MuLab 9 Plugin - Playing MIDI files

[cjf1000]

The V9 plugin looks like it will be an excellent fit for my needs. My use case is to use it within Cantabile Solo or PluginGuru Unify as a very flexible media player for background tracks, drums, bass, and simply practice. I have a couple of questions as I can't quite get it to do what I want.

1. There are a lot of features  which I am finding by trial and error. Can anyone recommend a good guide or feature tutorials, particularly around the plugin version to help get the most out of it (written or Youtube).

2. What is the best way to play existing midi files. I use VSTsynthfont64 as the GM Player VST which supports the 16 midi channels, and I have used this in other DAWs with MIDI files, and I use it with the Cantabile media MIDI file player, but I would like the flexibility of MuLabs 9 plugin as the midi file player. I'm currently trying within the excellent Cantabile Solo VST host. The problem I am having is that when I load the MIDI file into Composer module it doesn't appear to play as I want.  This is almost certainly due to my lack of MuLabs understanding - I  create a new instrument track and select the VSTsynthfont64 as the instrument, I drag and drop the MID file onto the track which in turn creates a number of new tracks from the MIDI file. On each of these tracks, I right click and choose 'select target module' > Composer > VSTSynthFont Rack, but  it doesn't seem to output the instrument changes and therefore each channel uses the default piano sound. - I suspect there is a better option  

I am using the demo at the moment until I get it working, and obviously can't save, but I beleive this doesn't impact the features

Any advice appreciated - thanks

[pljones]

By default, each track will map the part to MIDI Channel 1. You need to set the track to the right channel. (If I remember correctly.)

[cjf1000]

Thanks @pljones, The Composer MIDI import does appear to default the channels to midi channel 1, but even if I change them, it still wont select the correct instrument and all default to 001 Piano.

I have now discovered the Sequence Player module. This look like it supports a lot of what I am after. I select the Sequence Player module and connect it to the midi output where within Cantabile Solo I route it to VSTsynthfont64. At the press on a key on my MIDI keyboard the MIDI sequence plays in full multichannel glory, the intrument change works, and the VSTsynthfont64 responds as expected.

However.....

Within the Sequence Player, if I select 'edit', as far as I can see, it will display all notes from all channels simultaniously on the piano roll. Although it plays notes to the correct MIDI channel, it doesn't appear to display by MIDI channel or provide easy access to MIDI channel info. Is there an easy way to mute channels, for example I may want to solo the drums, or play only the drum and bass channel as a backgroud track to practice against.

I suspect the issues are my ignorance, and there is a way to achieve this with either the Composer or the Sequence module.

[robert_p]

Hi, I'm also a Unify user and I purchased MuLab recently to weaponize my MIDI department;) The software is absolutely amazing and it works great with Unify and with other plugins I own. I use MuLab browser to list my MIDI files, I drop them to the Scene and I map a note action to trigger it (in this case, Unify runs inside the MuLab Plugin hosted by ma DAW)

[robert_p]

PS. I really like that with the MuLab I can easily create and customize my control panels.

[MuTools]

Thanks @pljones, The Composer MIDI import does appear to default the channels to midi channel 1

That's a bug in MuLab. It will be fixed in the next update.

but even if I change them, it still wont select the correct instrument and all default to 001 Piano.

Indeed MuLab does not process the program changes and select sounds for the tracks. That's not part of MuLab's feature set.

[cjf1000]

Thanks @robert_p & @mutools, that gives me some clarity and ideas to play around with

[Calum]

2. What is the best way to play existing midi files. I use VSTsynthfont64 as the GM Player VST which supports the 16 midi channels, and I have used this in other DAWs with MIDI files, and I use it with the Cantabile media MIDI file player, but I would like the flexibility of MuLabs 9 plugin as the midi file player. I'm currently trying within the excellent Cantabile Solo VST host. The problem I am having is that when I load the MIDI file into Composer module it doesn't appear to play as I want.  This is almost certainly due to my lack of MuLabs understanding - I  create a new instrument track and select the VSTsynthfont64 as the instrument, I drag and drop the MID file onto the track which in turn creates a number of new tracks from the MIDI file. On each of these tracks, I right click and choose 'select target module' > Composer > VSTSynthFont Rack, but  it doesn't seem to output the instrument changes and therefore each channel uses the default piano sound. - I suspect there is a better option

I think there is one missing step in this workflow. For each track, when you "Choose MIDI Channel", just select "Per Part" (rather than a specific midi channel) and the correct instruments should be selected automatically when the midi file is played:

Screenshot 2022-03-31 at 21.57.27.png

[MuTools]

I think there is one missing step in this workflow. For each track, when you "Choose MIDI Channel", just select "Per Part" (rather than a specific midi channel) and the correct instruments should be selected automatically when the midi file is played:

I expect that starting with the next M9.0.32 update that step even is not necessary anymore as the imported MIDI tracks will automatically be set the the proper MIDI channel. (=bug fix, cfr post more above)

[Calum]

Confirmed, imported GM file tracks now picking up the proper MIDI channel in both the PC and MAC versions of M9.0.32. Thank you!