As some of you know I have acted as a beta tester for forte Ensemble (host) and Live - Styler (soft arranger). There are some interesting enhancements pending (soon maybe).

forte Ensemble:

Enhanced Midi Contolled Scene changes.
Improved Scene actions.
Enhanced midi filtering.
Enhanced SeneView.
ASIO Sound Card Sharing.
Many others.

Live - Styler:

VST host.
New Keybinding (PC keyboard to LS)
New Keycontrol (Controller keyboard to LS)
New Key Translation (midi message to midi message)
(Some other enhancements)

This should be useful to those who indicated a desire that soft arrangers also act as host to VST plugins, e.g., NI B4.

I think updates for the above will be able fairly soon.

Frank,thanks for the good news.
Is LS going to be able to host more than one plugin at a time?
Because if it can handle multiple plugins,
why would Forte be still necessary?

[This message has been edited by Vquestor (edited 03-17-2005).]

That is great news. Live Styler seemed buggy to me and not user friendly. I wonder if it was because it was a demo. Would have to try again when the new version comes out. Can you expand on the "new keybinding"?
It would be good, for me , if LS could customize accept other MIDI messages like mod on chanel 13 for instance. Can't remember some of the other MIDI messages that my keyboard can generate.
Starkeeper

Vquestor, I have not tested this aspect but I think it will beable to handle more than one VST. I will still continue to use forte given that it has Audio Inputs so that you can use things like Vocal Harmonizers (DecaBuddy, Antares) and Audio Effects (distortion guitars). If you don't need this feature then you would not need forte.

Dear Frank;

How would you compare OMB to LS ( pros & cons)? I believe that OMB is geared more towards yamaha styles etc.. Is this also true for LS? What about applications for live performances--is it any easier to use then OMB? Thanks

Regards;
BN

BlkNotes, my preference has always been Live - Styler but then again I started life with it long before OMB came out. Live - Styler has the following pluses:

Easy to use buttons for live performances.
Easy to use setups for live performances
(styles, midi files, voices).
Suitable for touch screen/control surface.
Plays Yamaha Styles (many available).
Works well with my controller keyboard
(Fills, variations, etc. and voices/effects).
Works well with host, VST and DX software.

It is a little challenging to setup.

Thanks, Frank.

The news of Live-Styler becoming a VST host is certainly good news. Of course, I hope it develops to allow audio inputs and vocal harmony. But it's a start!

Clif

Clif, I agree with you. I have already put in a request for an Audio Input as well as the ability to use VST or DX effects. Live - Styler has effects built in but I would like to have the flexibility to use third party effects (higher quality).

I just got a response from Norbert concerning the number of VSTs that can be added to Live - Styler. It seems you could do something like use the NI B4 and add a Reverb (2 instruments or 1 instrument and 1 effect - I think). The B4 would go thru the reverb and then to the ASIO drivers. This would not be enough flexibility for me. I need at least 4 VSTs (instrumets) and the same number of effects (Reverb, Chorus, Equalizer, Delays, etc.).

It is a great deal of work to do all of this and Norbert does the whole coding by himself plus holding down a day job. I will encourage him to expand Live - Styler to include some of mine/your suggestions. There are 2 guys programming forte Ensemble and I can tell you it takes considerable effort to get it all working with many different computers and many different sound cards and drivers. It can be done - it is only time and money!

[This message has been edited by Frank L. Rosenthal (edited 03-19-2005).]

Thanks, Frank. I'm glad you are moving these developers in the right direction!