Multi-timbral plugin

[d.healey]

Has anyone built a multi-timbral plugin with HISE yet? I can see how it could be done using multiple samplers (1 per channel); but I'm thinking it wouldn't be very efficient in situations where the user is only using one or two channels.

Another way would be to redirect the incoming midi data to channels via scripting, then fewer samplers would be needed. However, in this situation each channel would have to use the same ADSR and other sampler specific settings which usually isn't what you want.

Also is there any efficiency gain in using a multi-timbral plugin rather than multiple instances of a single channel plugin?

[Lindon]

@d-healey er.. you mean (essentially)a 2 (or more) voice ROMpler? - if so then..yes or do I not understand what you mean by "multitimbral"

[d.healey]

I mean loading multiple patches into a single plugin instance at once. For example Aria player allows you to load up to 16 different instruments, each on a separate channel.

[Lindon]

@d-healey well 16 I havent done - but 4 I have, however not so you could point each voice at a different midi channel - they all play on the same channel so maybe not quite your example.....

[d.healey]

A better example is Kontakt. You can load in multiple patches (nkis), each is an independent patch but can exist in a single instance of the Kontakt plugin.

[ustk]

@d-healey said in Multi-timbral plugin:

I mean loading multiple patches into a single plugin instance at once. For example Aria player allows you to load up to 16 different instruments, each on a separate channel.

I don't see where it wouldn't be doable with the actual preset system. As you said, if every instrument/channel is an individual sampler there's no problem with that in my opinion. You can leave the choice to the user what channel plays what instrument, so you can even trigger an entire section with one channel. The multis can be presets.

[d.healey]

@ustk The main thing that concerns me is the more samplers you use the more resources HISE uses, even if the samplers as bypassed. If the user only loads 1 patch then only 1 of the 16 samplers is being used which is pretty inefficient.

[Christoph Hart]

The VoiceLimit is also a changeable property and if you set the voice count to 1 or 2 for disabled samplers it won't use more resources than a sine player.

[d.healey]

@Christoph-Hart Ooo - was sine built with HISE?

[Christoph Hart]

LOL I meant a SINE WAVE GENERATOR. The Orchestra Tools player is not built upon HISE, otherwise I would be bathing in dollar bills right now :)

[d.healey]

@Christoph-Hart Haha that makes more sense.

[d.healey]

I've been thinking about this more. I think for a simple instrument with one sampler per patch it's total feasible. But for a more complex patches that require multiple samplers for things like legato transitions, release triggers, multiple articulations, etc. it's not practical. I shall await the HISE player for my multi-timbral needs :)