Cross-platform usage and moving from one platform to another

02 Nov Cross-platform usage and moving from one platform to another

Posted at 07:51h in Gig Performer Blog, GP4, Tips by

Gig Performer is an audio plugin host for live performance available for both Windows and macOS. In this article you will learn about cross-platform usage and some considerations when you are migrating from Windows to macOS or vice-versa.

How to keep gig files cross-platform?

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Gig Performer supports VST and VST3 on both platforms and AudioUnit (AU) plugins on Mac only. Therefore, if you want to keep gig files cross-platform – i.e. you want to use the same gig file on Windows and macOS – you must use the VST or VST3 versions of your audio plugins.

All gig files from the Gig and Rackspace Files category in our Community forums are deliberately cross-platform, free of charge, and you can use them seamlessly on both platforms. For example, you can perform with a Mac computer and have a PC as your backup computer. We feature gig files in our newsletters, so make sure to subscribe so as to notified of new gig files that are created by our community members (NB: watch this live stream to learn how to take the full advantage of these gig files).

You can easily check the format of your plugin by simply hovering on the plugin. If you you are a Windows user and happen to open a gig file where an AudioUnit plugin is present, Gig Performer will show that plugin as “chameleon” and mark it as “MISSING”:

Chameleon plugin - AudioUnit (AU) plugin on Windows in Gig Performer

The “chameleon” plugin mimics all the properties of the original plugin (for example, input and output pins and the plugin state) except the actual processing. You can easily replace the plugin with the VST/VST3 version of the same plugin or use an alternative plugin.

In general, the “chameleon” plugin is useful as it allows you to modify the gig file, save it and later re-open it on a computer that has all of the required plugins installed.

Note: Similarly, if the audio interface connected to the current system does not have enough inputs or outputs to accommodate the setup utilized by the file, Gig Performer will prompt you to create “Virtual channels” that route all audio to the first two channels but retain all connections. Doing so will allow you to modify the file, save it and later reopen it on a computer that is connected to the original audio interface.

Gig Performer works seamlessly on both platforms

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In the Gig Performer world, a computer represents a “tool” on which you install Gig Performer, design your gig files, and perform. Nowadays, both Windows and macOS are used both live and in studio, as can be seen from our guests from the Backstage with Gig Performer episodes. For example, Joachim Schäfer, Kevin Fraser, Joe Luca, and Angel von Powerlord are using Windows, while Alistair Begg, Harry Triendl, Joel Brazy and Tony Geballe are using macOS. Make sure to also check the Gig Performer in Action section of our community to see screenshots and photos of various Gig Performer setups.

Global Rackspace examples on Windows and macOS in Gig Performer

Needless to say, there are also Gig Performer users that use both platforms, like the author of this article.

Of course, depending on your specific needs, price, and complexity of your setup, you may want to choose one platform over another. Gig Performer works seamlessly on both platforms, but it’s not all about Gig Performer! 🙂 There are also some other considerations, specific to the platform and our insights below may help you with your decision.

If you are considering migrating from macOS to Windows

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The first thing that you will want to check are drivers for your audio interface and MIDI controllers. If you use simple setups, i.e. you don’t need to route audio and MIDI from different applications to Gig Performer (and vice-versa) that will be using your devices at the same time, you probably don’t need to worry about multi-client drivers – but if you do, make sure to double-check with the hardware manufacturers of your audio interface whether multiple applications can use the same driver at the same time.

While macOS supports multiple audio and MIDI clients running simultaneously, this is not automatically the case on Windows. Still, there are ways to route audio and MIDI with single-client drivers and approaches to this are covered extensively in the article: How to use a single-client ASIO driver with multiple applications on Windows.

ASIO Link Pro Gig Performer

If you are used to aggregating your audio devices on your Mac, Windows doesn’t include such a feature and you will need to use ASIO4ALL to aggregate your audio devices, but at the expense of added latency. Check out this article for an example of aggregating an audio interface with the virtual audio cable driver.

