Setting up MidiShaper in Steinberg Cubase
Modulate a synthesizer
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Modulating software devices that support MIDI Learn
Many software instruments and effects support MIDI Learn, although the specific implementation of it varies from device to device.
Setting up MidiShaper
Select the instrument track you want to modulate, open the Insert Effects settings (1), add a new effect (2) and choose MidiShaper (3).
Set the MIDI input of the track to 'MidiShaper – Midi Out' (2), and make sure Monitor is activated (1).
You can now send pitch, mod wheel and aftertouch modulation signals by assigning them to sources in MidiShaper's modulation matrix. Other parameters of your software device need to be assigned via its MIDI Learn function.
Assigning parameters
Click MidiShaper's Teach menu (1) and set it to the MIDI Continuous Controller of your choice – '1', for example. Activating the Teach function makes MidiShaper output only the selected MIDI CC, bypassing all other signals. Its purpose is to avoid assignment conflicts, since the MIDI Learn function of most software devices listens for all incoming CCs.
Activate MIDI Learn in your software device to assign the incoming MIDI CC to the parameter of your choice (2). Important: Once the assignment is made, be sure to set MidiShaper's Teach function to 'Off' (3). Now you can control the assigned parameter via MidiShaper's modulation matrix.
Modulating software devices via Cubase's Quick Controls
Software instruments and effects that don't support MIDI Learn can be controlled by MidiShaper via a virtual MIDI port using Cubase's Quick Controls. In macOS, the IAC virtual port is built into the operating system and can be configured via the Audio MIDI Setup utility. Windows users need to install additional free software such as MIDI Yoke or LoopBe, and add at least one virtual MIDI port.
Insert MidiShaper into the track hosting the device you want to control, as described above, and set the track's MIDI Input to your virtual MIDI port.
Assigning parameters
Go to Studio > Studio Setup and select the Track Quick Controls tab. Set MIDI Input and Output to your virtual MIDI port (1), and make sure the MIDI channel for all eight Quick Controls is the same as that set up in MidiShaper (2). Now you can assign MidiShaper's MIDI CCs to the Quick Controls (3).
Before you being assigning the Quick Controls to your devices, set MidiShaper's Teach function to any unassigned MIDI CC (we've gone for CC 0 here), otherwise Cubase will be confused when you activate the Quick Controls' MIDI Learn function in the next step.
Click the 'L' button in the Quick Controls Inspector panel to activate MIDI learn (1). Select a Quick Control slot (2) and move the device parameter you want to assign (3). The Quick Control now controls that parameter and can be modulated be sending its assigned MIDI CC out from MidiShaper. When the assignment is complete, set MidiShaper's Teach function to 'Off'.
Recording the automation data
We strongly recommend recording your MidiShaper modulations as automation data once you've finished editing them, in order to avoid potential issues later on if your MIDI setup changes.
Right-click the instrument track and select 'Show Automation' (1).
Click 'Write Enable' (1) and make sure recording is enabled (2) as well.
Click the play button (1). The recorded automation will be automatically displayed in the automation track (A).
When you want to assign more parameters, use MidiShaper's Teach menu. When a MIDI CC is selected there, only that CC will be transmitted, so you can assign it without other CCs getting in the way. As soon as the MIDI CC is assigned, set Teach to 'Off' again.
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