Hi there! Just bought Aalto. I downloaded it last night, read the manual (well written) and had a few hours play with it. The presets didn't inspire me and my initial reaction, after playing through them and making minor tweaks, was that it sounded like a very basic freeware VSTi. It wasn't until I used the default preset and then started using the modulation options along with the sequencer that I realised what a great VSTi this is. It sounds like no other VSTi that I have used. Carried on playing with it this morning and decided it was a must have. I think I will love using the sequencer along with the other modulation options, to create evil sounding synth lines that would work great in breakbeat tracks.
One thing I noticed with the sequencer is that it always plays to the end of the sequence, regardless of any note off. Could you add the option for the sequencer to stop immediately on a note off message?
It would also be nice to have more control over individual modulation amounts sent by Aalto - so that you could, for example, alter the amount an envelope and the lfo had individually over the filter cutoff. This has been mentioned in the forum here and I think you said you were considering options. I must admit that I do prefer the matrix option used by many plugins to Aalto's cord patching system as the matrix option, in my opinion, gives more flexibilty without the limitations of fitting any future development around the GUI. With a matrix system you have the ability to modulate a modulation amount with another modulator. For example, if you had the LFO modulating the filter cutoff on line 5 of the modulation matrix then you could add another another line in the matrix and have MIDI CC1 modulating line 5's modulation amount. Plus you could add the option of using more MIDI CCs rather than just having the one (which, I think, would be useful), without having to alter the GUI. You could also quickly and easily alter individual modulation amounts sent to the same handle, as mentioned above, by using a modulation matrix. My personal wish would be to keep the current cord system so you can use your host's automation to record and playback automation of Aalto's handles and alter the modulation amount of all inputs into them. Plus have a modulation matrix completely independent of the current cord system. But this dual modulation approach may well bring up problems that I haven't thought of.
Thanks for a great VSTi Randy!
Try this patch. I think it pretty much does what you want. I should make the range of the rate input bigger, but you get the idea.
I'm looking at some automated control of patching for the future.
<Aalto pluginVersion="66054" presetName="seq stop" scaleName="12-equal" scaleDir="" key_voices="4" seq_loop="0" seq_trig="1" seq_rate="0.00200000009" seq_rate_p="3.99999976" seq_offset_p="7" seq_value0="0.758928597" seq_value1="0.348214328" seq_value2="1" seq_value3="0.473214328" seq_value4="0.348214328" seq_value5="0.758928597" seq_value6="0.258928597" seq_value7="0.491071463" seq_value8="0.866071463" seq_value9="0.651785731" seq_value10="0.401785731" seq_value11="0.6875" seq_value12="0.526785731" seq_value13="0.544642866" seq_value14="0.419642866" seq_value15="0.669642925" env1_release="3.31999993" env2_repeat="0" env2_sustain="1" osc_timbre="0.0799999982" osc_waveshape="3.7252903e-09" patcher_input_1="000000000000100000000000000" patcher_input_9="000000000000100000000000000" patcher_input_11="000000000000000100000000000" patcher_input_12="100000000000000000000000000"/>
SUN SEPT 04 2011 EDITED (TO MAKE THINGS CLEARER)
Thanks for the quick reply randy. The Aalto does not stop immediately on a note off message when in Host sync mode, it only stops immediately on a note off message when using Aalto's internal clock (as in the patch you supplied). This is a shame as Host sync mode is really needed for those grooves that Alto's sequencer can produce to be synced to the host and the ability to stop the sequencer at any point, rather than have it always play to the end, is (at least for me) very important.
Yes, I see the combination of host sync and key trig does not work so well, I'll address this in an update along with the host sync rate multiplier.
Thanks randy. You are a star!!
"It would also be nice to have more control over individual modulation amounts sent by Aalto - so that you could, for example, alter the amount an envelope and the lfo had individually over the filter cutoff. This has been mentioned in the forum here and I think you said you were considering options. I must admit that I do prefer the matrix option used by many plugins to Aalto's cord patching system as the matrix option, in my opinion, gives more flexibilty without the limitations of fitting any future development around the GUI. With a matrix system you have the ability to modulate a modulation amount with another modulator. For example, if you had the LFO modulating the filter cutoff on line 5 of the modulation matrix then you could add another another line in the matrix and have MIDI CC1 modulating line 5's modulation amount. Plus you could add the option of using more MIDI CCs rather than just having the one (which, I think, would be useful), without having to alter the GUI. You could also quickly and easily alter individual modulation amounts sent to the same handle, as mentioned above, by using a modulation matrix. My personal wish would be to keep the current cord system so you can use your host's automation to record and playback automation of Aalto's handles and alter the modulation amount of all inputs into them. Plus have a modulation matrix completely independent of the current cord system. But this dual modulation approach may well bring up problems that I haven't thought of."
+1
yeah, me too, I would need to be able to modulate a modulation amount, to have separate amount control when multiple modulation source are on the same mod input. matrix or not, it would be cool.
thanks !