Tip: If you are using multiple USB MIDI controllers on Windows, the best practice is to remember to which ports on your computer (or USB hub) each device is connected and always attach them in that exact order. The reason for this is that USB MIDI Port names may keep changing on your Windows computer when you attach your MIDI controller. Visit this KB article to learn more.

There are also slight differences in Gig Performer Options on these two platforms which will be mentioned below.

Finally, we have compiled the best tips and practices to make your Windows PC a highly stable platform for making music. Download our free e-book at this link.

If you are considering migrating from Windows to macOS

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If you want to migrate your setup to macOS, the first decision you need to make is whether you want an Intel based Mac or you want to use the new M1 chip or upcoming M2 processor (Apple Silicon). Needless to say, Gig Performer runs on both processors natively. Unfortunately, there are still many plugins that are not available natively for Apple Silicon, so if you are considering to migrate to the new M1 chip make sure to check whether all your favorite plugins are available natively for this CPU.

Although these new processors cannot directly run applications developed for older Intel processors, Apple developed an intermediary application called Rosetta that converts (on-the-fly) older Intel programs so that they can run on the new M1 processors.

How to run Gig Performer under Rosetta on the new M1 chip (Apple Silicon)

Important note: if you run the Intel version of Gig Performer 4 under Rosetta you will experience a slight loss of efficiency. Make sure to check out this blog for in-depth explanations.

You can check this comprehensive article for how Gig Performer user Jim Erwin migrated from Windows to Mac, and also check this live stream where he shares his experience with the migration process.

There are also slight differences in Gig Performer Options compared to Windows, which will be mentioned below.

Finally, we have compiled the best tips and practices to prepare your macOS for your live performance: Optimize your Mac for a gig.

Slight differences in Gig Performer on Windows and macOS

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If you click on the Audio setup menu item under the Options menu, you’ll notice that the resulting window is slightly different on Windows and macOS:

Gig Performer Audio Options for Windows and macOS

On macOS you can separately select the input and output device and there is no device type selector as there is always just one type (Core Audio); on Windows, the audio device type selector is included and one device must be used for both input and output. Click here to learn more in our user manual.

Windows users will also see the Graphics engine section in the Display Options.

Graphics engine in display options on Gig Performer for Windows

This allows you to select the graphics library that Gig Performer uses for its displays: Software Renderer or OpenGL Renderer. Mac users always use the CoreGraphics renderer.

Common applications for Windows and macOS

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MacOS includes built-in support for virtual MIDI, called the IAC Driver.

MIDI studio, MIDI setup, IAC driver

Make sure to read this blog article to see how to set it up and use in practice. Windows users will need to install a third-party virtual MIDI driver such as LoopMIDI.

If you are on a Mac, and want to route audio from Gig Performer to other audio applications (or vice versa), you can download the free Blackhole virtual audio driver. Windows users will use an application like the free application VB-Cable. Visit this blog to see how to use virtual audio cables in practice.

Note that many audio applications, such as Audacity are cross-platform and can be downloaded and installed for your operating system. We tend to describe and use such applications on our blog to provide you with the most streamlined experience.

MidiClock, simple MIDI clock generator, Windows and Mac screenshots with Gig Performer
For example, see the free MidiClock application in action in this article.

Can Windows and macOS computers work together?

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Sure! 🙂 Your band members can have computers with different operating systems in a local network and these computers equipped with Gig Performer can communicate with each other in various ways. For example, tempo can be synchronized in all Gig Performer instances using Ableton Link, you can use OSC to control other computers, or the processing of audio plugins can be offloaded using AudioGridder:

AudioGridder plugin in Gig Performer - select Server - Windows and macOS

To share your feedback, see more migration stories or share your own, please visit this Community thread.

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Share this article it to support Gig Performer and spread the word! 🙂

Own The Stage® with Gig Performer®

Nemanja Pudar

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Related topics:
– Gig Performer is the best companion for all your musical efforts and more

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Scaling Curves

Scaling curves allow you to control the shape of the output of a widget or convert an incoming note velocity to a new velocity. Various predefined curves are available and they can be tweaked as necessary. You can also just draw your own curve as well to achieve the effect you require.

