External Insert enhancements

External inserts have been enhanced to add true mono output support, ProChannel integration, FX Chain support, a new Send Mode allowing an arbitrary tap point from an FX Rack, Friendly naming, better track template support, as well as numerous optimizations and stability fixes.

Mono outputs support

The External Insert plugin now supports exclusive use of mono outputs for sends without tying up a stereo pair.

Prior to this, using a mono output would utilize a full stereo pair and prevent other External Insert plugins or tracks from using the unused channel.

It is no longer necessary for Preferences > Audio - Devices > Show Mono Outputs to be enabled in order to use mono channels in the External Insert (however, it’s preferable to show mono outputs, otherwise track or bus output will always utilize a full stereo channel).

Show Mono Outputs is enabled by default for new installations of Sonar.

Routing modes

The external insert can be used in 4 modes:

Send/Return mode. This is the primary mode and is engaged when both the Send and Return ports are routed to hardware ports. In this mode the plugin echoes its send input to the main output. The external insert measures the net delay between the send and return and compensates for this delay, aligning the audio on playback. This is the only mode that is delay compensated.

Send = Hardware port

Return = Hardware port

 

[New] Send Mode. This mode is engaged when only the Send is routed to a hardware port and the Return is unassigned. In this mode the plugin sends its input audio to the assigned hardware output, and additionally passes through the audio through the main out effectively acting as a splitter. This mode can be useful to create a signal flow tap point from any FX Rack location. No delay is applied in this mode.

Send = Hardware port

Return = None

Return Mode. This mode is engaged when only the Return is routed to a hardware port and the Send is unassigned (set to None). In this mode, the plugin receives input audio from assigned return port and echoes the audio to its output. This mode can be useful to create an FX Rack insert from an external audio device or synth, or to receive input from another external insert tap point in Send Mode. You cannot ping to measure delay in this mode, but a manual delay offset can be specified to compensate for any delays.

Send = None

Return = Hardware port

Passthrough Mode. This mode is engaged when neither Send nor Return ports are assigned (set to None). Passthrough mode operates as if the plugin has been bypassed in the FX Rack. All incoming audio to the plugin is echoed unmodified to its output.

Send = None

Return = None

ProChannel support

The external insert can now be used directly inside the ProChannel by adding it into a ProChannel FX Chain.

FX Chains Support

Both track and ProChannel FX chains now fully support adding an external insert.

FX Chain presets containing External Inserts can now be saved and loaded in a track FX Rack or a ProChannel FX Chain.

Drag and drop

Drag and drop of External Insert or an FX Chain containing one from track FX Rack to the ProChannel creates a ProChannel FX Chain containing the external insert.

Exclusive Send and Return port assignments

The External Insert uses hardware send and return ports exclusively, so only a single instance of the External Insert may share the devices at any point. This is enforced as follows:

Track Input and Output menus will exclude any ports that are in use by the External Insert.

External Inserts send and returns will exclude any items that are in use by tracks/buses or other External Insert plugins.

When loading an FX Chain that contains the External Insert, the Send and Return ports will reset to None if those ports are already in use in the project.

Loading a project when the hardware inputs or outputs are no longer available will reset the External Insert send/return ports to None.

The external insert references send and return ports by name. Changing the friendly name of a port will result in the send and return being set to None if it was using a different name earlier.

Port assignments persist in track templates

Audio port assignments for the External Insert plugin are now persisted in track templates.

Friendly names

When an External Insert is added to the FX Bin, all instances are shown as “External Insert” by default. If several External Inserts are used for various different external effects, it’s impossible to tell which is which.

Friendly names can now be assigned to External Inserts so they can be more easily identified. Double-click at the top of the External Insert to edit the name.

The friendly name is reflected in the FX Rack after closing the External Insert window

 

Note: As long as the friendly name is not changed, you may switch between using friendly names and default names without losing the External Insert I/O assignments.

Ping signal shown in Send and Return meters

The External Insert ping signal is now shown on both the Send and Return meters. This makes it easier to troubleshoot connection of the return port correctly.

Stability improvements and fixes

Several stability improvements and fixes to External Insert infrastructure.

 

See:

External Insert plug-in

New features