So... Dan with his passionate testimony and Musocity by showing how it can be setup in BIAB seduced me into getting EZkeys. No regrets. However... I have a question on routing MIDI. Since EZkeys has MIDI out, is it possible to route that to another synth within BIAB without using 3rd party virtual cables or any intermediate VSTs (such as Element)? Lets say a direct "connection" to Kontakt or Halion.
A VST (synth) needs to be hosted. In this case the host (which is BIAB) handles the ultimate Input and Output. So I don't think there is a way to send EZKeys midi to a seperate output since EZkeys can not host a seperate VST. But I could be wrong on that.
Of couse this can be done in a DAW, but routing signals is what the DAW does.
I am the last to comment on what is possible inside BIAB. I just don't understand BIAB software well enough to comment.
The questions on how to use third-party software inside of BIAB are one of the reasons I am trying to get out of BIAB as soon as possible.
The same concept is true of Toontracks software. There are many ways within Toontracks software to modify the results. I just find that bringing all these separate elements into a DAW is a much less problematic way to deal with issues.
Some people post very high-quality songs in the User Showcase. The pieces I hear that I like the best were done using third-party software/live playing and put together in a DAW. BIAB is often the beginning of the process and is sometimes used in the same way Toontracks gets used.
The more different third-party software packages that get injected into the mix the more difficult the integration becomes.
BIAB is a wonderful platform, but it has limitations, and the answer for me is to make it all work in a DAW.
As you experiment with EZKeys you will find that it is completely possible to start a song concept with EZKeys but integrating that idea directly into the BIAB software is certainly beyond my skill set.
EZKeys and Toontracks software in general has a lot to recommend it.
I think you may find it to be very useful in many ways.
Billy, I am now shy of DAW, but I specifically want EZkeys inside BIAB Because.... I don't use premade styles and when I assemble "bones", I want to be able to hear how it (VSTs) will sound with with certain tracks, certain chord progression, breaks, etc. I do not commit to composition right away.
So the only way to get a fuller sense, without jumping from BIAB->DAW and back, changing out whole bunch of tracks because of minor chord changes or something else, I leave project in a "liquid" form in BIAB, until I get it the way I want. Only after that, I move project into DAW for final editing, vocals, FX automation, etc. Hope that makes sense.
P.S. VST "state" is saved in BIAB and then opened in DAW.
Dan, don't underestimate Musocity. He is a very smart guy (but sometimes needs a couple of beers).
If he didn't show the way to connect EZkeys to BIAB, it would be little use to me. Don't get me wrong, it is a cool toy, but it is only becomes interesting to me personally if I can use it within BIAB for the reasons stated above. And for the most part it works as expected.
The workaround for the re-routing MIDI is: export EZkeys timeline as MIDI, re-import file to Soloist. It does work, but extra steps, extra files. Obviously will have to be "re-saved" with every change made to BIAB chord sheet.
It would be very convenient if you can re-route that midi from EZkeys to another BIAB channel. That way you would be able to re-voice EZkeys to anything in your arsenal.
Hi guys, I don't think I'm skilled enough about MIDI routing but let me post my 2 cents here. Before I bought BIAB I have looked for setup how to send MIDI from ChordPulse to DAW and use e.g. IKM SampleTank & Jamstix there. From my point of view @rustyspoon# wants to do something similar as I wanted: use EzKeys as MIDI generator for some VSTi inside of BIAB. So maybe LoopBe1 could be a solution? http://forum.cakewalk.com/SOLVED-ChordPulse-is-very-useful-but-m3669964.aspx
Dan, Thank you for trying. You beat me to that video, but that is a workaround, since you are essentially copying EZkeys MIDI to another track. Not routing MIDI signal. Yes, it works, however the downside is that with every Chord sheet change (or EZkeys timeline change) the process has to be repeated.
If on the other hand there is a clean cut way to link EZkeys MIDI out to MIDI in of another VST synth, it will eliminate all dragging around. It will just duplicate whatever EZkeys is playing.
Looking forward to 2024 when BIAB will adopt to VST3 and as I understood EZkeys 2.0 will allow for live chord input... That MIDI through would be very handy.
Maybe the routing is possible at this time? If not, I believe it will be a very good candidate for a feature. Not specifically for EZkeys, but for all MIDI based VSTs that do not have sound source too.
I got ya. I know your effort is to remain in the box for a long as possible. So I understand what you are looking for, but I am just afraid it is not there at this time. But hey, that two way drop and drag midi back and forth between EZKeys VST and BIAB is a smooth operation that impresses me since I have never seen this in the past.
I am going to try the same with Scaler this afternoon. Although, Scaler works a bit differend with Midi I/O, so I am certain it will not work???
JJJ, If it is too cryptic, here is a condensed explanation. EZkeys, while tailored for their "own" synths, as a program itself is just a fancy and convenient arpeggiator/phrase player with bunch of other features.
So... You can use MIDI phrases in EZkeys that were meant for completely different instruments (Strings, flutes, etc.) and since it has MIDI OUT function, you can hook it up to any other VST that has these Strings, flutes, etc. And you will get completely new usage out of EZkeys.
I hope that explains it.
Obviously, you can do this MIDI routing in any DAW. But the question is if you can do this in BIAB? The workaround Dan shows is not of MIDI routing, but copying entire EZkeys timeline to any BIAB empty tracks, which involves these 4 steps:
1)Generating Chord Track on any empty BIAB mixer tracks 2)Dragging these block chords to EZ Keys 3)Replacing block chords with fancy grooves of EZkeys (from their MIDI packs OR from 3rd party packs) 4)Dragging that line back to any empty BIAB track.
The hardest thing with Element is setting it up and routing what you need, BUT then you just > Save Group, and then > Load Group, this will load it all in next time with one click as a whole plugin chain with as many plugins as you like.
Because BIAB ChordSheet midi data can be routed to Yamaha keyboards synched in real time with BIAB output midi preference set as the Yamaha driver and a channel 5-9 set. Yamaha keyboards can be configured to play BIAB ChordSheets in real time.
The midi output data from the Yamaha keyboard can be configured as the input source of EZ Keys.
So theoretically; The Yamaha can perform as a hardware midi thru port from BIAB to EZ Keys, Kontakt or Halion sourced by the BIAB ChordSheet data.
Using the connected computer's external audio interface to pass the EZ Keys audio output to an interface input and BIAB's input configured to ASIO audio, setting any BIAB Mixer Track to 'arm track for input monitoring' feature should allow the VSTi's audio output to be heard in real time.
This is just a normal thing that should have been in the Biab Plugin system. It's things I have mentioned years ago but did not get any interest until users finally figure out it is something they need in Biab.
Remember VST Sync, I went on for years n years about Biab needing that, where would you be now trying to use EZKeys EZDrummer etc.. without it.
How many +1 are here ? if you don't ask for it now, then when you do need it you won't have it. VST Handling Fixes Needed