 

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MIDI File Player Plugin

You can load up to 128 MIDI song files in a single plugin instance. Switch from one song to another, mute tracks and/or change their channel numbers. Tempo can be controlled by individual songs or you can use the global tempo and tap tempo to control the BPM interactively.

 

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Favorites and Presets

Create a sound by placing and interconnecting your desired plugins, such as a synth, some effects and perhaps a mixer. Select them all and then save the selection as a named favorite. The favorite will subsequently show up in all plugin insert menus, making it easy for you to recreate that configuration whenever you need it again. This feature is also very powerful for creating your needed sounds on your studio computer and then transferring them to your touring laptop.

 

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Probabilistic Sound Designer

Parameters you select in an open plugin are captured into the Probabilistic Sound Designer dialog window. When you click Randomize, you're only adjusting those selected parameters. Each entry in the PSD dialog has a curve but unlike widgets where the curve controls scaling, in the PSD the curves are used to define the probability of particular values being selected. Make sure the filter cutoff never gets too slow so as to block all sound. Perhaps adjust the max range of the VCA attack parameter so that the sound doesn't have too much delay. Constrain the octave ranges of the oscillators, perhaps ensuring that 1/3rd of the time we select 8' and 2/3rds of the time we select 4'. The possibilities are endless.

 

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More Widgets

Numerous new widgets are included in Gig Performer - a new sustain pedal, plastic knobs, drum pads and more colored sliders. Shapes can be colored with different borders and fill colors and morphed from rectangular to circular. Your creativity is now the limit to creating fabulous front panels in Gig Performer.

 

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MIDI Message Helper

Select MIDI devices by name. Choose the MIDI message type and adjust the appropriate parameters for the specific type

 

  

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Layout management

Gig Performer supports arbitrary resizing. Layout your widgets the way you want - resize the main window and the widgets will grow or shrink as necessary to maintain the same interrelationships. No matter what size screen you have, your front panels will still be neat and usable.

 

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Undo Support

If you move your widgets around and/or resize them, or even delete them by mistake, the Undo facility will correct your mistake. Minor moves to a widget by mistake will no longer spoil your design

 

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Plugin Channel Count

Some plugins support a large number of outputs and they depend on the traditional channel strip to control how many ports should be available.   When you only need a stereo pair, it is convenient not to have a large horizontal block. In Gig Performer, the number of available ports  is controlled by the channel count override, which can be applied to individual plugins and will be remembered when the gigfile is reloaded or if the plugin is saved as a favorite.

 

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Input muting and output fading

Rather than a single audio length tail, Gig Performer 4 gives you the ability to control input muting and output fading separately. Input muting controls how much time it takes for audio input to be silenced when you leave the rackspace. Output fading controls how much time will be taken for audio to fade out when you leave the rackspace.

 

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Faster Plugin Finder

Instead of searching through menus of perhaps hundreds of plugins (you know who you are!), the Quick Plugin Finder makes it easy to find the plugin you need by simply typing partial strings. For example, as shown here, to find the Modartt Pianoteq 7 plugins, it's enough to type pia mod 7 (in any order, by the way)  to restrict the list of available plugins to those matching your query. The Quick Plugin Finder also knows about manufacturers, presets and favorites.

 

  

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Touch Friendly Input

Any entry field can be changed by either dragging your mouse (or finger) up or down, or by using the large popup touchpad where you can just tap on the squares to enter a value. The large popup keypad also does validation so you can't enter an invalid value. You can also just tap the BPM field to pop up a larger view where you can quickly change tempo, tranpose, trigger Tap Tempo and enable Ableton Link, the last allowing you to synchronize Gig Performer with any other application that also supports Ableton Link.

 

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New Tuner Display

The tuner view makes it easy for guitarists to quickly check and adjust their tuning. You can toggle into the tuner view from any other view and toggle right back as soon as you're done. All output will be silenced automatically while you're in tuning mode. You can adjust the concert reference pitch from its default of 440 Hz to suit your own needs. The tuner view fills the entire screen so you can easily see it from a distance.

 

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