Avid Pro Tools
Setup Guide

Guide for setting up
> MP3244 Modulation Processor
> SQ4 Sequence Processor
within Pro Tools.

Please Note:
For Pro Tools the MP3244 version must be V0.9.3 or greater.
Please update if you have an older version of the plug-in.

If you need any help please contact us!

Basic Setup

To have the MP3244 / SQ4 generally working within Pro Tools, please follow the steps described in this section.

  1. You need to disable the "Dynamic Plug-in Processing" (Setup > Playback Engine). Since the MP3244 / SQ4 dose not do any sound processing, Pro Tools will stop processing the MP3244 / SQ4 after a short while.
  2. Create a new "Instrument Track" for the MP3244 / SQ4 and load the plug-in as an "Insert". You can set the output of this track to "no output".
  3. Make sure that the "MIDI Output" of the "Instrument Track" is connected to MP3244 / SQ4.

External Devices

Using MIDI CC

Make sure you have followed the steps described in the Basic Setup section.

To modulate an external hardware device, such as a synthesizer, via MIDI CC, please follow the steps described in this section.

  1. Configure the MP3244 / SQ4. Select "MIDI To Host" on the "Output" section and make sure, that the Format is set to "MIDI CC".
  2. Create a new "MIDI Track". Select for the "MIDI Output" the MIDI port and channel where the external synth is connected.
  3. For the "MIDI Track" track set the "MIDI Input" to the MP3244 / SQ4 MIDI output to receive MIDI messages. All MIDI data (notes) that you record should be on the MP3244 / SQ4 Track! This is needed to trigger the Slope and Envelope Generators.
  4. Make sure to turn on the "Track Record Enable" for both of the tracks. Remember to record your MIDI data on the MP3244 / SQ4 track. You may need to set the MIDI input on the MP3244 / SQ4 track according to your setup.

Using MIDI SysEx

Make sure you have followed the steps described in the Basic Setup section.

This section applies to Windows and Mac platforms. Pro Tools dose not allow to path thru SysEx messages from a plug-in. To get this working you need to have system wide virtual MIDI ports, or, if you are using Mac OS X you can also follow the steps described in the section "Using MIDI SysEx (Mac)", which dose not require virtual MIDI ports. If you have no virtual MIDI ports, please check this Virtual MIDI Guide. For each SysEx device you need to create a separate virtual MIDI port.

  1. Configure the MP3244 / SQ4. Within the "Output" section select "MIDI SysEx" as "Format" and as "Device" select the created virtual MIDI port.
  2. Create two new "MIDI Tracks". "MIDI Track 1" is need to pass note events to the external device, "MIDI Track 2" is needed to receive the SysEx messages and pass these to the external device.
  3. Select for both tracks ("MIDI Track 1" + "MIDI Track 2") the MIDI port and channel where the external device is connected to for the "MIDI Output selector".
  4. For "MIDI Track 1" set the "MIDI Input" to the MP3244 / SQ4 MIDI output to receive MIDI note messages. All MIDI data (notes) that you record should be on the MP3244 / SQ4 Track! This is needed to trigger the Slope and Envelope Generators.
  5. For "MIDI Track 2" set the "MIDI Input" to the created virtual MIDI port, to receive the SysEx messages.
  6. Make sure to turn on the "Track Record Enable" for the both "MIDI Tracks". Remember to record your MIDI data on the MP3244 / SQ4 track. You may need to set the MIDI input on the MP3244 / SQ4 track according to your setup.
  7. Congratulations, you're done!

Please Note: since the SysEx messages are sent to system wide virtual MIDI port also other channels may receive the SysEx messages and pass these to your MIDI device. To avoid this, make sure to select for all MIDI and Instrument tracks an explicit MIDI input port.

Using MIDI SysEx (Mac)

Make sure you have followed the steps described in the Basic Setup section.

