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<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Realtime Audio (Advanced) |
  
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<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Realtime Audio (Advanced) |
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Version 5 of Notation Composer focuses on better sound support for live and practice performances. Real-time input and output is essential. The RealTime feature enhancements of Composer offer audio capabilities which can be used during arrangement work for sound similar to what a sound designer does, and can be used for live performance support either during practice or in live performance on stage.
Using RealTime audio, you can implement VST3 plugin instruments and effects, record the performance of you playing with your song files, and other audio performance tasks.
The RealTime audio features can be accessed through the RealTime tab tools as shown here:
For the RealTime features in version 5 we decided not to start from scratch, but to offer the capability of existing world class real-time audio software that can be conveniently used with Composer. Additionally this world class audio real-time software should be available without additional cost to our customers.
In order to meet these requirements we decided to use Add-On software packages with Composer. We implemented the JACK interface in Composer and use the JACK audio connection kit, and we highly recommend using the Carla software package. Carla is a fully-featured modular audio plugin host which supports many audio drivers and plugin formats. If you do not want to use the full featured Carla software you can use the notation software VST3 Host, which is based on Steinberg’s VST3 technology. “notation software VST3 Host” is included in the Composer 5 installation package and uses the JACK interface. We have signed an agreement with the Steinberg Media Technology GmbH for the use of the VST3 Audio Plugin SDK from Steinberg similar to what we have done using the ASIO interface. In addition to the existing audio interfaces in version 4 (DirectSound, ASIO) there are two new interfaces included in version 5: WASAPI (Composer, Musician) and JACK (Composer).
Question:
How do Composer, JACK and Carla work together?
Answer:
As mentioned earlier, JACK’s architecture is a client/server architecture where the JACK interfaces of Composer and Carla are the clients and work together with a JACK server.
When starting Composer (with the audio mode JACK activated) Composer starts the JACK server in the background. When Composer opens a song it also launches Carla and loads a so called ‘Sound Design file’ into Carla.
When you exit Composer, JACK and Carla get closed as well by Composer.
The documentation of the various aspects of the Realtime Audio feature includes information and step-by-step instructions in the following detailed sections of this User Guide:
oJACK and Carla first-time setup
oJACK interface and Manual Setup
oNotation VST and Performance Recorder
oAdvanced Reverb and Chorus for Realtime Audio
If you are not familiar with the concepts for the RealTime audio feature please feel free to go ahead and work through the steps as detailed in this documentation to experiment with the audio possibilities. Otherwise be assured that the defaults for the Notation Software Synth using DirectSound will work quite well to get high-quality sound for your song files.