Tutorials with Screenshots; Windows and Mac..

[pljones]

As you know by now, a MIDI file is just the musical score, the instructions about what to play.

If I remember correctly, when you import the file into LUNA, each part unfortunately lands on the same track so the first thing to do is pull the parts to their own track (just grab the first one and pull it down to another track -- if there's another underneath, do it again... and so on).

Each track you have represents the score to be played by one player - but possibly by more than one instrument (as MIDI has a message that tells the player to change instrument -- the Program (or Patch) Change message). Let's just assume each track is a single instrument, though.

There are two kinds of instrument plugin. Multi-timbral plugins allow many players (separate MIDI "channels") to play different sounds at the same time. However, LUNA Free doesn't support them -- it sends all MIDI events down Channel 1. Mono-timbral plugins can only play one sound at once (that doesn't mean one note - the polyphony tells you that), so LUNA Free effectively makes all plugins mono-timbral.

Ideally, to play a multi-player MIDI file, you'd use a single, multi-timbral player that had all the sounds you needed. This begs the question: what sounds do you need? Well, there's a standard called "General MIDI" that defines how you can choose sounds and that's what's commonly used when exchanging MIDI files, unless otherwise stated. There are many places you can read about General MIDI but you're more interested in getting the sounds.

You need a Soundfont player (I don't know any Mac ones) and a GM soundfont. You need to load one copy of the player and the soundfont for each track, in a separate rack. Then link each part to play that rack.

[muzycian]

If I remember correctly, when you import the file into LUNA, each part unfortunately lands on the same track so the first thing to do is pull the parts to their own track (just grab the first one and pull it down to another track -- if there's another underneath, do it again... and so on).

No, this is not true.

LUNA / MU.LAB puts each MIDI file track on a different track in the composition

[MUDX]

As you know by now, a MIDI file is just the musical score, the instructions about what to play.
*cool, i can understand this!

If I remember correctly, when you import the file into LUNA, each part unfortunately lands on the same track so the first thing to do is pull the parts to their own track (just grab the first one and pull it down to another track -- if there's another underneath, do it again... and so on).
*actually, there was no problem here, which is a good thing..

Each track you have represents the score to be played by one player - but possibly by more than one instrument (as MIDI has a message that tells the player to change instrument -- the Program (or Patch) Change message). Let's just assume each track is a single instrument, though.
*incredible. i'm stunned. you mean part of one track can be piano and part of the same track later on can be changed to play violin?? like a one man band?? i'd like to keep it at one instrument for a while. !
great stuff plj!

There are two kinds of instrument plugin. Multi-timbral plugins allow many players (separate MIDI "channels") to play different sounds at the same time. However, LUNA Free doesn't support them -- it sends all MIDI events down Channel 1. Mono-timbral plugins can only play one sound at once (that doesn't mean one note - the polyphony tells you that), so LUNA Free effectively makes all plugins mono-timbral.
*well this'll take some time to process lol love it tho

Ideally, to play a multi-player MIDI file, you'd use a single, multi-timbral player that had all the sounds you needed. This begs the question: what sounds do you need? Well, there's a standard called "General MIDI" that defines how you can choose sounds and that's what's commonly used when exchanging MIDI files, unless otherwise stated. There are many places you can read about General MIDI but you're more interested in getting the sounds.
*no, ... like where? i'll be sending her this info .. .
we have to use something called General MIDI in order to exchange and use the saved .mid files from LUNA project. or, it was already automatically used when she saved the file in LUNA and sent it to me, but my computer chose Quicktime to define it with and that's why it's not playing in my LUNA ?

You need a Soundfont player (I don't know any Mac ones) and a GM soundfont. You need to load one copy of the player and the soundfont for each track, in a separate rack. Then link each part to play that rack.

*guess i could use something like Audio Hijack to grab this file and turn it into AIFF and then it'll play in LUNA. right? would that work?
hope you all had a grreat Thanksgiving!

[MUDX]

ha sorry there are comments inside the quote
thought they might be highlighted somehow

[MUDX]

i tried what my friend found i might've left out...

highlight the .mid track in LUNA
put in the mdaPiano in the Rack A slot
click into the NO TARGET area on top left of LUNA and enable
Rack A

SOUND !!!


her .mid plays

and it's sunshine in mudville

[pljones]

That's fine if you're not using General MIDI. (Piano happens to be the "default" General MIDI instrument.) But, of course, MDA Piano won't play Tuba (GM instrument 58 ).

You can search for MIDI tutorials that will cover General MIDI, or start here: MIDI Tutorials

[onecat]

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.

That's fine if you're not using General MIDI. (Piano happens to be the "default" General MIDI instrument.) But, of course, MDA Piano won't play Tuba (GM instrument 58 ).

