Reference Manual

187 Routing and I/O
Using Multi-Timbral Plug-In Instruments
Many plug-in instruments support multi-timbral operation. A multi-timbral instrument is like sev-
eral instruments in one, with each component “part“ (or whatever term the manufacturer uses)
receiving MIDI on a separate MIDI channel. Usually, the multi-timbral instrument offers indi-
vidual outputs so that the parts can be separately routed into the mixer. Or, the instrument might
offer a submixer of its own.
Tracks Feeding MIDI to and Tapping Audio From the Parts of a Multi-Timbral Instrument.
Sending MIDI from the mixer to a multi-timbral instrument is a variation of a case described
above (page 184). One MIDI track hosts the multi-timbral instrument, and additional MIDI
tracks are used to feed its individual parts. Each additional MIDI track has its Output Type
chooser pointed to the track that contains the instrument, and its Output Channel chooser refer-
encing the target MIDI channel. Additional audio tracks can then be used to tap the instrument’s
individual outputs, as described earlier (page 186).
It is also possible to use the External Instrument device to route MIDI to (and audio from) the
secondary outputs on multi-timbral plug-ins. This scenario eliminates the need to create an ad-
ditional audio track for each tapped output:
1. Insert the multi-timbral instrument on a MIDI track.
2. Insert an External Instrument device on another MIDI track.
3. Select the track that contains the instrument in the first MIDI To chooser on the External
Instrument device.