I use Midi file in cantabile performer, and run the midi data to the racks, different channels different racks. I would find it useful to have a lane within the media player where I could draw in modulation info, so as to quickly input ie. if I want to fade in the volume or any mod source selectable by cc numbers and rack numbers, of one rack or slighly lower the volume in one area and then raise it again, i could draw in modulation lines to represent this without the need to open a DAW to do this. Also I sometimes use cantabile on my laptop away from home and I dont have my DAW installed on it. This May not be possable to do or even worth it for you to do but i just thought i would throw the suggestion out there.
As an explanation of what i do. I get a midi file of lets say Depeche Mode and run it within Cantabile and set up racks to play the different channels. so the midi files already have the volume messages in them. They just might not be exactly to the same levels I want. So I am just looking for a simple way to change them or add filter mod settings.
As a matter of interest how do others do this.
midi file control
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- KVRist
- 135 posts since 15 Jul, 2004 from Ireland
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- KVRist
- 120 posts since 13 Feb, 2006 from USA
I can't speak for him, but I have had the distinct impression from Bradr that he doesn't want to add any media file editing to Cantabile. If he still feels so, it's still a sensible position.
In a situation somewhat similar to yours, I installed a small, fast sequencer to edit MIDI files quickly from Cantabile, using the "External Tools" features. I found an old copy of Cakewalk Music Creator on my shelf of obsolete CD's. A simple sequencer puts very little extra load onto a laptop, so you could likely use it there quite handily.
In a situation somewhat similar to yours, I installed a small, fast sequencer to edit MIDI files quickly from Cantabile, using the "External Tools" features. I found an old copy of Cakewalk Music Creator on my shelf of obsolete CD's. A simple sequencer puts very little extra load onto a laptop, so you could likely use it there quite handily.
Larry
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- KVRist
- 47 posts since 30 Jan, 2008
This is something that the DAWs a made for!
Cantabile is not a DAW! It is a REALTIME live VST host. To bloat Cantabile with things that belong to DAWs is a very bad idea.
There are dozens of DAWs but only a couple of viable live hosts.
Use DAW for what it was ment to do and keep Cantabile live!
Larry made a good suggestion in his post about using an older DAW. You might also try REAPER. You can drive REAPER from a USB stick if you don't want to have DAW installed on your computer.
Just my opinion, but I bought Cantabile for what it was designed for.
Sasu - Cantabile Performer
Cantabile is not a DAW! It is a REALTIME live VST host. To bloat Cantabile with things that belong to DAWs is a very bad idea.
There are dozens of DAWs but only a couple of viable live hosts.
Use DAW for what it was ment to do and keep Cantabile live!
Larry made a good suggestion in his post about using an older DAW. You might also try REAPER. You can drive REAPER from a USB stick if you don't want to have DAW installed on your computer.
Just my opinion, but I bought Cantabile for what it was designed for.
Sasu - Cantabile Performer
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- KVRist
- 120 posts since 13 Feb, 2006 from USA
The last time I tried Reaper's demo (three or four months ago), it still could not save (or even open directly) a .MID file. You could "Import" MIDI data into a native Reaper file and work on it there -- it did possess basic editing features. But without the ability to produce an actual SMF at the end, that version was no good for Billcar's purpose.
Reaper changes very quickly, though. I do realize that situation may have improved by now. Still, MIDI has been a low priority for them in their development so far.
Reaper changes very quickly, though. I do realize that situation may have improved by now. Still, MIDI has been a low priority for them in their development so far.
Larry
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- KVRist
- 47 posts since 30 Jan, 2008
Cakewalk(or Sonar) has been the DAW which does SMF best. I would prefer the older ones for simple MIDI editing. Even the ancient ones work well. But! You have to install them on your computer.
I have used SweetMidiPlayer:
http://www.ronimusic.com/swmiplmac.htm
to mod SMF files. I think that it was just one .exe file. Very easy to change sounds and balance, but no automation like Billcar wished.
