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ORB COMPOSER

GETTING STARTED 1.0.0

Last update: 04/01/2018, Richard Portelli.

Special Thanks to George Napier for the review.

CONTENTS

Installation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2

PC ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Mac ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5

General Information about the Midi Ports .................................................................................................................... 6

Midi Input Ports ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Midi Output Port ........................................................................................................................................................ 6

DAW configuration ......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Live / Logic / Pro Tools / Cubase ................................................................................................................................ 7

FL Studio .................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Reaper ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Studio One ............................................................................................................................................................... 20

FAQ Possible Issues (General) ...................................................................................................................................... 33

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INSTALLATION

PC

Run the installer OrbComposer.exe.

During the installation process, accept to install the Midi driver.

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Make sure to restart the computer after you install Orb Composer.

Otherwise, you might experience large and unacceptable delay with the virtual Midi ports in the DAW.

After the restart, launch Orb Composer normally.

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MAC

Install Orb Composer MIDI1.0.5.dmg and launch the program Orb Midi.

A Midi icon Symbol should appear on the top right.

This service creates the virtual Midi ports used by Orb Composer automatically.

Auto Start should be selected by default.

Please note: Orb Composer Midi is necessary for the proper operation of Orb Composer. It uses minimal system

resources and will not interfere with other software. We advise you to accept the default so that the service starts

automatically after you restart your computer. (If you choose not to do this, you must always first launch Orb

Composer Midi before launching Orb Composer.)

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MIDI PORTS

MIDI INPUT PORTS

There are 21 Midi in ports:

Port orb 0: used for chords and chord progressions

Ports orb 1-17: used for instruments

Ports orb 18-20: unused at the moment, might be used for additional instruments later on

All these Midi In Ports work exactly like a standard Midi Keyboard.

Each instrument in Orb Composer sends its Midi Notes Data to the DAW on both an orb port and a midi channel.

MIDI OUTPUT PORT

Port orb out: used for Midi Synch with Orb Composer.

This port sends the clock, play/pause/continue instructions to Orb Composer.

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DAW CONFIGURATION

LIVE / LOGIC / PRO TOOLS / CUBASE

1) Open the DAW project files provided in the downloaded folder.

2) Open them as “normal” projects, not as “template” projects.

3) Midi Inputs: no manual mapping is needed for these DAWs.

4) Midi output (sync): Go to the DAW options and make sure orb out sends the Midi clock. (See examples

below.)

5) SAVE the open project as a project file under your desired name. We strongly advise you to keep this raw

project file as a backup file. For your compositions we advise you to use a copy instead.)

6) Add your VSTi/AU on every instrument/articulation you want to use.

7) After you have finished SAVE again. This will be the default DAW project file to use with Orb Composer.

Example: Orb Out Midi Clock set up with Live sync:

Example Orb Out Midi Clock Sync set up in Cubase:

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FL STUDIO

1) Launch FL Studio

2) Go to Options and select ‘Midi Settings’.

3) For each Orb input, enable it by clicking on ‘Enable’.

Inputs might not appear in the same order, that doesn’t matter.

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4) Click again on each Orb input and assign the same port number

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5) Continue for all the ports.

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6) Sync orb out by selecting it in the output list and click on Send Master sync. Assign a random port not used

(for example port 42).

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7) Use the FL Studio project files provided in the downloaded folder.

8) Open it as “normal” project file.

9) Midi Inputs: no further manual mapping is needed for these DAW.

10) Open and SAVE the project file under your desired name.

11) We strongly advise you to keep this project file as a backup file.

For your compositions we advise you to use a copy instead.

12) You can add your VSTi/AU on every instrument/articulation you want to use.

13) After you have finished SAVE again. This will be the default project file to use with Orb Composer.

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REAPER

Manual mapping is needed for this DAW.

1) Download the Reaper project file from our website www.orb-composer.com

2) Open the project file

3) Make Sure Orb Midi Devices are enabled

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4) Map the Orb Midi Inputs

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5) Repeat this process for all the instruments you want to use.

6) Don’t forget to SAVE your project file.

7) We strongly advise you to keep this project file as a backup file.

For your compositions we advise you to use a copy instead.

8) SAVE a copy under a different name such as “ProjectFileWithInstruments”

9) Now, you can add your VSTi/AU on every instrument/articulation you want to use.

10) After you have finished SAVE again. This will be the default project file to use with Orb Composer.

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STUDIO ONE

1) Add Orb Midi Inputs

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Repeat the process up to orb 20 if you own Orb Composer Pro.

Otherwise, repeat the process up to orb 5.

Once you have done that, your Midi Input should look like the following screenshot.

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2) Download the project file for this DAW from our website www.orb-composer.com

3) Open it.

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4) Map the Orb Midi Inputs.

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5) Repeat this process for all the instruments you want to use.

6) Don’t forget to SAVE your project file.

7) We strongly advise you to keep this project file as a backup file.

For your compositions we advise you to use a copy instead.

8) SAVE a copy under a different name such as “ProjectFileWithInstruments”

9) Now, you can add your VSTi/AU on every instrument/articulation you want to use.

10) After you have finished SAVE again. This will be the default project file to use with Orb Composer.

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FAQ POSSIBLE ISSUES (GENERAL)

Q: I can’t activate Orb Composer because it says my Key is not valid.

A: Make sure you entered the right key (and that there is no space at the end of the serial key if you copy paste it).

Q: I can’t activate Orb Composer because it says no internet connection.

A: Check your internet connection is valid. You need an internet connection to activate it the first time.

Q: I entered my serial Key and it froze during the checking process

A: It is unlikely it froze. If you have a slow connection, it might take several minutes to process the activation on our

servers.

Q: I have an error “Port Orb 0 error” at the start

A: On Windows, you need to make sure you allowed the driver installation during the process.

On Mac, make sure you installed the DMG Orb Composer Midi 1.0.5

Q: I don’t have sound in my DAW

A: Many different things could be the issue.

• Make sure Orb Composer sends Midi Data (with the midi Indicator)

• Make sure the orb ports, orb 0 up to orb 20 are activated in the DAW.

• Check that you don’t have 2 DAWs opened at the same time, this won’t allow use of the necessary ports

otherwise.

• Don’t forget to press the record button for each track of the DAW, it’s usually needed to receive the Midi.

If you are using our DAW Project files, make sure you open the Project file as a project file and not as a

template file (specially in Logic and ProTools).