SAWStudio is a very powerful and pristine sounding recording studio in a box (PC only).
This premium audio recording software comes in 3 different versions and price ranges. SAWStudio full, SAWStudio lite and SAWStudio basic.
Midi Integration
It's possible to lock an external midi sequencer to SAWStudio via SMPT or MTC (midi time code), however in recent times a midi module has been added to the SAWStudio stable - the Midi Workshop or, MWS for short.
The Midi Workshop, although still in its infancy and therefore a little light on advanced midi tricks, offers a most important ingredient - rock solid timing and performance.
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For many longtime SAWStudio audio users, and people coming from other platforms and software, the integration and operation of MWS has proven to be a little daunting..
This is not to say "difficult", just "different".
SAWStudio's operational methods are very different from most other audio and midi software I've encountered and, after getting used to its' interface, I find I'm reluctant to go back to, for example, Cubase SX.
(I've used Steinberg products since the Pro 24 days (around 1986) and the only reason I go to Cubase SX anymore is for the "Drum Editor" and some "logical editing").
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What I'm going to do here is go through my typical method of setting up SAWStudio and MWS to play back a commercial midifile.
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I'm assuming you have SAWStudio already loaded (it will be in C:SAWStudio if loaded automatically from the installer (if desired, this folder can be placed anywhere on any drive)).
Now doubleclick on the MWS installer and it will load into C:SAWStudio.
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N.B. Only the very recent versions (3.9j,k,l) of SAWStudio will be able to point to the usual VST folder - C:Program FilesSteinbergVstPlugins or C:Program FilesVstPlugins via ini files.
For versions previous to 3.9j, the dll of the desired VSTi will need to be copied into the C:SAWStudioVST_Plugins folder and cannot be in its own folder (i.e. SAWStudio must be able to find the dll at "C:SAWStudioVST_Plugins" level).
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Great news (7/3/2006) - just released by John at http://www.efofex.net/software.html
SAWVSTIniTool V1.0
This tool automates the whole ini making process and works like a dream.
Thanks John - this is excellent.
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OK - Setup time basics
SAWStudio setup
Double click SAWStudio desktop icon. SAWStudio and MWS will load.
Go to Options at top of screen and select "Audio Device". Depending on which audio card you have installed, various options will present themselves.
Set "Wavedevice Out" and "Wavedevice In" to appropriate settings (at the least to Analogue In and Out).
Under Options/Audio Driver Model - set to ASIO Protocol if available.
At this stage, if you can add a wavefile to an audio track and have it plack back with no problem, we're in business. If not, some playing around with drivers and buffers will be necessary.
All being well, we will go to "File" (top left of screen) /Preferences File/Save Default.
If we do it now, we won't need to go through the setup procedure again if we exit the program for any reason.
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MidiWorkshop setup.
Under Options/Midi Device Setup (in MWS) we need to select a "Port Out" for each individual VST Instrument we'd like to use.
N.B. I am speaking of individual VSTi's here - not midi channels.
For example, if I'm planning to use only Hypercanvas on all midi channels, then I'd only need to select one "Port Out".
My standard setup would use four "Port Outs" for Hypercanvas (on all tracks except the following), BFD Drums (for the drum channel) SFZ+ (for a Bass sample I like) and Sytrus (for some "off the wall" synth sounds).
Of course, if the song demands other VSTi's be used, then I will use them if available.
If you're planning to record midi in via a keyboard or some such midi device, then you'd also want to set the "Port In" to your midi driver of choice at this stage.
Now - in MWS save this default setting at File/Preferences File/Save Default.
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Now to business - Import midifile into MWS.
Go to File/Import Midi File
Import your Midi file of choice and it will separate into its' relevant midi channels.
Now comes the part where I think most people get confused.
A Virtual Studio Technology Instrument (VSTi) needs access to the audio engine to play back and all audio software caters for this in different ways.
The way of SAWStudio is to give access to the audio engine by inserting the VSTi into an AUDIO track directly in SAWStudio (it is much simpler than it soundsS).
So, in SAWStudio, what I do is click in the space of Track 1 to "select" it.
Go to "View/FX/FX Pre Patches"
When the FX Pre Patches dialogue box comes up you'll notice at top/centre an FX button.
Click on it, select your desired VSTi from the list then click on "Add" in the "FX Pre Patches" box.
The VSTi will now load and present you with its interface. At the top right of the interface you'll see a blue diamond. Left click on it and go to the top choice - "Set Softsynth Midi In Port". Choose "MWS Virtual Port 01".
If you are going to use just one multitimbral VSTi - e.g. Hypercanvas, then there is no need to add any more "MWS Virtual Ports".
If, like me, you'd want to add some more VSTi's, then just select the next track (Track 2) in SAWStudio and repeat the procedure from "Go to "View/FX/FX Pre Patches"".
Now - to MWS again
In Track 1 - right click on the Track Label to bring up the Port/Channel settings box.
Select "Port 01", then select "Chan 01" (if that's your desired channel).
Continue on down the MWS Tracks to set the midi channel for each track.
If you have BFD, for example, this is where you would set the drum track to midi channel 10 and "Select Port" to 02.
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After you have completed these settings, a tap on the space bar or right click in the "space" area of MWS or SAWStudio will start the audio engine and you should be hearing your midifile playback.
