks favourites list - click the Metronome menu [...], Open, click the Favourites button [...] >> Remove, select the desired folder

to load a click (metronome) - click the Metronome menu [...],Open, browse to the folder containing the click to be used, select it, OK,
or click the Favourites button [...], select the desired folder, select the click, OK

to set the click volume - drag the click waveform up or down (it changes temporarily to a value)
to start/stop the Master Synchroniser - click the Power On button
to close/open the Master Synchroniser strip - click the bar/box after the name

Mixer - Audio Channels

- - the audio controls are similar for all the audio channels in the Mixer:

in the Main window: the Audio Part comps, Sequencer comps, VST comps and Sampler comps,
in the Sequencer: the eXT Sampler, VSTis and Audio tracks

Routing the Audio

For comps in the Main window

- - the eXT Sampler, the eXT Sequencer, VSTs and Audio Parts
to route an audio output to an audio input - click the component's name, Outputs, select the desired Audio Output (if needed), select the desired audio input
- - you will only need to select the comp's Audio Output if there is more than one, otherwise this stage is skipped
- - the Master out input ports are listed first
- - you can route to more than one audio input, all current routes are ticked
to disconnect a comp from an audio input - click the comp's name, Outputs, select the desired Audio Output (if needed), untick the desired audio input

For modules in the Sequencer

- - the eXT Sampler, VST Instruments and Audio tracks,
to route an audio output to a Sequencer audio output - click the module's name, Outputs, select the desired Audio Output (if needed), select the desired Master Out port
- - you will only need to select the module's Audio Output if there is more than one, otherwise this stage is skipped
- - the "Master out" ports are the Sequencer's outputs
- - you can route to more than one Sequencer output, all current outputs are ticked
to disconnect a module from a Sequencer output - click the module's name, Outputs, select the desired Audio Output (if needed), untick the desired Master Out port

to send/stop sending MIDI CC events to the Insert FX(s) - click the VSTi name, Send MIDI to inserts
- - If the events are being sent to the Insert FX(s), the menu option is ticked, the MIDI CC events are still received by the VSTi, and may control it.

Controlling the Audio

- - the eXT Sequencer, the eXT Sampler, Audio part comps and some VSTs can have several output audio channels,
- - each connected audio channel is represented in the Mixer and is identified by an Audio Channel number (shown just to the right of the channel's horizontal VU meter)

to mute/unmute an audio channel - click Mute
to solo/unsolo an audio channel - click Solo
to adjust the volume smoothly - drag the volume fader knob
to adjust the volume by a small amount - right-click either side of the fader knob
to adjust the volume immediately - click in the desired position in the fader
to reset the clipping indicator - click it, or adjust the volume fader
to adjust the pan position - drag the pan value (after the volume fader) up or down
to adjust the pan position by one step - right-click either side of the current pan position

Volume Fader Automation

to map a MIDI CC controller to the volume fader - click the Audio Channel number, Map Volume to CC, click the CC number of the source
to map an external MIDI CC controller to the volume fader - click the Audio Channel number, Map Volume to CC, MIDI Learn,
or Ctrl+click the volume fader,
or middle-click it,
then adjust the control on your MIDI keyboard or send it from another MIDI source
- - to route the incoming MIDI CC messages to the audio track, you need to select a MIDI track in the Sequencer or create an (empty) MIDI track, set it to manual Recording and enable Audition/Monitor
to disconnect the mapping - click the Audio Channel number, Map Volume to CC, Off
Any current mapping is indicated by a tick.

Pan Position Automation

to map a MIDI CC controller to the pan position - click the Audio Channel number, Map Pan to CC, click the CC number of the source
to map an external MIDI CC controller to the volume fader - click the Audio Channel number, Map Pan to CC, MIDI Learn,
or Ctrl+click the pan position value,
or middle-click it,
then adjust the control on your MIDI keyboard or send it from another MIDI source
- - to route the incoming MIDI CC messages to the audio track, you need to select a MIDI track in the Sequencer or create an (empty) MIDI track, set it to manual Recording and enable Audition/Monitor
to disconnect the mapping - click the Audio Channel number, Map pan to CC, Off
Any current mapping is indicated by a tick.

