How to switch from Player Mode to Instrument via MIDI

This short post describes how our plugins handle switching between the player mode and instrument mode of a tonal UJAM Instrument, like Virtual Guitarist (VG) or Virtual Bassist (VB). This method is always used for dragged MIDI phrases.

Use Case

You have created a track with phrases of e.g. a Virtual Bassist as a bass line. At the end you want to let the last note ring / fade out instead of playing the whole phrase again.

Solution

• Virtual Bassist: Insert C–2  below the note which is supposed to sustain.
• Virtual Guitarist: Insert C#–2  below the note which is supposed to sustain.

There is no automatable parameter to switch between modes, however, inserting a MIDI note on "C#-2" or "C-2" ("C *dash* 2" - NOT "C2") switches the plug-in from Player into Instrument mode. Below you can see an example of this technique:

In this screenshot the first MIDI clip (top left, red) contains only one note but triggers a pattern of "VB-DANDY". You can see the resulting audio in the track below (blue). Note the multiple transients, each indicating a new stroke on a "string". In the following bar the exact same MIDI is used, BUT with a "C-2" (yellow) at the same timestamp, forcing the VST into Instrument Mode and letting the note ring. Note the uninterrupted decay of the last stroke.

Note: The UI of the plug-in won't change when switching between modes. This means the following toggle will stay like it is, don't let it fool you: