layer-stack-view
Differences
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layer-stack-view [2021/01/29 19:47] – [Layer ops button and Layer presets] shane | layer-stack-view [2023/05/14 10:22] (current) – [MIDI-effect, Instrument, and Audio-effect differences] shane | ||
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* You can use your mouse' | * You can use your mouse' | ||
* The icon on the right shows you the //accordion view//, where you'll see ALL layers in the stack, even if they have to be squashed vertically to fit. | * The icon on the right shows you the //accordion view//, where you'll see ALL layers in the stack, even if they have to be squashed vertically to fit. | ||
- | * As of Unify v1.1.x, Accordion | + | * As of Unify v1.1.3, Scrolling |
The following pairs of screenshot show how the same factory patch (//BPM SPLIT - And So It Begins!//) appear in the scrolling (left) and accordion (right) views: | The following pairs of screenshot show how the same factory patch (//BPM SPLIT - And So It Begins!//) appear in the scrolling (left) and accordion (right) views: | ||
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* There is always exactly one **Master Effects** layer, into which the sounds from all other layers are mixed. | * There is always exactly one **Master Effects** layer, into which the sounds from all other layers are mixed. | ||
* Some Unify patches may also use **Auxiliary Effects (AUX)** layers which are comparable to "aux bus" channels in a DAW or a traditional mixing console. | * Some Unify patches may also use **Auxiliary Effects (AUX)** layers which are comparable to "aux bus" channels in a DAW or a traditional mixing console. | ||
+ | |||
+ | See [[# | ||
===== Color scheme ===== | ===== Color scheme ===== | ||
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* Unify will automatically update the layer numbering //and// all [[realtime-params|macro parameters]] linked to the layers. | * Unify will automatically update the layer numbering //and// all [[realtime-params|macro parameters]] linked to the layers. | ||
+ | ===== INST/MIDI layer enable/ | ||
+ | Starting in Unify v1.6.0, INST and MIDI layers can be // | ||
+ | |||
+ | INST and MIDI layers can also be enabled/ | ||
+ | See also [[param-paths|Parameter paths reference]] for details, specifically the [[param-paths# | ||
===== Showing/ | ===== Showing/ | ||
Because you often don't need to see the details of MIDI layers after they are fully set up, Unify provides the option to " | Because you often don't need to see the details of MIDI layers after they are fully set up, Unify provides the option to " | ||
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===== Instrument layers ===== | ===== Instrument layers ===== | ||
Instrument layers are the most important type, and also the most complex, in that it contains elements that other layers don't. Once you understand the structure of instrument layers, you'll understand the others as well. | Instrument layers are the most important type, and also the most complex, in that it contains elements that other layers don't. Once you understand the structure of instrument layers, you'll understand the others as well. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Unify v1.4** introduced the ability to disable Instrument layers individually. This feature is currently only accessible via external MIDI control; see [[midi-controller-files|MIDI Controller Files]]. When an Instrument layer is disabled, the whole layer will go dark in the GUI, and it will stop playing new MIDI notes, but it remains connected to the output, and any decaying notes, echoes, reverb tails, etc. will continue sounding. | ||
Each Instrument layer is divided into six rectangular regions as shown: | Each Instrument layer is divided into six rectangular regions as shown: | ||
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- The **Mix controls** area contains several controls related to how this layer' | - The **Mix controls** area contains several controls related to how this layer' | ||
+ | ==== INST layer titles in Unify 1.8 and later ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | All layers have a //short name// such as "INST 1", "MIDI 2", "AUX 1", etc., and an optional //user title//, which you enter by double-clicking the title bar and typing. When you add a new layer, its //user title// is initially blank. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Starting with Unify 1.8, INST layers also have a special ability: When the //user title// is blank, Unify will automatically substitute the //name of the instrument plug-in' | ||
+ | * Note that //not all plug-ins support this// by reporting their current preset name to their host. | ||
+ | * If you double-click the layer title, the title editor will initially be set to the preset name. | ||