Insert FX

- - an Insert FX can be inserted onto any audio stream in the Mixer
- - this includes the Sequencer audio outputs; rendering to a file from a Sequencer comp will then use Insert FX inserted here as master FX
- - eXT provides a built-in EQ Insert FX

- - a note from Jørgen, June 2005
If you are using a 'mono-out' VSTi in the Sequencer, the output of the VSTi is attenuated by around 6dB for each Insert FX effect add to the VSTi, the mono output uses a mono buffer and when using inserts with stereo out, eXT mixes the stereo outputs back to the mono buffer after processing.
This is something I'd like to change and I may have to do it when I implement pan automation.

Managing Insert FX

to add an Insert FX to an audio channel - click the Audio channel number, Add Insert, browse to the desired FX, select it
to add a built-in EQ Insert FX to an audio channel - click the Audio channel number, Add Insert, EQ
- - the FX appears in the mixer section below the volume fader for the audio channel
- - it is inserted “pre-fader”
- - the FXs are applied in the order shown in the mixer section
to remove an Insert FX from an audio channel - right-click the FX name, Delete
to rename an Insert FX - right-click the FX name, Rename
to re-order an Insert FX - right-click the FX name, Move Up
to replace an Insert FX - right-click the FX name, Replace, browse to the desired VST FX and click it
to show an Insert FX parameter in the mixer section - right-click on the Insert FX name, Show Param, select the desired parameter from the list
- not required for the built-in EQ, the parameters are automatically displayed for each EQ band that you add

to open an Insert FX GUI - right-click FX name, Edit,
or double-click the Insert FX name
- not for the built-in EQ, the parameters are automatically displayed

Controlling Insert FX

to turn the Insert FX Off/On - click the Power On button
- - not implemented for all FXs
- - when the Insert FX is off, the incoming audio bypasses it, going to the next FX or to an audio output channel
to decrease/increase the Wet/Dry level - drag the Wet level down/up
- - initially, the audio is set at 100% wet

to change the preset - select the desired preset from the drop-down list
to step to the next/previous preset - click the Next/Previous buttons to the left of the preset name
to jump up and down the preset list, when on view - Page Up/Down
- - some FXs load and save their presets themselves, if so, the preset list will not be available in the mixer section
- - the built-in EQ does not have any presets

to send/stop sending MIDI CC events to the Insert FX(s) - click the Audio track name, tick/untick Send MIDI to inserts
- - If the events are being sent to the Insert FX(S), the menu option is ticked

Controlling the Insert FX Parameters

- - see the Mixer - VST Parameters section, Click here

Controlling and Editing the built-in EQ

to turn the EQ Off/On - click the Power On button
to set the EQ type - click the EQ Type icon, select the desired type from the drop-down list
- - three EQ types are available - Low-shelf, Peaking and High-shelf
to add another band to the EQ - right-click the EQ name, Add band
to remove a band from the EQ - click the EQ type, Delete band

to set the EQ frequency - drag the frequency value up or down, or double-click the value and enter the desired frequency
to set the EQ gain - drag the gain value up or down
to set the EQ slope - drag the Q value up or down
- - the higher the Q value the steeper the slope

CC Mapping

- - the built-in EQ does not support CC mapping
to start mapping a MIDI CC controller to the FX - right-click the FX name, Edit

- - these commands are also described in the VST Wrapper/VST Automation section
to map a MIDI CC controller to an FX Parameter - File >> CC Map >> New, drag CC Number to the desired number, select the desired FX parameter from the list
- - when a CC number is mapped to a parameter, then any default assignment of that CC to a control is over-ridden
to map an external MIDI CC controller to an FX Parameter - File >> CC Map >> New, select the FX parameter from the list,
Ctrl+-click the CC number,
or middle-click it,
then adjust the control on your MIDI keyboard or send it from another MIDI source
- - You can map the same CC to more than 1 parameter
to delete a mapping - File >> CC Map >> Del for the desired mapping

- - the CC values received can be scaled down, e.g. 0-127 in the CC Messages maps to values of 60-100 for the VST parameter
to set the minimum parameter value - drag the Min value up or down
to set the maximum parameter value - drag the Max value up or down
- - with Min set to more than Max the response will be inverted. If you route the same CC message number to 2 parameters, one inverted, then you can morph between them

Controlling Volumes Post FX

- - from eXT v1.3.6 Insert FX can be added to the Sequencer audio outputs, the FX are added pre-fader; however the following tip may still be useful
- - a tip from swivel, May 2005

if you want to adjust track volumes in the sequencer POST insert FX, simply place an empty instance of energyXTe after the Insert FX ,
don't connect anything internally in the energyXTe instance,
rename it to something like "post FX Muting"
you can then use the wet/dry control on the energyXTe insert to adjust volume (0 is full volume, 100 is no volume, that is muted).