You can do much more with REAPER. Larry was right about the situation 3 months ago, but MIDI is much better now! I edited out all those several hundred additions that do not relate straigh to MIDI. Here is what happened to MIDI-side of REAPER in just last 3 months.
v3.141pre2 - November 10 2009
+ MIDI editor: avoid skipping over CC data when drawing edits quickly
+ MIDI editor: actions to explicitly mute and unmute notes (in addition to existing toggle)
+ MIDI editor: middle button hand-scroll
v3.141pre1 - November 9 2009
+ Preferences: added new Envelopes tab, option for how to handle volume/pan trim when adding envelopes
+ ReWire: per-instance options to control whether slaves can change tempo, loop region
v3.14 - November 6 2009
+ API: added MIDI_eventlist_Create, MIDI_eventlist_Destroy
+ Automation: fixed action to set envelope lane fader from MIDI controller
+ Custom menus: main MIDI menus can be customized, other improvements
+ MIDI editor: Fixed adding text/sysex events not extending source length when past end
+ Prefs/Media/MIDI: Improved behavior when all-notes-off when un-record-arming a track disabled
+ Project/template file save: better detection and handling of failed disk writes
v3.13 - October 20 2009
+ MIDI editor: user preference to flash keyboard notes on track input note-on
+ MIDI editor: setting to snap note ends to grid when snap enabled
+ MIDI editor: fixed snapping bug when following project beats and grid is 1/4 note triplets
+ MIDI editor: better keyboard handling in text fields
+ OSX: virtual MIDI keyboard fixes
+ OSX: midi list editor supports in-list editing
+ VST: added MIDI output mode to merge output with input (for groove players, arpeggiators, etc)
+ VST MIDI: fixed hanging note bug from synthedit and possibly other plugins that generate MIDI
v3.12 - October 3 2009
+ Automation lanes: fixed possible crash when removing FX parameter envelopes
+ MIDI editor: show notes pressed as long as the input note is pressed
+ ReaControlMIDI: support for raw mode (0-127 access to all CC messages)
+ ReaControlMIDI: envelopes and TCP knobs report the same value as the slider (0-127, 0-16383, or on/off)
+ ReaControlMIDI: support for storing/sending sysex dumps up to 64KB
v3.11 - September 20 2009
+ Automation: envelope data reduction during recording is now on by default
+ Automation: add a point anywhere in an envelope lane by clicking
+ Automation: envelope lanes now respect locking
+ Fades: option to disable autofades/autocrossfades for MIDI items
+ Loop recording: fixes for rounding errors causing items to be slightly too long
+ MIDI editor: velocity lane editing affects only selected notes if there is a selection visible
+ MIDI editor: show MIDI track input on piano keys
+ MIDI editor: less eager to show empty space to the left of the MIDI item
+ MIDI editor: fixed drawing controller data over existing data on another channel
+ MIDI editor: actions to move to previous/next lyric
+ MIDI editor: fixed blinking cursor reappearing when offscreen
+ MIDI: in-project MIDI preview should now interrupt audio less
+ Mixer: improved extended mixer FX context menu layout
+ OSX: fixed low latency MIDI output mode
+ OSX: fixed MIDI note name editing
+ Pencil mode: obey loop preference when drawing empty MIDI item
+ ReaSamplomatic5000: parameter for MIDI pitch bend amount (default is 2 semitones, can do up to 12)
+ Snap: relative snap support
+ Snap: when grid-snap settings follow visible grid, do not snap if grid is not visible
+ Tempo markers: manual edit of position defaults to timeline units (bars.beats, min:sec, etc)
+ Virtual MIDI keyboard: arrow keys can be passed through to main window
v3.104 - August 29 2009
+ MIDI editor: fixed shift+click for multiple selection in piano roll
+ MIDI editor: fixed unlooped item marquee selection past end of item
v3.103 - August 27 2009
+ MIDI list editor: fixed possible duplicate event creation when filter on
+ MIDI list editor: fixed inline editing of pitch values
v3.102 - August 15 2009
+ OSX: Fixed MIDI explode by channel and pitch
+ Fixed issue with projects that reference missing .mid files
+ Fixed bugs relating to ghost midi clips
+ Solo and SiF now work better with MIDI sends (unsoloed MIDI sends are not sent at all)
v3.101 - August 14 2009
+ Fixed grid line drawing of 1/3 beats
v3.1 - August 13 2009
