External effect automation Cubase

[pa28]

I have not found a way of bypassing an external effect (Boss DD-500) by using automation in Cubase 8.5 Pro.

I didn't want the effect on a particular part and thought with Read/Write enable and clicking the bypass at the right point would do it.

Nope. I gave up and created another track with the part & without the effect.

Can external effects be controlled this way or have I missed something?

[Wonks]

Not sure as I've never done this, but surely you'd have the DD-500 set up as a send effect and just reduce the send level to zero in Cubase automation when you don't want it? That's normally what would happen in an analogue recording set-up (or automate the return level if you didn't want to hear any repeat tails after a certain point). Have you got it set up as an insert effect?

[Richie Royale]

Automation only controls the internal workings - fader, VST, EQ, etc.

The DD-500 appears to have MIDI, so it is worth reaching for the manual to find out if it does bypass via a MIDI continuous controller (CC) message. You would then send that to the Boss via a MIDI channel, drawn into the controller lane in the edit window. You may need to find and add that CC to the edit window.

[Richie Royale]

Not sure as I've never done this, but surely you'd have the DD-500 set up as a send effect and just reduce the send level to zero in Cubase automation when you don't want it? That's normally what would happen in an analogue recording set-up (or automate the return level if you didn't want to hear any repeat tails after a certain point). Have you got it set up as an insert effect?

Yes, this would work as well. Should have thought of that myself as I use lots of external effects. Automated the send level or on/off on the send.

[The Elf]

There are a few ways you could do it...

Use a pre-fade send - raise the FX Channel and lower the source Channel for 'FX on'; lower the FX Channel and raise the source Channel for 'FX off'.

[pa28]

I was using the effect as an insert, and did think the easy option would have been a dedicated FX send. But I wanted the whole signal through the Boss in this instance as right or wrong I think there is a difference in the result.

The MIDI cc is worth a look see.

Use a pre-fade send - raise the FX Channel and lower the source Channel for 'FX on'; lower the FX Channel and raise the source Channel for 'FX off'.

That is another to consider.

Thank you..

[The Elf]

If it has to be an insert, for whatever reason, then just mult the track - one with the insert and one without - then either mute/un-mute the two tracks, or edit the audio between the two.

[Wonks]

However, by having two tracks, then the 'clean' track won't be passing through the Boss unit, so you may notice a slight difference in the base sound. There may also be an extra amount of latency added from the digital Boss unit, which could lead to some comb filtering if you attempt to gently fade between the two tracks unless some extra delay compensation is added for the Boss track, so best to just mute/unmute the tracks.

Or go old-school and switch the Boss unit on and off as required by foot whilst printing the track in real time.

[pa28]

Or go old-school and switch the Boss unit on and off as required by foot whilst printing the track in real time.

What... all that money on a Pro DAW and do the work meself. no way jose

[The Elf]

...or record a pass of the 'clean' track through the bypassed pedal.

[Matt Houghton]

Should be doable by MIDI. Details of MIDI implementation can be found here.

I don't think I could be that obsessed by the dry sound running through a unit like that... But if I did need to do that, I reckon I'd print two takes through the unit. One bypassed, the other wet. Then use edits with fades, or level automation on each of those audio tracks to blend between the two. That also frees up your unit to be used as a send by other tracks, of course...

Edit: which I note is precisely what Elf just suggested

[Wonks]

One bypassed, the other wet.

I'd suggest one wet and one with the echo level set to zero (rather than just bypassed), so that if there is any processing delay on the straight signal path (there may not be) then there's no chance of any fades sounding phasey.

[Matt Houghton]

One bypassed, the other wet.

I'd suggest one wet and one with the echo level set to zero (rather than just bypassed), so that if there is any processing delay on the straight signal path (there may not be) then there's no chance of any fades sounding phasey.

I'd suggest he just uses whichever version he likes the sound of... It's in Cubase. In the External FX you can 'ping' to measure the latency to report to the host's automatic delay compensation system. There are a couple of very specific scenarios in which it doesn't work (ADAT expanders plugged into RME interfaces) but otherwise it should do the job perfectly.

[Dave B]

Nope. I gave up and created another track with the part & without the effect.

This would be the approach that I'd take - send both tracks (one processed, one clean) to a group / bus / folder / stack /etc and then use that bus as the fader for the overall thing. Then just write a couple of simple 'mute' automations. It then frees your hardware for some other use and it's always repeatable in a later mix if Boss is sold / goes bang / sulks / etc.

I like things simple. YMMV. ah well.