I find this easier than adding a mixer after the sequencer object, and I don't really adjust volume pre insert FX because compression units and the like would have to be re-adjusted for the new level.

Panning Law

- - the panning law determines what is done to the audio signal volume when it is panned. In eXT, the audio volume is increased by 0 dB, 3 db or 6dB to compensate for the perceived loss of volume.
to set the panning law - o, select Project, then select the desired law
- - when any eXT window is current
or right-click in main eXT window, Options, select Project, then select the desired law

Mixer - Audio Parts Sections

- - see the Mixer Audio Controls section, Click here

Mixer - VST and Sampler Sections

- - eXT Sampler comps, VST FX comps and VSTi comps in the Main window and eXT Samplers and VSTis in the Sequencer

Managing VSTs and Samplers

to delete a VST or Sampler - right-click the VST or Sampler name, Delete
to rename a VST or Sampler - right-click the VST or Sampler name, Rename
to replace an VST or Sampler - right-click the VST or Sampler name, Replace, browse to the desired VST or Sampler and click it
to re-order an VST or Sampler - right-click the VST or Sampler name, Move Up

to dock a VST or Sampler - right-click the VST or Sampler name, Dock, select the desired page or New page
- - when you dock a VST or Sampler, it is positioned in the top-left corner of the docking page
to undock an VST or Sampler - right- click the VST or Sampler name, Undock
- - when you undock a VST or Sampler, it is positioned in the middle of the screen
to show a VST parameter in the mixer section - click on the VST name, Show Param, select the desired parameter from the list

Stereo and Mono Audio Ports

to change a stereo Audio port to 2 mono ports - right-click the VST or Sampler name, Input and Outputs >> Unlink, next to the port
to change 2 mono ports to a stereo Audio port to - right-click the VST or Sampler name, Input and Outputs >> Link, next to the first mono port

Multi-core Use

- - this feature is available only if you have virtual CPUs like hyperthreading or dual core and is used to spread the processing load by assigning VSTis across the available cores
- - multi-core support for VSTis currently only available in the sequencer comp, but will be available in the main window as well soon

to assign a VSTi to a CPU core - right-click the VSTi name >> Core, select the core to be used
- - the assignment happens instantly, i.e. if you change to another core , the processing happens from that moment on that core for the current VSTi , even during playback . - - you can also use multi-core in eXT VST versions, you just have to load VSTs into the sequencer comp and use the sequencer comp as an instrument rack; each track with its own VST must be set to "rec: manual" with its own midi receive/input channel.

Routing MIDI to Insert FXs

- - currently (October 2005), this is available only for VSTis and Samplers in the Sequencer
to send/stop sending MIDI CC events to the Insert FX(s) - click the VSTi name, Send MIDI to inserts
- - If the events are being sent to the Insert FX(s), the menu option is ticked, the MIDI CC events are still received by the VSTi, and may control it.

Controlling the VSTi

to turn the VSTi Off/On - click the Power On button
- - not implemented by all VSTs
- - if you power off a VST comp then the incoming audio bypasses the VST and any Insert FX to the next comp (or Master Out)

to change the preset - select the desired preset from the drop-down list
to step to the next/previous preset - click the Next/Previous buttons to the left of the preset name
to jump up and down the list, when on view - Page Up/Down
- - some VSTis load and save their presets themselves, if so, the preset list will not be available in the Mixer strip
to open a VSTi GUI - click the Edit button [e], or right-click the VSTi name, Edit,
or double-click the VSTi name

to open the VSTi GUI for the current Sequencer track - Ctrl+Spacebar
- - in the Sequencer Arrange view, for MIDI tracks and Envelopes only

Controlling VST Parameters

- -for VSTis and VST FX
to show a VST parameter in the Mixer - right-click on the VST name, Show Param, select the desired parameter from the list
to hide the Parameter - click the VST Parameter Menu [...], Hide Param

CC Mapping

to map a MIDI CC controller to the Parameter - click the VST Parameter Menu [...], Map to CC, click the CC number of the source
- - when a CC number is mapped to a parameter, then any default assignment of that CC to a control is over-ridden
- - as NicFit said: " For example Pro53 has CC#71 set to control Filter Resonance....but if you map CC#71 to another control in XT...then Filter Resonance will no longer respond to CC#71 (unless you also map it)."
to map an external MIDI CC controller to the Parameter - click the VST Parameter Menu [...], Map to CC, MIDI Learn,
or Ctrl+-click the Parameter slider,
or middle-click it,
then adjust the control on your MIDI keyboard or send it from another MIDI source
to disconnect the mapping - click the VST Parameter Menu, Map to CC, Off
- - Any current mapping is indicated by a tick.

Preserving CPU power

- - a tip from Jens, December 2004

Loaded synths don't disappear when you don't route any midi-tracks to them and you can switch them off to preserve CPU
So, you can load all your favourite synths into your sequencer-template
and to use them you just have to connect them and switch them on
You can even pre-route several of them to predefined tracks if you want - it won't take any CPU-cycles as long as they're switched off....
eXT's mixer/routing makes it so easy to predefine everything without wasting CPU or reducing flexibility or making a mess out of your template....

Mixer - Sequencer Sections

The Sequencer Transporter

to start the Sequencer - Click Play (the first of the 3 Transporter buttons)
to stop the Sequencer - Click Stop (the second of the 3 Transporter buttons)
to rewind the Sequencer - Click Rewind (the third of the 3 Transporter buttons)

Audio Recording

to enable/disable Audio Recording - click the Power On button
to set the Audio recording bit depth - select the desired value from the Record drop-down list
- - 16, 24 or 32 bit

- -there is a Mute button and input level fader for each input audio channel (stereo or mono) that is connected
to set the input Audio level - drag the fader
to mute/unmute an input audio channel - Mute

The Sequencer Master Audio outputs

- - see the Mixer Audio Controls section, Click here

The Sequencer Sends

to add a Send FX - click the Sends menu [...] in the Sends FX mixer section, browse to the desired Send FX, select it, OK
- - the Send FX appears in the Sequencer Sends section,
- - a send strip appears at the end of each audio channel connected in the Sequencer (for the Sequencer VSTis, Sequencer eXT Samplers, and Audio Tracks), showing the pre-fader/post-fader switch and the current send level
- - the defaults are post-fader and Send Level = 0
to delete a Send FX - right-click the Send FX name, Delete
to rename a Send FX - right-click the Send FX name, Rename
to replace a Send FX - right-click the Send FX name, Replace, browse to the desired Send FX, select it, OK
to re-order a Send FX - right-click the Send FX name, Move Up (not implemented yet)
to show a Send FX parameter in the mixer section - right-click the Send FX name, Show Param, select the desired parameter from the list

to open a Send FX GUI - right-click the Send FX name, Edit,
or double-click the Send FX name
- - in the Sends section or below any of the audio controls

Controlling a Send FX

to turn the Send FX Off/On - click the Power On button (not implemented for all VSTs)
to change the preset - select the desired preset from the drop-down list
to step to the next/previous preset - click the Next/Previous buttons to the left of the preset name
to jump up and down the list, when on view - Page Up/Down
- - some VSTs load and save their presets themselves, if so, the preset list will not be available in the Mixer section.
to switch the Send FX connection point for an audio channel in the Sequencer between pre-fader and post-fader - click the pre-fader button
- - the “fork” button, in most skins
- - pre-fader means that the Send level is not affected by the mixer volume fader; post-fader means that it is.
to set the Send level from the audio channel - drag the send value up or down

Controlling the Send FX Parameters

- - see the Mixer - VST Parameters section, Click here

The Sequencer VSTis and Samplers

- - see the Mixer - VST section, Click here

The Sequencer Audio Tracks

- see the Mixer - Audio Controls section, Click here

Routing MIDI to Insert FXs

to send/stop sending MIDI CC events to the Insert FX(s) - click the Audio track name, Send MIDI to inserts
- - if the events are being sent to the Insert FX(S), the menu option is ticked

Mixer Tips

Group Tracks in the Sequencer

- - based on a tip from jens, September 2005:

add the first Insert FX that you want to have in a group-track to a MIDI track (as if it were a VSTi)
remove that insert FX from the track (the Insert FX remains loaded)
add all subsequent group-inserts as normal track-inserts to the FX
route all the audio tracks that you want to group to this FX instead of to a Sequencer master-out

- - it's really that simple and it works and all group-inserts are automatable...

