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layer-stack-view [2021/09/14 14:46] – [Instrument box] shanelayer-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's scroll wheel (or ball, or touch surface, etc.) anytime the mouse pointer is over the layer stack.     * You can use your mouse's scroll wheel (or ball, or touch surface, etc.) anytime the mouse pointer is over the layer stack.
   * 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.xAccordion view is the default+  * As of Unify v1.1.3Scrolling view is the default
  
 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 [[#adding_and_swapping_plug-ins_using_quick_load|Adding and swapping plug-ins using Quick Load]] below for details about how you put plug-ins onto the layers.
  
 ===== Color scheme ===== ===== Color scheme =====
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   - The **Mix controls** area contains several controls related to how this layer's output is mixed in Unify, described in detail below.   - The **Mix controls** area contains several controls related to how this layer's output is mixed in Unify, described in detail below.
  
 +==== 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's current preset//, and this will be updated dynamically, should the current preset change.
 +  * 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" or "operations button", and clicking it will pop open an "ops (operations) menu". The scope of the operations (functional items) on the ops menu always matches the location of the ops button in the layout. Any time you see an icon consisting of two concentric circles in Unify, it's called an "ops button" or "operations button", and clicking it will pop open an "ops (operations) menu". The scope of the operations (functional items) on the ops menu always matches the location of the ops button in the layout.
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 {{::layer-ops-menu.png|}} {{::layer-ops-menu.png|}}
  
-  * **Replace with embedded INST1**. This NEW menu item will automatically appear at the TOP of the menu for embedded Unify layers only. See below for explanation.+  * **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 "unified" patch libraries having only one INST layer per patch), you can click on the layer's operations menu (concentric circles menu at right end of layer) and choose **Replace with embedded INST1**. This NEW menu item will automatically appear at the TOP of the menu for embedded Unify layers only.+**As of Unify 1.4**, after loading a new Unify layer, if you decide you only need the first INST layer (very common for "unified" patch libraries having only one INST layer per patch), you can click on the layer's operations menu (concentric circles menu at right end of layer) and choose **Replace with embedded INST1**. This menu item will automatically appear at the TOP of the menu for embedded Unify layers only. 
 + 
 +**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 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" sub-menu, which allows you to replace the current plug-in with any of Unify's built-in or bundled plug-ins.+  - At the top is the "Swap: Unify Standard" sub-menu, which allows you to replace the current plug-in with any of Unify's built-in or bundled plug-ins. See also [[#adding_and_swapping_plug-ins_using_quick_load|Adding and swapping plug-ins using Quick Load]] below.
   - In the middle, any number of "Swap" sub-menu items might appear, based on whatever [[plugin-subsets|plug-in subsets]] you have defined.   - In the middle, any number of "Swap" sub-menu items might appear, based on whatever [[plugin-subsets|plug-in subsets]] you have defined.
   - The "Swap: All Instruments" sub-menu is generated automatically, to ensure that ALL known plug-ins (see [[scanning|Scanning and using your own plug-ins]]) are listed, arranged hierarchically by manufacturer name   - The "Swap: All Instruments" sub-menu is generated automatically, to ensure that ALL known plug-ins (see [[scanning|Scanning and using your own plug-ins]]) are listed, arranged hierarchically by manufacturer name
   - At the bottom, the "Operations" sub-menu provides a single-click alternative for opening the plug-in GUI, plus options to save the and load the plug-in's current state as an XML preset.   - At the bottom, the "Operations" sub-menu provides a single-click alternative for opening the plug-in GUI, plus options to save the and load the plug-in's current state as an XML preset.
  