You can search (http://www.google.com/) for MIDI tutorials that will cover General MIDI, or start here: MIDI Tutorials (http://www.borg.com/~jglatt/tutr/miditutr.htm)

hi there,
This is the .mid file sending friend mentioned above.
Tuba? Hey, there's an idea! Keeping it simple for me (a total beginner) I used mda Piano as an instrument available to both Windows and Mac. plj, at first I thought you said that Soundfont players weren't available for both, but I found by searching for "cross-platform" a review by you on KRV: Bismark bs-16 available for both pc and Mac.
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/419.html (in case my link doesn't work. -- sorry, but I don't know how to create a link here yet)

I'm also interested in "CPU efficient" as my laptop is "dragging" the sounds in LUNA Free. I think it may have something to do with Windows?
Now I'm searching for just what IS a Soundfont player. I'm working through the helpful tutorials you've linked here. Thanks!

[MUDX]

hey good to see you here onecat and welcome to our nightmare that we wake up from sporadically (sopumpedoutradically) lol

thanks for the reply plj and appreciate the link

half of me is jazzed and the other half roadkill concerning LUNA operations.
i Think that i can, responsibly, lol, crashbash tracks like a drunken zen monk, sometimes,
and sometimes settle in for a comfortable read of the tutorials, whether about MIDI general or the two offered to me about LUNA itself. (!)

and i have to remember not to attempt "grading" myself as per these wanderings in tutorial constructions.
onecat already does that for me. LOL

..by the way, i SAW Borg (*tutorial url*) in a borrowed DVD of the Wimbledon Final this year, and he looked capable of opening LUNA, in my opinion.



i do hope that somebody will be willing to help out here if/when we show a steady progress. (i can invite plugins in now with extreme aplomb). (fantastic)

thanks

[MUDX]

Mac Powerbook G4 17" 10.3.9
hey Electrical Pops !! BLOCKFISH ?

i had a few plugins enabled in Rack A.
i changed the original choice of synth that the .mid file sent to me came with in Rack A, wanting to hear a different sound.
from mdaPiano to 4Front Bass Module.
so -->
4Front Bass Module, DX Reverb Light, MonstaChorus, going through the Audio Output just fine.
added a new sequence. add da Hornet, add BLOCKFISH. change 'delay' and 'sustain' just a little, hearing what it's doing. there's a loudish "pop" and i feel like it's from BLOCKFISH.
no audio. deleted the sequence but can't delete the track from the menu clicked way left near the mute button. doesn't delete highlighted or not.
1. ?
something "pops". it's BLOCKFISH. there's a "pop" when the sound marker has hit the end of sequences played.
i lose all audio, though the volume levels inside the Rack A rise and fall silently green with notes being triggered. taking it out from the Rack A via the menu, when clicking on BLOCKFISH enabled box, makes a "pop" again. then i get audio back. about 20 seconds later there's another "pop" in the laptop, not as forceful but almost.
2. ?
another thirty seconds go by with me just typing here, nothing in LUNA, and there are two "pops" in the laptop one second apart. BLOCKFISH has been long gone from both Racks.
so, it's not BLOCKFISH?
3. ?
now one more "pop" thirty seconds later.

thought i'd just continue.

put notes into sequence of da Hornet, add reverb, work for 15 minutes with no "pops", now that BLOCKFISH is totally out of the Racks.

anyone know what's going on here -? kinda worried about my machine

[MUDX]

anyone have any advice about garbling dragging notes on her Windows machine?

i remember she also had that problem in a LIVE6 demo.



and i need help with that "pop" sound from BLOCKFISH too



anyone ?


thanks

[MUDX]

hi all


having visited the nearby Apple Specialist,
i know now for sure that my new battery off the internet is at fault for something.

when i get the replacement, i'll open LUNA up again,
refill it just the way it was,
and play it.

if there is no apparent problem with BLOCKFISH or with LUNA and plugins,
i'll come and let you know.

[MUDX]

hi all

there is no apparent problem with BLOCKFISH or with LUNA or whatever plugins
BUT
the replacement battery is on backorder another three weeks.


i connected with LUNA a few days after the last post

and i must say i AM having Some Fun... !

maybe i should throw something into Music Cafe ?
naaah.

[DaveL60]

maybe i should throw something into Music Cafe ?
naaah.

Only way to get feedback, dude, is to put it out there and let us listen!

You'll get constructive feedback.

DaveL

[jpumphandle]

Just to keep you informed on some more tutorial information that should be available shortly ..

I am updating the LUNA tutorials created some time ago to feature MuLab. At the moment this work is underway and I will advise when new pieces have been added. Nothing has yet been posted, but I expect something to be in place before year end.

The subject will be MULAB Free Beta C to start with. These tutorials are created for a local music group, but should apply to a wide audience. Both WIN and OSX will be covered.

[muzycian]

Just to keep you informed on some more tutorial information that should be available shortly ..

I am updating the LUNA tutorials created some time ago to feature MuLab. At the moment this work is underway and I will advise when new pieces have been added. Nothing has yet been posted, but I expect something to be in place before year end.

The subject will be MULAB Free Beta C to start with. These tutorials are created for a local music group, but should apply to a wide audience. Both WIN and OSX will be covered.

That's great news

FYI: Note that MU.LAB PreRelease, including updated documentation, is planned to be released later today. So maybe you could base yourself on the PreRelease version. At least it's not a beta

There are not too many differences anymore with public beta C (a couple of fixes and little tunings), but i assume the updated Docs can help in (re)writing the tutorials.

Cheers!