Thinksamuel

I need to make a patch accessible for people who are not used to using MaxMSP. Most of the things can be automated but the VSTs are causing trouble. I am using 8 VSTs and upon loading them I always have to select the preset I want to use (I use Absynth and Reaktor). A simple program change does not do the trick. I have rad in other threads about using fxp files but I cannot really understand it. Does anyone have an example patch available that I can have a look at?

I need to make a patch accessible for people who are not used to using MaxMSP.  Most of the things can be automated but the VSTs are causing trouble.  I am using 8 VSTs and upon loading them I always have to  select the preset I want to use (I use Absynth and Reaktor).  A simple program change does not do the trick. I have rad in other threads about using fxp files but I cannot really understand it. Does anyone have an example patch available that I can have a look at?


program-changes-for-vst

i am not so sure if this will work with reaktor too, but you are usually controlling a VST´s preset with a simple integer number such as "7" to vst~, and this number can be stored and recalled in many different ways in max/msp.

for a standalone app which should always remember everything i would recommend to write a text file with preferences to disk.

i am not so sure if this will work with reaktor too, but you are usually controlling a VST´s preset with a simple integer number such as "7" to vst~, and this number can be stored and recalled in many different ways in max/msp. 

for a standalone app which should always remember everything i would recommend to write a text file with preferences to disk.


I tried it with Absynth and no result. Kontakt I did not try but I suppose that as it is a shellplugin, it will be ipossible to make program changes.

There are plugins which support Program Change messages, and also some which don‘t.

So for such Plugs, all You can do is save their state in fxp or fxb file, and load it later.

Read vst~help file, You will find all needed infos there.

There are plugins which support Program Change messages, and also some which don‘t.
So for such Plugs, all You can do is save their state in fxp or fxb  file, and load it later.
Read vst~help file, You will find all needed infos there.


Program changes work with Kontakt, but you must load your Kontakt instruments - NKI- into a Kontakt instruments bank -NKB.

For Absynth, FM8 Massive and what not, you need to load your sounds into a program list - PLS- on the right of the browser, and enable programs- click on the programs button and on/off button , on the top right of the browser.

Program changes work with Kontakt, but you must load your Kontakt instruments - NKI- into a Kontakt instruments bank -NKB.
For Absynth, FM8 Massive and what not, you need to load your sounds into a program list - PLS- on the right of the browser, and enable programs- click on the programs button and on/off button , on the top right of the browser.

I just tried with Absynth and that works fine (making a program list and then sending integers to the vst). I saved the file as a pls file. How can I load that list automatically and enable programs?

I just tried with Absynth and that works fine (making a program list and then sending integers to the vst). I saved the file as a pls file.  How can I load that list automatically and enable programs?


I've not used it myself, but I believe that Snapshots are now one of the easier ways to deal with plugin settings. See the vst~ help file (last tab) as well as this vignette: 

https://docs.cycling74.com/max7/vignettes/snapshots

I've not used it myself, but I believe that Snapshots are now one of the easier ways to deal with plugin settings.  See the vst~ help file (last tab) as well as this vignette:  https://docs.cycling74.com/max7/vignettes/snapshots


I am using Max 6 so snapshots are not available.

I can load the fxp file so that is solved but I still have to activate the program list. Is there a way to activate it using a Max message?

I cannot edit my posts so sorry for a new reply: Loading the fxp file is no problem but if I have to open the vst window to activate the program list (and I have 7 vsts to open), that defeats the process of loading an fxp file.

I think on my mac the Native-Instruments vst's remain activated after closing and re-opening them.

The vst is active indeed once loaded. I want to load a program list (fxp file) but then I have to activate that list and I cannot see a way of doing that with messages. As such, the user will have to open the vst window and activate the list. While a simple operation, I want to avoid that the user has to do it.

Loading fxb or fxp, whichever goes better with specific plugin,

depends totaly on plugin used.If plugin can have some kind of default

bank, list or whatever it calls it, then max would be able to deal with it,

either by sending program recall, or by storing and loading Plugin States (fxb or fxp).

If Plugin can't do that, max can't deal with it.

So if your plugin is dumb before opening it up and manually selecting a list with presets,

Loading fxb or fxp, whichever goes better with specific plugin,
depends totaly on plugin used.If plugin can have some kind of default
bank, list or whatever it calls it, then max would be able to deal with it,
either by sending program recall, or by storing and loading Plugin States (fxb or fxp).
That's it.
If Plugin can't do that, max can't deal with it.
So if your plugin is dumb before opening it up and manually  selecting a list with presets,
or samples to load, forget it.


Program changes for VST