How to insert 'Revalver 4' as software instrument [SOLVED]

[Amorphous333]

Hi everyone,

 

I have a question regarding the guitar amp software Revalver 4:

I want to use it on a software instrument track to be able to control some parameters via midi input. There is an official guide how to set this up with sidechain signal from the audio track etc., but the problem is that I can not insert Revalver 4 as a midi controlled effect on the software instrument track. It doesn't show up in the plugin list.

 

With Guitar Rig, for example, it does work just fine. Also I can insert Revalver 4 on any audio track without problems..

 

Does anybody know the reason for this behavior?

[simoncroft]

Basically, you're trying to use an audio plug-in on a MIDI channel, and that can never work. What you need to do is create a Bus send from your software instrument channel, the way you would if you wanted to send it to a reverb etc.

 

Now insert Revalver on your Bus channel and use the Send level on your instrument channel to set the signal level that feeds to Revalver.

[Amorphous333]

Basically, you're trying to use an audio plug-in on a MIDI channel, and that can never work. What you need to do is create a Bus send from your software instrument channel, the way you would if you wanted to send it to a reverb etc.

 

Now insert Revalver on your Bus channel and use the Send level on your instrument channel to set the signal level that feeds to Revalver.

But how do I send the expression signal from the software instrument track to the aux bus? An aux bus can only transfer audio signals, right?

 

The problem is that the wah wah pedal I want to control needs an audio input (guitar signal) and also a midi input (expression signal).

[des99]

If Revalver4 doesn't come as an AU MIDI-controlled Effects version, then you can't do this directly. Does the manual suggest you can?

 

Edit: I had a look - there is nothing in the manual about a MIDI-Controlled FX version of the plugin.

 

You'll have to use controller assignments (Logic's "learn" mode), or smart controls, to do what you want.

[David Nahmani]

There is an official guide how to set this up with sidechain signal from the audio track etc.,

Can you share a link to that guide?

[simoncroft]

Basically, you're trying to use an audio plug-in on a MIDI channel, and that can never work. What you need to do is create a Bus send from your software instrument channel, the way you would if you wanted to send it to a reverb etc.

 

Now insert Revalver on your Bus channel and use the Send level on your instrument channel to set the signal level that feeds to Revalver.

But how do I send the expression signal from the software instrument track to the aux bus? An aux bus can only transfer audio signals, right?

 

The problem is that the wah wah pedal I want to control needs an audio input (guitar signal) and also a midi input (expression signal).

 

I think I may have misunderstood what you are trying to do. OK, with the Revolver as a plug-in on an audio channel, click on the wah pedal (on screen), hit Cmd L (for Learn) and turn any fader or rotary on your MIDI controller. Hit Cmd L again to turn Learn off. When you turn the control, does the on-screen wah pedal move too? Please let us know, because what anyone suggests next depends on what you find.

Edited March 7, 2022 by simoncroft

[Amorphous333]

If Revalver4 doesn't come as an AU MIDI-controlled Effects version, then you can't do this directly. Does the manual suggest you can?

 

Edit: I had a look - there is nothing in the manual about a MIDI-Controlled FX version of the plugin.

 

You'll have to use controller assignments (Logic's "learn" mode), or smart controls, to do what you want.

 

I think I may have misunderstood what you are trying to do. OK, with the Revolver as a plug-in on an audio channel, click on the wah pedal (on screen), hit Cmd L (for Learn) and turn any fader or rotary on your MIDI controller. Hit Cmd L again to turn Learn off. When you turn the control, does the on-screen wah pedal move too? Please let us know, because what anyone suggests next depends on what you find.

 

Ok I tried to assign the (virtual) wah wah pedal to either my expression pedal or the mod wheel, but both doesn't work. Logic seems not to recognize the buttons I press inside Revalver (I also tried other effects oder amp buttons). Instead I can only assign the last used function in Logic (play/pause).

 

Then I went to the smart controls and tried the automatic smart controls, where Logic automatically assigns some knobs to different functions of Revalver. It shows up four buttons: amp gain, bass, mid, treble. But when I use these smart knobs, the sound does not change. I find it very interessting that Logic recognizes the buttons inside of Revalver, but seems to be not able to change the values of them..

[simoncroft]

If you change the view from Editor to Controls in the plug-in, you'll get a sort-of visual check list of the functions that can have Controller Assignments. If the wah pedal doesn't appear, I suggest you contact the developer for advice.

