#midi cc

MIDI CC (Continuous Controller Commands) allows for real time modulation of specific characteristics of a sound. e.g. Panning, volume, Resonance of filter cut-off and ADSR.

The method behind MIDI CC is basically assigning a physical control (Knob/slider etc) to a parameter inside a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). I applied the cut-off on a filter to a dial on the Axiom25 Keyboard. Allowing me to input MIDI and affect the sound simultaneously. 

by Gabriel Gatzsche

This blog post showcases how to use Cubase, Omnisphere and SoundPrism Pro together. I am going to start from scratch so people who are unfamiliar with Omnisphere and Cubase should be able to follow. To demonstrate this I am using a modified pad and a lead guitar patch from Spectrasonics' Omnisphere.

The Goal  

My goal was to create a track with a melodic lead sound, an accompanying pad sound in the background and an arpeggiated bass as the foundation. The volume of the pad sound will be controlled via the x-axis tilt of my iOs device. The filter characteristic of the lead guitar will be controlled via the x-axis and the vibrato via the y-axis of my iPad.

Software installation & MIDI over WIFI Setup

SoundPrism Pro can be downloaded from the app store. Cubase and Omnisphere can be obtained at any decent music store. The midi connection between my MacBook Pro and SoundPrism Pro was done according to the SoundPrism manual.

Video 1: MIDI via WIFI Setup

Creating a Cubase Production

My DAW of choice is Cubase. I chose Omnisphere's „Broken Amp Lead“ as the lead patch and "Adagio String Example“ as the pad. The bass is the Trillian preset „Atlas Sphere“.

One possibility to instantiate these VSTs in Cubase are to create so called "instrument tracks". But these do not allow to receive data on different midi channels. Thus I suggest using Cubase‘s instruments rack. The following video shows how to do that.

Video 2: Setting up the Cubase Production / Loading the VSTs

Setting up midi channel filters in Cubase

To have the ChordSection and the BassSection play different instruments, different midi channels have to be assigned to the chosen patches. So I decided to assign midi channel 1 to the pad, channel 2 to the lead and channel 3 to the bass sound. To route the correct channels to the correct track in cubase a midi filter was set up as well.

Video 3: Setting up midi channel filters in Cubase

The next step was to setup SoundPrism Pro in such a way that the BassSection sends on midi channel 3 and the chord section sends on midi channel 1. 

Video 4: Setting up midi channels in SoundPrism Pro

Configuring the SoundPrism Expression module

When the midi channels are configured I am beginning to setup SoundPrism Pro's expression module. This module allows to transmit the tilt of the iPhone via MIDI controller changes. Synthesizers can use that information to change parameters of the patch.

The expression module was configured to send MIDI CC 1 (wheel) when the x-axis tilt of the iOS device changes. Additionally the minimum and the maximum tilt have to be configured. The minimum tilt is the tilt where a controller value 0 transmitted and vice versa the maximum tilt is the tilt where a controller value 127 is transmitted.  

Video 5: Setting the expression module in SoundPrism Pro

Making the Pad Patch's Volume listen to tilt changes

To map the wheel controller MIDI CC change to the volume setting of the patch, I have to open Omnisphere's modulation page. I'm adding an additional source „Wheel“ and and then I am assigning the target „Amp/Amplitude“. I also configure „Depth“ and „Target Parameter“ as shown in the next video.

Video 6: Mapping midi wheel controller changes to the volume of the pad sound

Configuring the vibrato and filter resonance of the lead sound

Before I start to configure the lead sound, I change the midi channel for the chord section from 1 to 2. Additionally the expression module y-axis acceleration is configured to send the y-tilt via midi cc 4 (foot controller). 

Video 7: Reconfiguring SoundPrism Pro's midi channel assignment and expression module

To configure the vibrato of the lead sound I'm using a LFO. The LFO changes the pitch height of the sound periodically. The foot controller events sent by SoundPrism are mapped to the rate and the strength of the LFO. Thus the tilt of the iOS device leads to an increased vibrato.

Video 8: Setting up the vibrato

Conclusion