+ Actions: toggle show master tempo envelope
+ Actions: faster actions to explode audio by channel, much faster actions to explode MIDI by channel or pitch
+ Actions: separate actions to jump to previous/next beat/measure vs moving edit cursor only
+ Media explorer: show preview graphics for MIDI items
+ MIDI editor: event filter stays on top, can be toggled on/off
+ MIDI editor: CC lane dropdowns show which message types are currently in use
+ MIDI editor: inserting notes in drum modes uses smaller of grid size or 32nd notes
+ MIDI editor: view preference to always display note velocity
+ MIDI editor: action to move edit cursor to play cursor
+ MIDI editor: action to set selected note lengths to grid size
+ MIDI editor: better paste-extends-source behavior when using unlooped items
+ MIDI editor: no loop end marker for unlooped MIDI items
+ MIDI editor: fixed clipboard leak in certain paste actions
+ MIDI editor: fixed screen redraws/flashes when selecting notes in list view
+ MIDI editor: action to import lyric events from text file
+ MIDI editor: better display of text/sysex event editing vs adding, better copy-drag behavior
+ MIDI editor: clicking empty space in the lane deselects text/sysex events
+ MIDI editor: fixed copy/paste of text/sysex events in list editor
+ MIDI editor: fixed file-based MIDI item text/sysex event undo/redo
+ MIDI editor: fixed memory leak when deleting text/sysex events in list editor
+ MIDI editor: fixed step sequencer note entry when inline editor is open
+ MIDI editor: fixed text event editing on OS X
+ MIDI editor: fixed text event hit testing in certain instances
+ MIDI inline editor: actions dialog can now run actions
+ MIDI: don't create a new MIDI item when punch recording if there is already a suitable item to record into
+ MIDI: fixed overdub recording when extending source and record pdc disabled
+ MIDI: record overdub/replace modes with record PDC disabled now compensated for track PDC
I have used SweetMidiPlayer:
http://www.ronimusic.com/swmiplmac.htm
to mod SMF files. I think that it was just one .exe file. Very easy to change sounds and balance, but no automation like Billcar wished.
You can do much more with REAPER. Larry was right about the situation 3 months ago, but MIDI is much better now! I edited out all those several hundred additions that do not relate straigh to MIDI. Here is what happened to MIDI-side of REAPER in just last 3 months.
v3.141pre2 - November 10 2009
+ MIDI editor: avoid skipping over CC data when drawing edits quickly
+ MIDI editor: actions to explicitly mute and unmute notes (in addition to existing toggle)
+ MIDI editor: middle button hand-scroll
v3.141pre1 - November 9 2009
+ Preferences: added new Envelopes tab, option for how to handle volume/pan trim when adding envelopes
+ ReWire: per-instance options to control whether slaves can change tempo, loop region
v3.14 - November 6 2009
+ API: added MIDI_eventlist_Create, MIDI_eventlist_Destroy
+ Automation: fixed action to set envelope lane fader from MIDI controller
+ Custom menus: main MIDI menus can be customized, other improvements
+ MIDI editor: Fixed adding text/sysex events not extending source length when past end
+ Prefs/Media/MIDI: Improved behavior when all-notes-off when un-record-arming a track disabled
+ Project/template file save: better detection and handling of failed disk writes
v3.13 - October 20 2009
+ MIDI editor: user preference to flash keyboard notes on track input note-on
+ MIDI editor: setting to snap note ends to grid when snap enabled
+ MIDI editor: fixed snapping bug when following project beats and grid is 1/4 note triplets
+ MIDI editor: better keyboard handling in text fields
+ OSX: virtual MIDI keyboard fixes
+ OSX: midi list editor supports in-list editing
+ VST: added MIDI output mode to merge output with input (for groove players, arpeggiators, etc)
+ VST MIDI: fixed hanging note bug from synthedit and possibly other plugins that generate MIDI
v3.12 - October 3 2009
+ Automation lanes: fixed possible crash when removing FX parameter envelopes
+ MIDI editor: show notes pressed as long as the input note is pressed
+ ReaControlMIDI: support for raw mode (0-127 access to all CC messages)
+ ReaControlMIDI: envelopes and TCP knobs report the same value as the slider (0-127, 0-16383, or on/off)
+ ReaControlMIDI: support for storing/sending sysex dumps up to 64KB