+ | * If you edit the title text and press Enter, the edited text will become the new //user title//, and Unify will stop automatically updating the layer title. | ||
+ | * To restore automatic title updating, double-click the layer title, delete the entire text, and press enter to set the //user title// back to blank. | ||
==== Ops (operations) buttons ==== | ==== Ops (operations) buttons ==== | ||
Any time you see an icon consisting of two concentric circles in Unify, it's called an "ops button" | Any time you see an icon consisting of two concentric circles in Unify, it's called an "ops button" | ||
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{{:: | {{:: | ||
+ | * **Replace with embedded INST1** OR **MOVE into new embedded Unify** (new as of Unify 1.9.x). This NEW menu item will automatically appear at the TOP of the menu. See below for explanation. | ||
* **Save layer as preset...** option allows you to define a new **layer preset** which saves the entire state of the layer, including the state of all its plug-ins, mix settings, etc. | * **Save layer as preset...** option allows you to define a new **layer preset** which saves the entire state of the layer, including the state of all its plug-ins, mix settings, etc. | ||
* **COPY layer** copies the entire layer to the clipboard | * **COPY layer** copies the entire layer to the clipboard | ||
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* NOTE the mix parameters (pan and level) are NOT updated when replacing from a layer preset | * NOTE the mix parameters (pan and level) are NOT updated when replacing from a layer preset | ||
+ | **As of Unify 1.4**, after loading a new Unify layer, if you decide you only need the first INST layer (very common for " | ||
+ | |||
+ | **As of Unify 1.9**, the reverse operation is also available. For INST layers where the instrument plug-in is NOT Unify, the first menu item will be **Move to new embedded Unify**. Clicking this button is a shortcut for the following sequence of operations: | ||
+ | - Copy layer to clipboard | ||
+ | - Replace layer with new embedded Unify layer | ||
+ | - Paste original layer into new embedded Unify instance, replacing its INST1 layer | ||
==== Signal flow in instrument layers ==== | ==== Signal flow in instrument layers ==== | ||
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* The **Load... button** lets you load a previously-saved curve-shape preset (XML file) | * The **Load... button** lets you load a previously-saved curve-shape preset (XML file) | ||
* The **Save... button** lets you save the current shape as a new curve-shape preset | * The **Save... button** lets you save the current shape as a new curve-shape preset | ||
+ | * The **Presets... button** provides a shortcut alternative to **Load**, displaying a multi-level menu of available curve-preset in the //Velocity Curves// folder. | ||
In the graph control itself, you can: | In the graph control itself, you can: | ||
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* Single-click directly //on a split point// and drag to move it up, down, left, or right. | * Single-click directly //on a split point// and drag to move it up, down, left, or right. | ||
* Double-click directly //on a split point// to //delete it//, joining two segments back into one | * Double-click directly //on a split point// to //delete it//, joining two segments back into one | ||
+ | * Right-click to pop up a small menu of operations: | ||
+ | * //Copy curve shape// puts the current curve shape onto your computer' | ||
+ | * //Paste curve shape// pastes the curve shape from the clipboard (if there is one) | ||
+ | * //Save curve preset...// is an alternative to the //Save...// button | ||
+ | * //Load curve preset...// is an alternative to the //Load...// button | ||
For velocity curves, you will rarely need to create split points. You will usually only need to adjust the curvature (// | For velocity curves, you will rarely need to create split points. You will usually only need to adjust the curvature (// | ||
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The instrument-ops menu has several sub-menus, and is divided into four sections: | The instrument-ops menu has several sub-menus, and is divided into four sections: | ||
- | - At the top is the "Swap: Unify Standard" | + | - At the top is the "Swap: Unify Standard" |
- In the middle, any number of " | - In the middle, any number of " | ||
- The "Swap: All Instruments" | - The "Swap: All Instruments" | ||
- At the bottom, the " | - At the bottom, the " | ||
+ | **For older VST plug-ins** which support " | ||
+ | * On the ops menu itself: | ||
+ | * A **Change Program** sub-menu provides direct access to all of the presets (" | ||
+ | * On the Operations sub-menu: | ||
+ | * **Load FXB Bank...** allows you to select a //.fxb// file containing a bank of presets for this plug-in | ||
+ | * **Load FXP Preset...** allows you to select and load a single preset from a //.fxp// file | ||
