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How to Use Gladiator 2 HCM Synthesis in Pro Tools

The "Gladiator 2" software synthesizer by Tone2 takes a unique approach to sound synthesis called "harmonic content morphing," or HCM. HCM analyzes audio input of different kinds from different sources and combines them according to the user's specifications. Gladiator 2's interface and general functioning does not differ from platform-to-platform. Users wanting to use Gladiator 2 within a "Pro Tools" studio environment, however, face a problem: Gladiator 2 is not released in Pro Tools's native RTAS format. A "VST wrapper" -- a program that can "wrap" a VST plug-in to make it Pro Tools-compatible -- is required. FXspansion's "VST to RTAS Adapter" application is usually used for this purpose.

Things You'll Need

  • Current version of FXspansion's VST to RTAS Adapter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase and install FXspansion's VST to RTAS Adapter. No trial or demo version is available. It is the only utility available for adapting VST plug-ins to the RTAS format. Follow the instructions in the manual for installation on your platform of choice.

    • 2

      Open VST to RTAS Adapter. The application's interface will appear. Click the button labeled "Detect and wrap VST plug-ins." VST plug-ins install to standard locations so that host applications can easily find them. For example, on Windows systems, VSTs are usually in the "C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VSTPlugIns\" folder. On Macs, they are usually in the "~\Library\Audio\Plug-Ins\VST" folder. VST to RTAS Adapter will look for VSTs in these locations and begin the process of adapting, or "wrapping," them.

    • 3

      Make sure that the Gladiator 2 plug-in appears in the list of "wrapped" VSTs once the process is complete. VST to RTAS Adapter will display a color-coded list of available VSTs. "Gladiator 2" will appear in bright green, indicating that it is an instrument plug-in and has been successfully validated and "wrapped." You are now ready to use Gladiator 2 in Pro Tools.

    • 4

      Open Pro Tools. Create a new instrument track and click on the first empty slot in the section labeled "INSERTS A-E." A list of available plug-ins will appear categorized by type. All "wrapped" VSTs will appear with "VST" before their name, so Gladiator 2 will appear as "VST Gladiator 2" in the "multi-channel plug-in" sub-menu. Select it, and Gladiator 2's interface will appear. You can now use Gladiator 2's HCM synthesis in Pro Tools as you would in any other compatible host application.

Digital Music

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