v3.11 - September 20 2009
+ Automation: envelope data reduction during recording is now on by default
+ Automation: add a point anywhere in an envelope lane by clicking
+ Automation: envelope lanes now respect locking
+ Fades: option to disable autofades/autocrossfades for MIDI items
+ Loop recording: fixes for rounding errors causing items to be slightly too long
+ MIDI editor: velocity lane editing affects only selected notes if there is a selection visible
+ MIDI editor: show MIDI track input on piano keys
+ MIDI editor: less eager to show empty space to the left of the MIDI item
+ MIDI editor: fixed drawing controller data over existing data on another channel
+ MIDI editor: actions to move to previous/next lyric
+ MIDI editor: fixed blinking cursor reappearing when offscreen
+ MIDI: in-project MIDI preview should now interrupt audio less
+ Mixer: improved extended mixer FX context menu layout
+ OSX: fixed low latency MIDI output mode
+ OSX: fixed MIDI note name editing
+ Pencil mode: obey loop preference when drawing empty MIDI item
+ ReaSamplomatic5000: parameter for MIDI pitch bend amount (default is 2 semitones, can do up to 12)
+ Snap: relative snap support
+ Snap: when grid-snap settings follow visible grid, do not snap if grid is not visible
+ Tempo markers: manual edit of position defaults to timeline units (bars.beats, min:sec, etc)
+ Virtual MIDI keyboard: arrow keys can be passed through to main window
v3.104 - August 29 2009
+ MIDI editor: fixed shift+click for multiple selection in piano roll
+ MIDI editor: fixed unlooped item marquee selection past end of item
v3.103 - August 27 2009
+ MIDI list editor: fixed possible duplicate event creation when filter on
+ MIDI list editor: fixed inline editing of pitch values
v3.102 - August 15 2009
+ OSX: Fixed MIDI explode by channel and pitch
+ Fixed issue with projects that reference missing .mid files
+ Fixed bugs relating to ghost midi clips
+ Solo and SiF now work better with MIDI sends (unsoloed MIDI sends are not sent at all)
v3.101 - August 14 2009
+ Fixed grid line drawing of 1/3 beats
v3.1 - August 13 2009
+ Actions: toggle show master tempo envelope
+ Actions: faster actions to explode audio by channel, much faster actions to explode MIDI by channel or pitch
+ Actions: separate actions to jump to previous/next beat/measure vs moving edit cursor only
+ Media explorer: show preview graphics for MIDI items
+ MIDI editor: event filter stays on top, can be toggled on/off
+ MIDI editor: CC lane dropdowns show which message types are currently in use
+ MIDI editor: inserting notes in drum modes uses smaller of grid size or 32nd notes
+ MIDI editor: view preference to always display note velocity
+ MIDI editor: action to move edit cursor to play cursor
+ MIDI editor: action to set selected note lengths to grid size
+ MIDI editor: better paste-extends-source behavior when using unlooped items
+ MIDI editor: no loop end marker for unlooped MIDI items
+ MIDI editor: fixed clipboard leak in certain paste actions
+ MIDI editor: fixed screen redraws/flashes when selecting notes in list view
+ MIDI editor: action to import lyric events from text file
+ MIDI editor: better display of text/sysex event editing vs adding, better copy-drag behavior
+ MIDI editor: clicking empty space in the lane deselects text/sysex events
+ MIDI editor: fixed copy/paste of text/sysex events in list editor
+ MIDI editor: fixed file-based MIDI item text/sysex event undo/redo
+ MIDI editor: fixed memory leak when deleting text/sysex events in list editor
+ MIDI editor: fixed step sequencer note entry when inline editor is open
+ MIDI editor: fixed text event editing on OS X
+ MIDI editor: fixed text event hit testing in certain instances
+ MIDI inline editor: actions dialog can now run actions
+ MIDI: don't create a new MIDI item when punch recording if there is already a suitable item to record into
+ MIDI: fixed overdub recording when extending source and record pdc disabled
+ MIDI: record overdub/replace modes with record PDC disabled now compensated for track PDC
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 135 posts since 15 Jul, 2004 from Ireland
Thanks for that guys. will definitly try reaper. The automation lanes are exactly what I wwas looking for. I have sonarLe somewhere, i'll give it a go aswell.