Changing the virtual instrument of an imported midi file

[rhudson12]

Hi. Very new to understanding midi. I have downloaded Tracktion T7 and I am in the process of learning it while my audio interface is on the way. I have been using a program called Chordpulse to make backing tracks for practice. I imported a midi file output from Chordpulse and was trying to change the instrument sound for the tracks. I have read up on vst files and will try that later. A friend at work has experience with an older version of Cakewalk editor and thought I should just be able to change the "patch" for the instrument sound, ie from a piano to an organ in the editor. I have not been able to find any way to do that. I also read about soundfont players and general midi soundfonts. Were these built into the older editor that he has and I need to load a player and fonts? Would it be just better to use whatever vst I want and insert the plug in? I hope some of these makes sense. Thanks

[mikoatkvr]

Hi, Yes you will need some external plugins loaded onto your track in version T7 .There are loads of freeware vst(i) out there that will either play soundfonts (SF2 / SFZ) files, samples or full instruments synths, I presume you are using windows as I believe Chordpulse is windows only afaik. ( I personally use Linux OS)
here are some good sites for VSTs :_
http://www.vstplanet.com/Instruments/VS ... sizers.htm
http://www.vst4free.com/
http://www.best-free-vst.com/plugins/vi ... yer-01.php ( for soundfont player , you might need your own soundfonts installed too )
https://blog.wavosaur.com/6-free-sampler-vst-plugins/
There are sooo many choices for windows, also dont forget you can get plugins here on KVR both paid and free to dojust about anything you want concerning producing music :-
https://www.kvraudio.com/plugins/instru ... sts/newest

[jabe]

It's pretty much the point of plug-ins/VSTs (or VSTi for instrument plug-ins, since the very first VSTs were assorted sound processors or effects (or FX)).

As your friend mentions, most plug-in instruments will come with a number of other sounds. In Tracktion or Waveform you can click on the plug-in at the right-hand part of a track and it'll bring up the user interface. They're all different (and you can create your own in later versions of T/W - can't remember which version had it first), but there'll usually be some way to change to a different sound. With many you can name and save your own settings. There are plenty of Tracktion and Waveform tutorial videos. The Tracktion site has many listed under the TRAINING header and you can find those and others on YouTube.

[Watchful]

Just remember to verify if the VSTs are 64-bit or are 32-bit, and to ensure your T7 version matches! A huge chunk of free VSTs are 32-bit, and won't work in a 64-bit environment. And the newer ones are powerful but increasingly 64-bit...and, you get the picture.

[Peter Widdicombe]

The imported file - does it show up in T7 as a single track or multiple? There are some different formats of .MID files that actually output multiple track format, and others that just have MIDI channels per note. If they are imported as separate tracks, it's normally much simpler.

[rhudson12]

Thanks for the replies. We have determined the easy editor software he has is so old that the only instruments it has are the general midis built into it. The exported midi file from Chordpulse does show up as multitrack, so I am going to start playing with changing the instrument sound on the different tracks tonight. For example, I want to change one of the piano parts to an acoustic guitar, so I guess I should start looking for acoustic guitar vst's. Audio interface should be in this week.

[rhudson12]

MIKOATKVR.

You say you are using a Linux PC. Which distro are you using and are you able to find all the vst's you need. I have both windows and Linux machines and wanted to try both. I have Fedora on my Linux, but thought of changing to Mint for Tracktion. Any thougts?

[jabe]

If you're in the UK, the Computer Music magazine has a decent selection of plug-ins on the accompanying DVD each month. I assume they're mostly Windows and Mac, however.

[mikoatkvr]

@rhudson12 I am running Linux Mint 19 and it's perfect for running Tracktion/Waveform . I have been using exclusively Linux for at least the past 12+ years. There is everything you need for a really good setup where vst is concerned. I have quite a few commercial vst as well as free open source ones, some which needed building from source ( you become good at this after using Linux for so long ). You will need a few system tweaks and most likely run your audio through jack audio server if you require really low latency for e.g live recording. If you make the switch I can guide you further in this department.

[terrynoakes]

A bit late to the topic, but I've found it easier to delete the program change message form each clip. Then it's easy to audition different sounds. T/Waveform remembers what you've chosen after you save.

[rhudson12]

terrynoakes

Could you give me a little more information on the program change message? I placed the Keyzone piano in line in the mixing area for the piano track and tried to change it to Rhodes piano. It would almost work and then revert to the original sound. Is the program change something that would prevent a change to the vst?

[terrynoakes]

Yes it's the program change message that reverts it back.
Click on a clip, then in the panel that opens up at the bottom of T/W click on the, insert program change button. Then select :Remove all program-change messages from this clip.
You have to do it for each clip if required