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Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
Hi
Having finally sorted my port problems, I have a question regarding midi files.
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philwoodmusic
Total Posts: 1055
Joined 07-01-2013 status: Guru |
Hi Hawklord, You can import a MIDI file using the FILE menu and IMPORT function in Cubase. (you may also be able to drag and drop the MIDI file from your desktop, but I am not certain of that) If you want a VST plugin to play the imported MIDI, then you need to make an instrument track with your desired VST plugin on it and move the MIDI data to it after you have imported it. (if it hasn’t done that already) You can also import MIDI files to your XF via a usb stick and the FILE button, but that does not involve Cubase. The playback will be from the XF’s internal sequencer. (Song mode) |
Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
Hi Philwoodmusic
Firstly thank you for your reply and secondly I apologise for my lack of understanding regarding the software side of things although I am determined to get there.
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philwoodmusic
Total Posts: 1055
Joined 07-01-2013 status: Guru |
I can make this a little bit clearer for you if you like. Step by step. in Cubase: File > Import > MIDI file… It will then ask you if you want to create a new project. The options are Create or NO or Cancel. if you choose CREATE, then you get a new project with the file on a MIDI track of its own. If you choose NO, it adds the MIDI file on its own MIDI track into your existing project. If you choose Cancel, that takes you back to your main project window Once imported, all you need to do is pick the MIDI up from the track it was added to and move it to the track with the VST on it. (the one you said you have got running). I am very confused about what you mean in terms of your sound source. VST or Motif XF. I’m not clear about what you want to do. If you want the MIDI data to be played by a VST plugin then you need to have an instrument track set up in Cubase with your chosen VST on it. If you want the Motif XF to play the MIDI back using the internal sounds on it, then the MIDI data needs to be on a MIDI track and the XF set to SONG mode. You can make your voice choices using the various pages in SONG mode, just like you would if you were going to record your playing into the Motif XF’s internal sequencer. (without a computer and Cubase) There are ways of getting Cubase to save and recall specific voice choices, but that might be a bit advanced for now. You have 16 tracks/parts for 16 MIDI channels in SONG MODE on the Motif XF. MIDI track 1 in Cubase (set to midi channel 1) will correspond directly to Track 1 in SONG MODE on the Motif XF and so on. Midi channel 2 for track 2 and MIDI channel 3 for track 3 etc. With regard to MIDI files from Reason and your Tyros. Unless you added program change and bank select data to your files, it is unlikely that they will want to recall specific sounds from anywhere. Reason certainly does not work in that way, and if you export a MIDI file from your Reason project you will get a piano (or the first available voice) on every channel. You won’t be doing any changing of sounds as such, but you will be assigning new sounds to your data using either instrument tracks with VST’s on them or MIDI tracks with your Motif XF set to SONG MODE. Hope that helps. |
Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
Thank you very much for your detailed reply and following you instructions I hope to get it working, and yes I want the Motif XF to play the MIDI back using the internal sounds on it, not sent to an audio card in the PC. |
philwoodmusic
Total Posts: 1055
Joined 07-01-2013 status: Guru |
You’re welcome Hawklord. |
Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
Ok I need to get an understanding of the basics.
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philwoodmusic
Total Posts: 1055
Joined 07-01-2013 status: Guru |
Yes, plug the usb stick in to your computer and import the midi file through the method I’ve described step by step a few posts up.
You need to use regular MIDI tracks and not instrument tracks. Set your Motif XF to SONG MODE. Importing your MIDI file should automatically create a MIDI track with the data on it, but if you want to create a MIDI track yourself at any time, you can go to Project > Add Track > MIDI. This will create a MIDI track that can be routed to any external device. (This is all presuming you have a working MIDI connection between your computer and your Motif XF) |
Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
I assume that the procedure you have described does not require Motif XF vst to be loaded in Cubase, correct ?. If so what is the Motif XF vst used for, is it only used as a virtual Motif for people who do not have the Motif keyboard hardware and therefor I have no need to use it.
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philwoodmusic
Total Posts: 1055
Joined 07-01-2013 status: Guru |
You physically can’t put a VST instrument on a MIDI track, you can only put a VST instrument on an instrument track.
It’s an editor that encompasses all the benefits of virtual studio technology as a software interface to the synth engine. |
Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
I am unable to get a midi file from Cubase to play on the Motif keyboard.
Motif has been set to communicate midi via usb and I know that this works as I can play the virtual MotIF XF VST from within Cubase and it plays my Motif keyboard.
I have imported a midi file into Cubase but when I press the play button the timeline bar moves but no sound comes out of my keyboard.
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philwoodmusic
Total Posts: 1055
Joined 07-01-2013 status: Guru |
Right. Here’s a checklist for you: 1 - How do you know there is any MIDI data in your MIDI file at all? (there might not be) 2 - Have you set the Motif up in SONG MODE? (and assigned some sounds to tracks there) 3 - Are you using MIDI tracks with MIDI data on them? (not instrument tracks with MIDI data on them) 4 - If so, are the MIDI tracks set up to route MIDI data to your Motif XF? (MIDI input and output in the inspector bar) 5 - What happens if you put that MIDI data on an instrument track (as an experiment) and use one of the stock VST instruments that come with Cubase? Do you get any kind of notes when you play it? 6 - Have you tried importing a MIDI file from elsewhere? (search for a free MIDI file on the internet and import that) I suspect the problem is either in your MIDI file itself or the possibility that you are not using MIDI tracks at all (or you are but they need to be routed correctly) |
Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
Having imported my Midi file into Cubase and selecting HALionOne as the output the red event received indicator pulses after pressing the play button. The only other options on the output tag are “No VST instrument” or “EXTERNAL MOTIF XF VST”. if I select the Motif option the VST loads on the screen but with “PORT OPEN ERROR” and if I then click the File/setup tag the top of the next screen has a yellow triangle and the words “Ports in the host app have not been properly set”
I really am at a total loss with this and am close to throwing on the towel. By the way the midi file will play via usb stick on both my Motif XF and My Tyros 5. |
philwoodmusic
Total Posts: 1055
Joined 07-01-2013 status: Guru |
How about regular MIDI tracks though? With inputs and outputs for the Motif XF. I only suggested using an instrument track to test your MIDI file. Your MIDI file needs to be on MIDI tracks, routed to the XF, no VST plugin or instrument tracks are needed if you want to play sounds from the XF with the MIDI file from Cubase. Please can you put the data on a MIDI track or MIDI tracks and tell us what you find? Project > Add track > MIDI - then move the data from the instrument track you had to the MIDI track. Also, are you sure you have installed a driver or the correct driver needed for the XF? Something has complicated your Cubase project and what you’re doing really ought to be very simple. It’s very hard to diagnose the problem at this distance, sorry. Be patient and you will get there Don’t give up. |
Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
I thank you for your patience.
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Hawklord
Total Posts: 39
Joined 12-30-2010 status: Regular |
I have now made some progress. I created a new blank project and added a single midi track and have managed to record to it from my Motif AND play it back through the Motif. This means that I have two way communication between Cubase and the Motif. Although I still haven’t worked out how to play a pre-recorded midi file hopefully I can progress from here.
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