Ok!

Dietz,

As promised here is the solution that was given to me:

1.    So track 1 "VEP Return" has the VEP VSTi softsynth. 

 2.   Tracks 2-5 are MIDI that point to the instrument tracks in VEP, set to port 1, channels 1-4. You can barely see thier output and channel assignments. 

 3.   And then tracks 6-7 are audio tracks. They have a send (visible in track 7, not 6, sorry) that goes to the buss I called "MIR". 

 4.   Buss C "MIR" has the VE Event Input plugin, and it goes to the VEP "From Sonar" track, IN 1 / IN 2. 

 5.   I've got MIR inserted on the VEP Master Bus, and in MIR, I've set it to 100% wet.   etc......

WHat is was missing was bussing the audio track to "VEP Event Input Plugin."   I had been inserting the "VEP Audio Inout" vst, but not the Event Input!

Problem solved.

Thanks,

Mike

Uhm - I'm a bit confused, to be honest.

I understand point 1 and 2.

ad 3: Are the audio tracks meant to be used as one ensemble, or as individual signals? When you're aiming for the latter, they should use individual VE Pro Audio Input Plugins.

ad 4: The Event Input Plugin should send controller data to VE Pro, not an audio stream. VE Pro Audio Input should be used instead. I can't see how this should work the other way 'round.

ad 5: Why do you insert MIR Pro on the master bus?!? MIR Pro should be inserted on individual channels, to allow for indivdual positions, directivity profiles and other processing. In the same vein: When you set MIR Pro to 100% wet, you will lose all of MIR's ability to do the proper positioning for the dry signal components of an instrument or audio channel.

... I suggest that you take a look at the examples I gave in the tutorial-section of MIR Pro's Manual (p.37 ff), as well as some of the Venue Presets that were released just recently (e.g. "Neuer Saal Mic 2 - Contemporary Dry (Trimmed)" might be a nice, self-explanatory example).

Kind regards,

DIetz,

They are meant to be sent as individual signals.

I was having trouble getting it to work and asked a few people on the Cakewwalk Sonar page and that was their solution, so if I am doing it wrong, I am clearly not alone.  I will look at the sources you suggested and get back to you.

I can say that in this example MIR was inserted as a bus because it was the only way the other two users and I were able to get it to work.  Maybe the problem is Sonar.  I am thinking of experimenting with some other DAWs.  It's the only thing I can think that would be making VEP and MIR so difficult to understand as you have said often that it should be fairly intuitive.  At first I thought it was just my limited experience, but I have talked to many others on the Sonar forum and the Northernsounds forum who have said it was difficult to learn as well.

I keep getting closer, I don't feel completely hopeless anymore, but there is a lot about using VEP and MIR that is not totally intuitive to begining users or those of us without a vast knowledge of midi and routing issues.  As I've said before, I use VSL stuff for doing mock-ups and occassionally supplementing your acoustics scores.  My strength is in composition, not midi software.  I'm good with notation software (Sibelius and general audio apps), but there are some aspects of midi routing and compatibility where I difinitely fall short!

I am throughly enjoying what I have been able to do so far.  It will take a while until I completely understand all of what VEP and MIR can offer.

Thanks,

Mike

Dietz,

The venue template was VERY helpful.  I passed this along to the others who were sho0wiung me "how to do it" on the Sonar pages. I am not sure why it was suggested that I use the VE Event INput.  The tempplate made it very clear though.

When WOULD one use the Event Input plugin?

 Thank you,

Mike

Hi Michael,

the manual is your friend. 😉

Like pointed out on the very first page of VE Pro's manual, the Event Input Plug-in is needed to circumvent AU/VST single MIDI port limitation on some hosts (Logic, most notably). Its use is covered in detail on p. 17 ff.

Kind regards,

@Dietz said:

Hi Michael,

the manual is your friend. 😉

The manual is my acquaintance, the presets are my friends! [:)]  Actually, now that I have become a bit more familiar with some basics, the manual is quite helpful.  For me, getting started was hard because my midi acumen is not as good as most people on this forum.  But, damn it, I am determined to get there!

Dietz, you know what the real problem is?  I am an American and I am used to immediate gratification!  If I don't understand something within the first 5 minutes, I get frustrated.  Learning VEP5 and MIR has been very good for me and I thank you for all your help (past, present, and future!)

I do really love the presets.  They have also been very helpful.

Michael

Welcome Mike B.,

@Mike B Studios said:

[...]

 However... I am using Logic on a Mac and believe me when i say, all is not perfect when Ensemble Pro 5 and Logic collide. [....]

Mike B.

... is that a question or a statement? 😊

Kind regards,

Mike B,

THank you for the encouragement!  It is starting to all make sense now and I LOVE it! 

By the way, of course you would be ahead of me, you're Mike "B", I'm only Mike "C"  [:)]

I have heard about some issues using Logic and I know what you mean.  I used to use both platforms and switched to only PC when Windows 7-64 was released.  There were many reason other than VSL stuff.  Also, I am not one of those people who believes that only one platform is worth using.  They both have the strengths and weaknesses.

THanks again,

Mike