 

[Amorphous333]

If you change the view from Editor to Controls in the plug-in, you'll get a sort-of visual check list of the functions that can have Controller Assignments. If the wah pedal doesn't appear, I suggest you contact the developer for advice.

 

Screenshot 2022-03-09 at 12.16.15.png

Well there are a few functions in this list incl. a section for "stomp", but none of those buttons seem to work. I just recorded something and then played the track while changing all of the buttons randomly, but there is no change in the sound..

 

I also just tested the standalone version of Revalver, which has a midi learn function and just works fine with my pedal.

[David Nahmani]

If you can share a link to the official document you mentioned, I'm happy to have a look.

[simoncroft]

Are we talking about this: https://www.audiomediaresearch.com? If so, I'll download the free version and have a play with it.

[simoncroft]

OK chaps, I've cracked it. This what you do. 1) Right click on wah pedal. 2) Select Host Automation Mapping. 3) Select a parameter (I chose 'Stomp Tone'). 4) Switch Revalver to 'Controls' view and pull window mode enough to reveal on-screen sliders. 5) Advance Chosen wah slider slightly to indicate this is the one you are writing the assignment for. 6) Cmd L for Learn. 7) Move your MIDI Controller pedal until you see the slider reach the end. 8) Cmd L to stop learning.

 

In real life, you'll probably want to go Alt/Shift K first to open the CA window, so you can select where your Assignment will be stored.

[David Nahmani]

OK chaps, I've cracked it.

Wow, that's great! Thanks a lot for your help!

[simoncroft]

OK chaps, I've cracked it.

Wow, that's great! Thanks a lot for your help!

 

This forum – and your book – have been wonderful resources for me, so I'm more than happy to give a little back when I can.

[Amorphous333]

OK chaps, I've cracked it. This what you do. 1) Right click on wah pedal. 2) Select Host Automation Mapping. 3) Select a parameter (I chose 'Stomp Tone'). 4) Switch Revalver to 'Controls' view and pull window mode enough to reveal on-screen sliders. 5) Advance Chosen wah slider slightly to indicate this is the one you are writing the assignment for. 6) Cmd L for Learn. 7) Move your MIDI Controller pedal until you see the slider reach the end. 8) Cmd L to stop learning.

 

In real life, you'll probably want to go Alt/Shift K first to open the CA window, so you can select where your Assignment will be stored.

 

It works! You just found the solution, I honestly didn't expect that anymore really big thanks to you!

[simoncroft]

[David Nahmani]

This forum – and your book – have been wonderful resources for me, so I'm more than happy to give a little back when I can.

Great! That's the spirit! And I'm happy to hear that.

[Amorphous333]

OK chaps, I've cracked it. This what you do. 1) Right click on wah pedal. 2) Select Host Automation Mapping. 3) Select a parameter (I chose 'Stomp Tone'). 4) Switch Revalver to 'Controls' view and pull window mode enough to reveal on-screen sliders. 5) Advance Chosen wah slider slightly to indicate this is the one you are writing the assignment for. 6) Cmd L for Learn. 7) Move your MIDI Controller pedal until you see the slider reach the end. 8) Cmd L to stop learning.

 

In real life, you'll probably want to go Alt/Shift K first to open the CA window, so you can select where your Assignment will be stored.

I have one last question and hope you still have Revalver installed: are you able to insert the plugin as mono-›stereo effect? I can only use it as a mono plugin, which means I cannot use any stereo effect inside Revalver ..

[Amorphous333]

I just solved it on my own: I first need to convert the mono guitar input signal into a stereo signal (for example with the spread plugin) and then I am able to insert Revalver as a stereo plugin. It even works if I bypass the spread plugin. Strange behavior in Logic, but it's a workaround. Btw. with Guitar Rig this is not needed, I can insert it as a mono-›stereo plugin even on a clean mono recording..

[simoncroft]

I'm glad you found a workaround. If you only want to make the channel stereo, you can switch mono and stereo using the button just above where the plug-ins go. All the Waves plug-ins I've come across seem to treat the mono version and the stereo version as two separate plug-ins. I've got round this by writing separate Controller assignments for the two, but it doubles the amount of work! You could probably do that with Revalver as well, but changing the channel to stereo is certainly a lot quicker.