MIDI source

The MIDI source is a powerful modulation source if you want more control over FabFilter Saturn 2 using a MIDI keyboard or MIDI controller. Note that you first need to route data from a MIDI track to Saturn 2 in your host.

To add a MIDI source as a modulation source, click the + button in the modulation section and click New MIDI Source.

Initially the MIDI source is shown as a source component button in the interface, showing a graphical representation of the current settings. For more information on working with source component buttons, see Modulation.

Click the source component button once to expand the full interface:

The expanded MIDI source interface contains the following controls:

• MIDI Input
  Normally the MIDI source lets you use MIDI input such as velocity, pitch bend and modulation wheel to influence any parameter that can be modulated.

• Controller number
  ... but when you set the input selection to Controller, it lets you use any MIDI controller as a modulation source.

• Response curve
  The response curve can be adjusted to get the desired control over the MIDI source output. For example, when used with velocity as MIDI source the linear, exponential, logarithmic, square, square root or sine curves make great dynamic differences.

Using a MIDI source is different from MIDI Learn because there is no direct control of a knob via MIDI but it uses a modulation slot instead. This way you can add modulation to an already modulated destination. Or you can use the full rotation of a knob while actually modulating a smaller range. This can be a good way to control say, an EG attack for which you sometimes want to make small changes with great precision.

Tips

• To let a sustain pedal control an envelope generator, use a MIDI source. Set the input to Controller, and the controller number to 64. Now, drag the source drag button for the MIDI source to the hold control point of the envelope generator, and set the slot level to maximum. Of course, you can also set up more sophisticated behavior of the sustain pedal, for example by modulation the release setting instead of hold: the possibilities are endless.
• The VST3 version of FabFilter Saturn 2 doesn't support per-note aftertouch modulation.

Next: XY controller

See Also
Modulation
Drag-and-drop modulation slots
MIDI learn