Qtractor Wiki How To - 14 Automate Buses and Tracks by Layer with Insert Controller

How To - Contents

Introduction

Since Qtractor version 1.5.6, has been included the pseudo-plugin: Insert > MIDI > Controller. This allows you to generate and send automatable MIDI control signals from tracks. This means that Qtractor can act as a “Virtual Automatable MIDI Control Mixer”. This applies to both external devices (audio creation software or hardware, lighting systems, robotics, etc.) and internal Qtractor buses and tracks (including plugins, of course).

The possibilities are now endless: imagine, experiment, create, and have fun.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you the Controllers and how to configure them to automate buses and tracks by layer. You can have each automation element in a dedicated track. This makes it easier to view and edit automation. You can also automate buses in a user-friendly way, following the existing workflow in Qtractor.

Controllers allow you to:

  1. Create individual tracks for each automation.
  2. Automate Tracks.
  3. Automate Buses.

Controller Properties

  1. Type: I recommend “Control 14”. Its higher resolution allows for optimal adaptation to any target value.
  2. Channel: MIDI send/receive channel.
  3. Parameter: It’s more organized to use them according to their pre-assigned functions, but it’s not mandatory.
  4. Logarithmic: Modifier suitable for controlling audio gain.
  5. Invert: Modifier useful for crossfade and other effects.
  6. Bipolar: Modifier for controlling pans/balances.
  7. Value: Value to be sent.
  8. Sends: Opens the connections window for sending control messages (internal and external).
  9. Auto-connect: Connects the Controller to Qtractor’s control message input.
  10. Direct Access: Allows you to control the send value directly from the plugin rack.

Settings:

Qtractor

In View > Options > MIDI { Control, check the “Dedicated MIDI Control input/output” box.

Qtractor now has a dedicated, reliable input port exclusively for receiving MIDI controls. There, we’ll connect our Controller pseudo-plugins using it “Auto-connect” property.

Sender (Controller)

  1. Create a new track: It can be MIDI or audio. Identify it with the function it will perform. Example Name: “Automate Plugin Gain in Master Audio”.
  2. Add Controller: Right-click on the plugin rack (Inserts > MIDI > Add Controller). Activate it.
  3. Configure the Controller properties: Check the “Auto-connect” box. Choose the type, parameter and modifiers that best suits the receiver.
  4. Direct Access: Create a shortcut to “Value” so that it is accessible from the plugin rack.

Receiver (Property of the plugin to automate)

  1. Go to the properties of the plugin or element you want to automate.
  2. Right-click on the property you want to automate and click “MIDI Controller”.

Move the slider on your sending Controller. The receiver will automatically be preconfigured. This is known as “Learn MIDI” in other applications. Click OK to set the link configuration. If you move the sender, the receiver will reflect each action.

Calibrate

In the image, we can see that the Controller value: 0.016, is equivalent to the default Gain value: 1.000. Now, the Controller is calibrated. When we start the automation, it will start with the plugin’s default Gain value.

Each plugin has its own range of values: maximum, minimum, and default. This is up to each developer. We can find gain plugins that allow a 20 dB boost, others only 6 dB. Others don’t specify values in dB, but rather in scales (as in this case).

That’s why you’ll need to calibrate the send. It’s as simple as moving the send slider until the receiving slider is set to its default value. From there, you’ll make the changes on the send slider, but you’ll watch (monitor) the changes on the destination slider.

Simply:

  1. Make the changes from the Controller’s “Value” shortcut on your mixer.
  2. Keep the plugin GUI open to see the changes you’re making.

It’s easier and more intuitive to do than to explain :).

Automate

Everything is now set up and calibrated. All that’s left is to automate the Controller’s “Value” from the track, just like any other plugin. If you don’t know how, consult the Manual 4.6.8. Automation.

Final Remarks

Imagine, experiment, create, and have fun.