Hello all you soundflow masters!
I'm currently on day three of exploring soundflow and already loving it for all the protools/RX things I'm finding it useful for. But! I have an idea and I'm wondering if anyone thinks it's even possible to do.
Problem: I have a UA Apollo x8p as my main interface and use it for both 5.1 and Stereo applications. Frustratingly, UA makes it impossible to use their console software as a fully featured monitor controller, and simply switching from 5.1 to stereo requires a bunch of clicking around, never mind the impossibility of using an alt monitor like my pair of aura tones, without a bunch of rearranging of plugs/using a patch bay.
The "correct" and generally accepted thing to do would be to buy a Cranesong/JBL/other monitor controller and easily be able to control and switch between monitoring options. But, well - I'm a deadly combination of stubborn and poor.
I'm convinced there must be a way to do this using soundflow, at least within PT but am such a noob with soundflow and anything to do with programming that it does my head in just thinking about it.
Does anyone have any clever ideas? I can provide further info about the output routing of my various monitors etc but am just fishing for a "yes proceed" or "go no further, you fool! Certain death awaits you!" before I do any more thinking on the topic.
Thanks in advance to anyone who reads this and even more thanks to anyone who might like to help me figure this out!
All the best -
Gavin
Chris Shaw @Chris_Shaw2023-05-04 17:22:25.154ZIt can be done but it's a pretty complicated thing to take on if you're new to SF.
You might be better off with this piece of software:
https://gingeraudio.com/groundcontrol-room/It allows you to do software monitor switching etc and control its settings via MIDI.
You could then use SF to trigger MIDI commands to switch monitors, set levels, etc.- GGavin Whelehan @Gavin_Whelehan
Super interesting! Thanks, I hadn't heard of this option before. Nonetheless, it looks like a $400 program if I want to use it for 5.1/more than stereo/2.1 outputs. So I guess my question would be.... HOW hard is it to do with Soundflow haha?
I'm thinking something along the lines of having output busses in all my protools sessions that correspond to each physical hardware out/speaker set and then having soundflow macros that mute/unmute as necessary to give me the routing I desire? Is it really nightmarish to set this up in a way that could be universal for any session? If so then I suppose I should bite the bullet on ground control as it does seem to be an amazing option. I am slightly put off by the seeming lack of updating happening on their website though... "steam deck support coming soon" but last site update seems to be 2022.
Chris Shaw @Chris_Shaw2023-05-04 18:31:53.963ZIf you want to do it via mute automation and output buses then that should be relatively easy to do.
If you let me know the names of your output tracks I could probably whip something up pretty easily.- GGavin Whelehan @Gavin_Whelehan
Thanks for this offer. I've decided to download and demo the Groundcontrol software you suggested so am currently in a double learning curve of sound flow and groundcontrol monitor control. Do you have any insight on how to quickly build a deck in SF that would send midi triggers to toggle various buttons in ground control? Or just a good place to look for learning how to create macros that send midi triggers?
- Chris Shaw @Chris_Shaw2023-05-05 21:40:22.291Z
- Create a new package in the SF Editor - Call it Room Control
- from the menu create a new macro and a new deck
- Click Add action in the macro editor
- In the menu that appears on the left side of the editor , search for MIDI and select the type of MID message you want to send
Set the parameters for the midi message (the SF has its own MIDI output put that can be selected in you r software - pick the output number and channel.
- next select the deck you created and then drag the macro you just made onto the deck.
- Then underneath the deck set which Stream Deck you want it to appear on.
- Don't for get to add a trigger for your deck
- GGavin Whelehan @Gavin_Whelehan
Absolutely awesome. Have set it all up now and it's working beautifully! At first I thought I had struck gold when I discovered the "Click UI" element but quickly discovered the limitations of that and found that your method of midi mapping was indeed the move.
Thanks to you and everyone for your help. Soundflow is quickly becoming a major contender for best investment ever!
In reply toGavin_Whelehan⬆:Christian Scheuer @chrscheuer2023-05-05 13:40:29.344ZIf you set up multiple auxes/master faders in Pro Tools for your outputs, you could just set up a macro in SoundFlow to set the mute states of those buses/outputs.
I believe the action is called something like "Set Track Mute" or "Set Mute On/Off" (I am building SF currently so can't open it to check)- GGavin Whelehan @Gavin_Whelehan
Awesome. Yes was thinking of similar option. Thank you!