Controlling several VST parameters from a MIDI keyboard

- - a tip from DarkStar (November 2004), updated with information from NicFit (May 2005)
to control several VST parameters or track volume faders or both at once:

create an empty MIDI track, Rename it, say, KBd Controls,
if you want, drag it to the top of the Arrange view
set its output to all the VSTis on your other tracks that you want to control
set its output to all the audio tracks that you want to control
set its Record option to "Man" for manual, then enable the Monitor button on the track so that it's always receiving MIDI even when the track is not selected,
you can also set this control track to receive only Ch16 (just the one I chose to dedicate to Mixer/Pan automation) and add a MIDI FX insert to pass CC data on Channel16 only.
for each VSTi:
- use Map to CC to set up the CC mapping,
- and, if you want, use Show Param to show the parameter(s) that you are controlling
for each volume fader:
- middle click the fader to invoke MIDI learn, twiddle the controller knob to set it
- make sure that each CC number is only mapped once (unless of course you want a particular CC number to control all the Volumes - as a Master fader)
click Play and twiddle the knobs on your keyboard or control surface

Controlling Mixer levels and Pan Positions from a MIDI keyboard

- - a tip from DarkStar (November 2004, August 2005)

create an empty MIDI track, Rename it, say, KBd Mixer,
if you want, drag it to the top of the Arrange view
set its output to all the VSTis that you want to control
set its Record option to "Man" for manual, then enable the Monitor button on the track so that it's always receiving MIDI even when the track is not selected,
For each VSTi:
- middle-click or Ctrl+click on the VSTi fader in the Sequencer Mixer, or click the VSTi's audio output channel, select map Volume to CC, click MIDI Learn,
- adjust the knobs/slider on your keyboard to set up the CC mapping,
- make sure that each CC number is only mapped once
click Play and twiddle the knobs on your keyboard
- - for a Master fader, do the same for the Sequencer fader in the Main Mixer

- - you can follow a similar procedure for the pan position, clicking on the pan position value

Mixing and FX within the Sequencer

- - in eXT v1.3.6 you can add Insert FX to the Sequencer's audio outputs, but this tip may still be useful
- - a tip from glurgle, January 2005, with acknowledgement to NicFit

Add an instance of energyXT VSTi to your Sequencer - add it as an output for an existing track, then set that track to no longer output to that eXT.
Rename it to something like "Seq Mixer".
Open it up, and right click on Master In, go to "Inputs and Outputs" and add a few in there (roughly as many as you have tracks in your project).
Back in the Sequencer, right-click on the Mixer section header for each VSTi and audio track and select Output.
You should see that "Master Out 01" is currently checked, and you have a bunch of entries named "Seq Mixer 01, Seq Mixer 02" etc.
Uncheck the Master Out, and set the outputs to one of the "Seq Mixer" inputs.
So each audio output in the Sequencer is connected to a separate audio input into the eXT VSTi.
Voila! You can now mix and add effects in the "Seq Mixer" main window; as this is all done within the Sequencer, everything will get rendered to .wav properly.
Another nice benefit is you can add (and automate) new effects to VSTis that are already frozen without unfreezing and refreezing.

A Plugin Delay Compensation (PDC) Workaround

- - a tip from aldi, April 2005, extended by DarkStar

Load the VST into another host to see its latency time and write it down, in Tracktion select the track where the plugin is on and it will be shown at the middle bottom in a field called "auto-advance"
Now if you load the plugin into ext as insert on one track you have to delay every other track by the time you've written down for that plugin.
Do that for every plugin with latency you load (add their times to the delays).
Knoob mentioned Voxengo's Latency Delay compensation plug-in for free download.
This is from the Readme "Latency Delay is an auxiliary latency compensation plug-in which allows you to compensate latency introduced by modular real-time VST plug-ins and instruments which introduce latency but do not try to report it to the host.
Latency Delay introduces 10000 samples latency itself and delays the audio signal by [10000 minus specified sample value] samples. Please note that host audio application should support latency compensation. This plug-in is only a helper and should be used together with other plug-ins."
So if your VST reports a delay of 1000 samples, that is the value you set in Latency Delay.
Example:
- If you have several VSTs with differing latencies, you may find it useful to draw a schematic of all the signal paths in your song. Write the latency on each VST. The idea is that all paths should have the same latency.
- If path 1 has a total latency of 1000 samples, path 2 1400 samples and path 3 1700 samples, then set the Latency Delay plugin on path 1 to show 700 samples and the one on path 2 to 300 samples. All paths end up with a delay of 1700 samples.