[Reaper, Dunce] MIDI file won't keep presets in VSTs

[MachFront]

Ok, so I've messed about with a MIDI file exactly once before years ago in MU.LAB (Don Henley's Dirty Laundry if ya must know), so I've very little experience.

I'm in the 'messing about' stage with Reaper and I inserted a MIDI file of a song and proceeded to place instruments and choose presets.
But, whenever I start the song over or pause, or stop and then play, almost all the presets go to various others (one to 'default' another two a specific preset each, etc.). Six in total (5 instruments due to two instances of Dominator)
Only Drumatic keeps its preset.
Also, it doesn't matter what preset I put the VSTs on, they all switch to other presets upon stop, pause or restart of play...

Is this pilot error or something I'm simply missing or...something else?

[strayboom]

the midi file might contain some preset/instrument/midicommand information and that causes the "reset" once you stop and restart. try to delete this data, in reaper you can do it by editing a midi channel.
check this:
the "program" track contains information, delete it and see what happens

[MachFront]

Wow. That did it. Thanks! Like I said in the subject line: Dunce.

I'm used to simple, no-frills DAWs... What in the world is/was that single, little program info parameter?

[DarkStar]

It is an instruction to the VSTi to change its preset, depending on the data value in the Program Change message. So you can use it to your advantage.

Not all VSTis respond to Program Change messages. And in Reaper, you can link Program Change messages to presets

[MachFront]

Hm. That's interesting. Now if only I can remember this info to make it useful to me in the future.

[nickamandote]

hello, how can i disable this feature in reaper please? my vst keeps changing the instruments when i hit play...

[DarkStar]

It is the same as in any other host: delete those Program Change MIDI messages in the MIDI item.

Specifics in Reaper:
-- do what strayboom said,
or,
-- double-click the MIDI clip to open the MIDI Editor
-- open the View Mode: Event List
-- find the Program Change messages, select them and delete them

[nickamandote]

It is the same as in any other host: delete those Program Change MIDI messages in the MIDI item.

Specifics in Reaper:
-- do what strayboom said,
or,
-- double-click the MIDI clip to open the MIDI Editor
-- open the View Mode: Event List
-- find the Program Change messages, select them and delete them

it takes a lot of time to delete them, especially when working with many midi files. there must be a default way for this... thank you.

[DarkStar]

Nope.

If you have many MIDI files with unwanted PC messages in them, you could use (write?) a JS FX to filter them out.

Or, insertpizhere's midiNotchFilter:

Isolate, remove, or channelize up to 4 specific midi messages.

Parameters:

Message N - Type of message for this slot:
None - Slot is disabled.
CC - Control Change message; optionally select channel and CC number below.
Note - Note on and off messages; optionally select channel and note number below.
Pitch Bend - Pitch Bend message; optionally select channel below.
Chan.Pressure - Channel Pressure (Aftertouch) message; optionally select channel below.
Aftertouch - Polyphonic Aftertouch message; optionally select channel and note number below.
Prog.Change - Program Change message; optionally select channel below.

N.Channel - MIDI channel for this slot.

N.Value - CC or note number for this slot (for CC, Note, and Aftertouch messages only).

Mode - Options:
Block (Channelize) - When Out Channel is not set, the selected messages are blocked; otherwise
they will be sent on the selected channel instead of the input channel.
Pass - Only the selected messages will be sent through, and will be transformed to the Out
Channel if set; all other messages are blocked.

Out Channel - Sets the output channel for affected messages.

[nickamandote]

i've found a solution for reaper

preferences - midi devices - uncheck "reset pitch" and "reset cc"