Addictive Drums 2 and Reaper. How to send signal from track to AD2

Monroy · 03-23-2018, 04:30 AM

Hi,

I would like to say that AD2 is amazing plugin. Is probably the best sounding VST drum machine out of the box.

My drums always looks that:
- new virtual instrument (AD2) on track and click "yes" on routing info.
- in AD2 mixer little down arrow > "seperate out"
- on track with AD2 > render stereo and mute oryginal.

Now I've got seperate tracks rendered (snare, kick, etc). BUT - I would like to have ability to send rendered tracks with some slate EQ and preamps (kick, snare, hihat) back to AD2 to make some adjustments with BUS, ROOM and OVERHEADS with this routed track. Is this possible?

I other words - is possible to use .wav tracks inside AD2?

RobU · 03-23-2018, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monroy

Hi,

I would like to say that AD2 is amazing plugin. Is probably the best sounding VST drum machine out of the box.

My drums always looks that:
- new virtual instrument (AD2) on track and click "yes" on routing info.
- in AD2 mixer little down arrow > "seperate out"
- on track with AD2 > render stereo and mute oryginal.

Now I've got seperate tracks rendered (snare, kick, etc). BUT - I would like to have ability to send rendered tracks with some slate EQ and preamps (kick, snare, hihat) back to AD2 to make some adjustments with BUS, ROOM and OVERHEADS with this routed track. Is this possible?

I other words - is possible to use .wav tracks inside AD2?

It's not possible, audio routing is one-way only. Once you're out of AD, you're looking at insert/send FX in Reaper for further processing.

RobU · 03-23-2018, 09:15 AM

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Monroy · 03-23-2018, 09:44 AM

Thanks,

Just one question, because I don't want to make new topic, so I ask here:

When I play drums straight in AD2, master volume in Reaper show max signal about -2dB, but when I make routing in AD2 to seperate tracks, then master signal in Reaper hit couple dB above 0db. Why is that?

ashcat_lt · 03-23-2018, 10:02 AM

Is the AD mixer actually set with all channels at unity when you make this comparison?

Monroy · 03-23-2018, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashcat_lt

Is the AD mixer actually set with all channels at unity when you make this comparison?

Yes. All faders inside AD2 are exactly on positions from template of some preset. To link them I'm using "down narrow" and "post-fader seperate out" (green color of narrow). And after this I have couple dB above zero on master fader in Reaper.

ashcat_lt · 03-23-2018, 11:33 AM

Have you tried rendering, normalizing, and then nulling? Like are they actually exactly the same other than the level difference? I'm gonna guess it's either a Pan Law or an "insertion loss" in ADs mixer.

Monroy · 03-23-2018, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashcat_lt

Have you tried rendering, normalizing, and then nulling? Like are they actually exactly the same other than the level difference? I'm gonna guess it's either a Pan Law or an "insertion loss" in ADs mixer.

After render, tracks (e.g tooms, overheads and room) hits couple dB above zero, especially overheads. Of course those tracks also shows level above 0dB while playing (after routing).

This wouldn't be problem if "master" fader in AD2 took level of all tracks from AD2. But this "master" fader in AD2 handle just send FX which is weird.

ashcat_lt · 03-23-2018, 12:47 PM

That seems especially strange since I would expect AD's underlying samples to be fixed-point files. Even the loudest of them should be below 0dbFS. There might be some overlap that could push them over a bit, I suppose...

Anyway, as long as it's not actually clipped, it's more just a curiosity than a deal breaker. Turn them down a bit and move on.

RobU · 03-24-2018, 01:22 AM

AD's channel fx can easily push Reaper's track meters into the red.

If it's a concern, you could turn those FX off and do the processing in Reaper, or do some internal (AD) gain-staging... but unless the audio sounds unpleasant, I'd just ignore it, unless you're going for unpleasant...

Monroy · 03-24-2018, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobU

AD's channel fx can easily push Reaper's track meters into the red.

If it's a concern, you could turn those FX off and do the processing in Reaper, or do some internal (AD) gain-staging... but unless the audio sounds unpleasant, I'd just ignore it, unless you're going for unpleasant...

Yes. I made some experiment - turn off stock AD2 plugins and then use slatemix with exactly the same settings like stock AD2 fx. Effect? AD2 plugins are VERY good, very good. In other words - sometimes doesn't make sens to route channels from AD2 to seperate tracks in reaper to apply some FX. Really AD2 fx are very good quality.

XoechZ · 03-24-2018, 03:38 AM

Most AD2 presets use a Limier on the Master Channel inside AD2. If you route the individual channels out to Reaper, you do not use this Master Channel, therefore you do not use its Limiter. And that is why you have a higher output level.

Monroy · 03-24-2018, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XoechZ

Most AD2 presets use a Limier on the Master Channel inside AD2. If you route the individual channels out to Reaper, you do not use this Master Channel, therefore you do not use its Limiter. And that is why you have a higher output level.

Thanks. Does it means that this limiter is non-adjustable? I can't find any knobs or settings for this limiter.

XoechZ · 03-24-2018, 10:26 AM

Yes, the Limiter is editable. In AD2, click on the "Master Channel" label to view the insert FX of the channel. I am not at my recording PC right now, but as I can remember, the Limiter settings are somewhere on the right side. I am sure you will find them.

Monroy · 03-25-2018, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XoechZ

Yes, the Limiter is editable. In AD2, click on the "Master Channel" label to view the insert FX of the channel. I am not at my recording PC right now, but as I can remember, the Limiter settings are somewhere on the right side. I am sure you will find them.

Thanks, I found.