This section applies to Mac platforms only and is an alternative to the setup described above. It describes how to setup Pro Tools to send MIDI SysEx Messages to an external device without using a virtual MIDI port. To get this working you simply need to send the messages directly to the MIDI port where the external device is located. In general this works on a Mac. However, if you encounter problems connecting the host and the plug-in to the same MIDI port, you need to follow the steps described in the "Using MIDI SysEx" section, which circumvents this problem.

  1. Configure the MP3244 / SQ4. Within the "Output" section select "MIDI SysEx" as "Format" and as "Device" select the MIDI port where your device is connected.
  2. Create a new "MIDI Track". Select for the "MIDI Output" the MIDI port and channel where the external synth is connected to.
  3. For the "MIDI Track" track set the "MIDI Input" to the MP3244 / SQ4 MIDI output to receive MIDI messages. All MIDI data (notes) that you record should be on the MP3244 / SQ4 Track! This is needed to trigger the Slope and Envelope Generators.
  4. Make sure to turn on the "Track Record Enable" for both of the tracks. Remember to record your MIDI data on the MP3244 / SQ4 track. You may need to set the MIDI input on the MP3244 / SQ4 track according to your setup.

Using Audio CV

Make sure you have followed the steps described in the Basic Setup section.

To modulate an external hardware device, such as a synthesizer, via Control Voltages, please follow the steps described in this section.

In AUDIO CV mode the plug-in functions as a multi-channel plug-in with following configurations:

  • Main Out: No output
  • Output 1 L/R = VCA 1
  • Output 2 L/R = VCA 2
  • Output 3 L/R = VCA 3
  • Output 4 L/R = VCA 4

  1. Configure the MP3244 / SQ4. Select "Audio CV" as "Format" on the "Output" section.
  2. Create a new "MIDI Track". Select for the "MIDI Output" the MIDI port and channel where the external synth is connected.
  3. For the "MIDI Track" track set the "MIDI Input" to the MP3244 / SQ4 MIDI output to receive MIDI messages. All MIDI data (notes) that you record should be on the MP3244 / SQ4 Track! This is needed to trigger the Slope and Envelope Generators.
  4. Create up to 4 new "Audio Track" (Mono). The amount of outputs depend on how many CV's you want to use.
  5. Select on each "Audio Track" one of the MP3244 / SQ4 outputs as "Audio Input".
  6. Select for each "Audio Track" a physical audio device output. The CV signal will be available on the selected physical output.
  7. Make sure to enable the "TrackInput Monitor" on all "Audio Tracks" and "Track Record Enable" on the "MIDI track".
  8. Congratulations, you're done!

Internal Devices

In-Host MIDI CC

Make sure you have followed the steps described in the Basic Setup section.

To modulate a software device, such as a synthesizer via MIDI CC, please follow the steps described in this section.

  1. Configure the MP3244 / SQ4. Select "MIDI To Host" on the "Output" section and make sure, that the Format is set to "MIDI CC".
  2. Create a new "Instrument Track" and add the software device, which you would like to control.
  3. Select the MP3244 / SQ4 output as MIDI input on the "Instrument Track". All MIDI data (notes) that you record should be on the MP3244 / SQ4 Track! This is needed to trigger the Slope and Envelope Generators.
  4. Within VCA1 select the Continuous Controller number you want to send. If your virtual synth has a MIDI learn function you can choose any number.

    A: MIDI learn function
    This only applies if your virtual synth has a MIDI learn function: enable MIDI learn and click on the desired parameter. Go to the MP3244 / SQ4 and “twittle” the VCA1 GAIN knob. The synth should now receive the CC messages. As soon you are finished, turn the MIDI learn function off.

    B: No MIDI learn function
    If your synth does not provide any MIDI learn function you need to grab the synth manual and see if and what MIDI CCs are available. To modulate the CC you need to select the specific CC number within the VCA1 of the MP3244 / SQ4.
  5. Make sure to turn on the "Track Record Enable" for both of the tracks. Remember to record your MIDI data on the MP3244 / SQ4 track. You may need to set the MIDI input on the MP3244 / SQ4 track according to your setup.