-**For (mostly olderVST plug-ins** which support "program banks", the ops menu will contain a number of additional items:+**For older VST plug-ins** which support "program banks", the ops menu will contain a number of additional items:
   * On the ops menu itself:   * On the ops menu itself:
     * A **Change Program** sub-menu provides direct access to all of the presets ("programs") in the current bank, listed by name. Select any preset to load it into the plug-in.     * A **Change Program** sub-menu provides direct access to all of the presets ("programs") in the current bank, listed by name. Select any preset to load it into the plug-in.
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     * **Load FXB Bank...** allows you to select a //.fxb// file containing a bank of presets for this plug-in     * **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     * **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; please report any unexpected results to the [[https://forums.pluginguru.com|PlugInGuru Forum]] or by email to <UnifySupport@PlugInGuru.com>.
 +
 ==== Audio effects box ==== ==== Audio effects box ====
 {{::audio-effects-box.png|}} {{::audio-effects-box.png|}}
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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 [[#instrument_box|instrument box]] described above, including the presence of an //ops button// for operations specific to that plug-in, but it also features a **bypass button** on the left, which you can use to toggle whether the plug-in is active in the processing chain (normal case) or if it is //bypassed//.+When you add an audio-effect plug-in using this menu (or the newer methods added in Unify 1.10.x; see [[#adding_and_swapping_plug-ins_using_quick_load|Adding and swapping plug-ins using Quick Load]] below), 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 [[#instrument_box|instrument box]] described above, including the presence of an //ops button// for operations specific to that plug-in, but it also features a **bypass button** on the left, which you can use to toggle whether the plug-in is active in the processing chain (normal case) or if it is //bypassed//.
  
 //Some// (not all) audio-effect plug-ins accept MIDI input. For such plug-ins, you will see both "M" (MIDI mute) and "B" (bypass) buttons on the left. Click the "M" button to //suppress// (deactivate) MIDI input to the plug-in. //Some// (not all) audio-effect plug-ins accept MIDI input. For such plug-ins, you will see both "M" (MIDI mute) and "B" (bypass) buttons on the left. Click the "M" button to //suppress// (deactivate) MIDI input to the plug-in.
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 {{:master-bypass-1.png|}} {{:master-bypass-1.png|}}
 +
 +===== Adding and swapping plug-ins using Quick Load =====
 +
 +The above sections have already explained how you can click the "ops buttons" in layers, to select new plug-ins to load, using systems of nested menus. Unify v1.10.x introduced a newer and much simpler "Quick Load" method, accessed by right-clicking (or Ctrl-clicking) either those same "ops buttons" //or anywhere in any instrument box, midi-effects box, or audio-effects box//. For brevity, we will simply write "right-click" below, but Mac users with a single-button mouse should realize that Ctrl-click has the same effect.
 +
 +Right-clicking anywhere in the instrument box pops up a "Quick Load" window like this:
 +
 +{{::quickload-1.png|}}
 +
 +The Quick Load window consists of a scrolling list of brief plug-in descriptions, a "Load Selected" button at the bottom, and a //search box// at the top. Initially, all known Instrument plug-ins will be shown in the list. Typing in the search box narrows down the number of items to those which contain the words (or partial words) in the search text. The example above shows the result after typing "u-h" to find all u-he plug-ins.
 +
 +==== 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 "u-h" and "div" to find "Diva (VST) u-he".
 +
 +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, you can load that plug-in by clicking the "Load Selected" button, or by simply pressing Enter (Return) on your keyboard. If you prefer to use your mouse to scroll through a larger list, you can also load any item by double-clicking it, to select and load in one operation.
 +
 +==== 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 "plus" icon (plus sign in a circle) which allow you to //add// plug-ins to the (initially empty) effects chain. You can either left-click on these to access the menus, or right-click to pop up a Quick Load window. After loading any MIDI- or audio-effect plug-in, you can right-click anywhere in the plug-in box (where the name is displayed) to pop up a Quick Load window to //swap in// a different plug-in.
 +
 +The Quick Load interface works the same way for adding or swapping.
 +
 +==== MIDI-effect, Instrument, and Audio-effect differences ====
 +
 +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 "instrument" and "effect" plug-ins, so the Quick Load lists for instrument slots will show only "instruments", and those for audio-effect slots will show only "effects".
 +
 +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 "instruments", because this is the only way to get them to work properly in many DAWs, but this is not universal. Therefore, the Quick Load list for a MIDI-effect slot will show both types, and the word "inst" or "effect" will appear after the plug-in format name (VST, VST3, Audio Unit, Built-In).
 +
 +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.1631630792.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/05/08 18:59 (external edit)