+ | |||
+ | //New in Unify v1.8:// **For VST3 plug-ins**, the Operations sub-menu will contain a **load .vstpreset** item, which will allow you to locate and load a standard VST3 preset file into the instrument plug-in. This is still somewhat experimental; | ||
==== Audio effects box ==== | ==== Audio effects box ==== | ||
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- Add: All Effects, for a hierarchical list of [[scanning|all plug-ins Unify knows about]] on your system | - Add: All Effects, for a hierarchical list of [[scanning|all plug-ins Unify knows about]] on your system | ||
- | When you add an audio-effect plug-in using this menu, a new **plug-in box** will be added at the right-hand side, indicating that it follows the previous ones in the audio processing chain. Each plug-in box is almost exactly like the [[# | + | When you add an audio-effect plug-in using this menu (or the newer methods added in Unify 1.10.x; see [[# |
//Some// (not all) audio-effect plug-ins accept MIDI input. For such plug-ins, you will see both " | //Some// (not all) audio-effect plug-ins accept MIDI input. For such plug-ins, you will see both " | ||
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* it has a single Bypass (B) button on the left-hand side | * it has a single Bypass (B) button on the left-hand side | ||
- | Functionally, | + | Functionally, |
+ | |||
+ | Also new in Unify v1.6.0, you can double-click the title-strip to rename the Master Effects layer, just as you can with all the other layer types. | ||
The **Bypass** (B) button at the left-hand side of the Master Effects layer provides a way to simultaneously deactivate (bypass) the //entire layer//. The reasons why this was added (in Unify v1.3.2) are subtle, and are [[master-bypass|discussed on a separate page]] (click link). | The **Bypass** (B) button at the left-hand side of the Master Effects layer provides a way to simultaneously deactivate (bypass) the //entire layer//. The reasons why this was added (in Unify v1.3.2) are subtle, and are [[master-bypass|discussed on a separate page]] (click link). | ||
{{: | {{: | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Adding and swapping plug-ins using Quick Load ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The above sections have already explained how you can click the "ops buttons" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Right-clicking anywhere in the instrument box pops up a "Quick Load" window like this: | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{:: | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Quick Load window consists of a scrolling list of brief plug-in descriptions, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Entering search text and selecting matching items ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | You can enter more than one (partial) word in the search box, separated by spaces. For example, typing "u-h div" will match both " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The first item in the list is selected (highlighted) automatically. You can use the up- and down-arrow keys to move the highlighting in the list, and you can also use the mouse to click on any item to highlight it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Loading the selected plug-in ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once the plug-in you want is highlighted, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Closing the Quick Load window ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Quick Load window will disappear as soon as you load a plug-in, or you can simply //click anywhere outside the window// to dismiss it without loading anything. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Adding vs. swapping plug-ins ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Instrument slots in Unify are always occupied, so you can only //swap in// a different instrument plug-in. The MIDI- and audio-effect boxes each contain a " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Quick Load interface works the same way for adding or swapping. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== MIDI-effect, | ||
+ | |||
+ | What you see in the Quick Load lists depends on the type of plug-in you're trying to load or swap. Due to limitations of VST/VST3 plug-in standards, Unify can distinguish between " | ||
+ | |||
+ | MIDI-effect plug-ins are special, because the VST/VST3 plug-in standards don't provide any way to distinguish MIDI-effect plug-ins from other types. Most vendors design their MIDI-effect plug-ins to identify themselves as " | ||
+ | |||
+ | In some cases you may find it quicker to use [[plugin-subsets|plug-in subsets]] and the traditional left-click menus to access your MIDI-effect plug-ins. |
layer-stack-view.1611949657.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/05/08 18:59 (external edit)