The MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 by GoldenFrog is a revolutionary Max4Live device designed to streamline your Ableton Live workflow by embedding VST and AU MIDI effects directly within the same track as the instrument. No more detours with intricate routing—this device is crafted for simplicity and improved efficacy.
GoldenFrog presents this as a self-conducted experiment and the wrapper has shown promising results, particularly with plugins such as Scaler and Eon-Arp. Compatible with Ableton Live 12 Suite, the MIDI Effect Wrapper doesn't support previous versions like Live 11.
To leverage this tool, a basis in Max For Live is crucial, as users are required to adjust the wrapper to accommodate personal plugins. However, it's paramount to remember this is an experimental asset—it's advisable to use this great tool for mission-critical projects only after extensive testing.
One of the distinctive characteristics of third-party plugins is their unpredictable behavior—they can differ markedly between developers, and depending on whether you're using VST, VST3, or AU formats, you might encounter variations in behavior. In some cases, these unexpected deviations might lead to post-project shutdown settings not being preserved, or even cause Ableton Live to crash—an outcome no producer or composer wants to deal with.
Due to these potential irregularities, full-scale trials are essential to ensure smooth operation before the device is deployed into larger production pursuits. Consequently, GoldenFrog clearly indicates that the MIDI Effect Wrapper is shared without assurances of support in case of mishaps. Therefore, the onus is on the user to trial the device in different scenarios to preempt and circumvent any glitches that may arise.
Offered without a licensing fee, the MIDI Effect Wrapper can be downloaded directly from AudioSwift's website, with GoldenFrog making it available on the platform dated April 29, 2024. To run this groundbreaking tool, you will need Ableton Live 12.0.2 and Max 8.6.0.
For further details, as well as to download this groundbreaking Max4Live device, visit the MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 by GoldenFrog page on the Max4Live Library.
Example Usage
In this article, we're looking at how to use the MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 by GoldenFrog to integrate your favorite VST/AU MIDI effects directly in your Ableton Live set. This is particularly useful for streamlining your workflow and incorporating external MIDI processing without the need for complex routing.
Here's a simple example to get you started:
- Download the 'MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0' device from GoldenFrog's website and install it into your Ableton Live User Library.
- Open a new Ableton Live Set in Live 12 to ensure compatibility, as mentioned by the author.
- Drag and drop the 'MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0' device onto a MIDI track where you wish to apply a VST/AU MIDI effect.
- Click on the 'Plug-in device' section within the Wrapper to load your desired VST/AU MIDI effect.
- Once the effect is loaded, you should see it integrated within the Wrapper interface. You can now tweak and automate parameters as you would do with any native MIDI effect.
- Add an instrument to the same track after the Wrapper device to hear the effect it has on the MIDI signal.
- Play your MIDI controller or sequence MIDI within the track to trigger the instrument through the VST/AU MIDI effect.
- Make sure to test this setup thoroughly before using it in a critical project, since third-party plugins might behave unpredictably.
Remember that while this MIDI Effect Wrapper may work well for Scaler and EON-Arp, it's essential to save your project and frequently check for stability with your specific VST/AU MIDI effects. Happy experimenting!
Picture this: you're working on an Ableton Live set and you're hitting that sweet spot with your melodies. You have a pad sound that you love, but you know it could be more dynamic, more responsive. You think, "What if I could apply that MIDI arpeggiator I love from my go-to VST, without having to mess with complex routing?" Thanks to the MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 by GoldenFrog, you can do just that, right within your favorite DAW, Ableton Live 12.
Let’s dive right in and bring your creative vision to life.
Start by dragging the MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 from your User Library into a MIDI track that houses your favorite pad sound. Initially, the wrapper will be empty. Click on the 'Edit' button, which will open the Max4Live editor. Now, navigate to the 'plugin~' object – this is where you'll load your VST/AU MIDI Effect.
Say you want to integrate "Cthulhu" by Xfer Records, a complex chord and arpeggio generator, into your track. Choose 'plugin~' and navigate through your system files to find Cthulhu. Once selected, lock the Max4Live editor and close it. Cthulhu will now be wrapped into Ableton, appearing as part of your MIDI Effect Wrapper device.
Next, play a few chords and witness how Cthulhu transforms them into a rich, evolving arpeggio, flowing seamlessly from your keyboard through the MIDI Effect Wrapper and into your synth pad, creating an intricate and layered sound.
You may notice that the pad is now more lively, but it could use some rhythmic gating. For this, let's integrate another MIDI effect, "ShaperBox" by Cableguys, known for its mesmerizing LFO-based effects. Repeat the process: edit the MIDI Effect Wrapper, load ShaperBox, and close the editor. Stack ShaperBox after Cthulhu within the same wrapper.
Adjust the LFO shape in ShaperBox to a rhythm you like, and now, not only are your chords arpeggiated, but they also pulse rhythmically with a dynamic life of their own. You've got a complex MIDI effects chain running directly in one Ableton track, without additional routing.
Remember, as exciting as it is to integrate these tools directly in Ableton with this wrapper, always save your work frequently, perhaps using a different file name each time, as third-party plugins can be unpredictable in this experimental setup. Take this time to explore the limitless combinations you can now easily create with MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0, and let your creative process be as fluid as the music you make.
Further Thoughts
Let's explore a more advanced application of the MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 by GoldenFrog to truly showcase the fusion of external VST/AU MIDI Effects within the Ableton Live environment, optimizing both workflow and creativity.
Picture this: we're going to design a complex chord progression and arpeggiator setup within a single track that traditionally would have required multiple tracks and intricate routing. To achieve this, we are going to integrate 'Cthulhu' by Xfer Records, a powerful chord and arpeggiator plugin, into our Ableton Live set using the MIDI Effect Wrapper.
Here is a step-by-step guide on setting this up:
- After downloading the MIDI Effect Wrapper from the provided link, install it into your live user library.
- Create a new MIDI track in Ableton Live 12 and insert an instance of your favorite synthesizer onto it, selecting a lush pad sound that will act as our harmonic bed.
- Before the synthesizer, drag and drop the MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 device.
- Open the wrapper device, and in the provided custom VST/AU area, load 'Cthulhu'. When loaded, the interface of 'Cthulhu' will be visible within the Max4Live device's floating window.
- Now, select a chord preset in 'Cthulhu' that you find inspiring. The chords from this preset will now be our foundation.
- Next, in the arpeggiator section of 'Cthulhu', dial in an arpeggio pattern that complements the chosen chord progression. 'Cthulhu’s' arpeggiator allows you to not only choose the order of notes but also rhythm and velocity, which can add a dynamic motion to your chords.
- Once you have your chord progression and arpeggiator pattern sounding as you like, record the MIDI output of 'Cthulhu' into a new clip within the MIDI track by arming the track and pressing the session record button.
- Playback your new clip, and you'll hear your synth playing the complex chord progression with an arpeggiated pattern, all processed within a single track without the need for external routing.
- To further customize your setup, use the Macro Controls in the MIDI Effect Wrapper to map and control key parameters of 'Cthulhu', like the rate of the arpeggiator, mix between chords and arpeggio, or even chord inversions, all in real-time, which provides performance flexibility and a quicker creative workflow.
- Lastly, remember to save your Ableton Live Set. It's essential to keep in mind the Disclaimer provided by GoldenFrog and ensure that any patches you create are stable before using them in a performance or recording scenario.
By seamlessly integrating your favorite MIDI effects directly into your session, the MIDI Effect Wrapper for VST-AU 1.0 not only simplifies the workflow but opens up new creative possibilities, allowing you to experiment with MIDI effects in ways that were previously more complex or even impossible.