I'm new to Waveform 11/DAWs in general and am having problems figuring out how to set it up for MIDI sequencing of external gear. The manuals/videos I've found all appear to concentrate on softsynths and USB controllers.
I've installed Waveform 11 on my Mac and set it to "pro" trial mode so as to assure I'm not missing out on any features before deciding on whether to buy it or go for another DAW instead).
The audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett 18i20) is set up and works fine. It's also wired up for MIDI which I have partly working (MIDI from my MIDI keyboard is received in W11) but I'm struggling with sending it out to the external hardware synths I want to play, and selecting the output MIDI channel for each MIDI track.
Any good pointers on this?
By the way, does anyone know if W11 can handle sysex dumps (useful for dumping each synth's patch for that specific song -I'm used to this from C-Lab/Emagic Notator on the Atari ST).
Another question: is it possible to make W11 sync to an external MIDI clock? For instance, an external hardware MIDI sequencer or MIDI drum machine which then starts/stops W11.
Setup/recording for external MIDI gear?
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- KVRian
- 544 posts since 24 Jan, 2004 from Sweden
Select Focusrite as output on the midi tracks you want to go to external synths. Your synths should be connected to the Scarlett's midi out, of course. You might want an midi through box if you have many synths.
If Focusrite doesn't show up as a midi output selection, you need to activate it on the Settings page.
If Focusrite doesn't show up as a midi output selection, you need to activate it on the Settings page.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 128 posts since 26 May, 2020 from Norway
My MIDI hardware gear is all connected to a MIDI (hardware) patchbay so that my master keyboard OUT (well, a DX-7 acting as a master keyboard that is) goes to the Scarlett IN, and this part appears to work: I can see the track's VU meter respond as I press the DX-7 keys. Also, when recording to that track I see notes having been input (I double-click on the track).
I believe I did read a warning message somewhere that no output was assigned for that track, which makes sense as the same MIDI sequence could be used for controlling either an internal softsynth or an external MIDI hardware synth.
So how do I go about to select external MIDI as the output, and then selecting the MIDI output channel?
I believe I did read a warning message somewhere that no output was assigned for that track, which makes sense as the same MIDI sequence could be used for controlling either an internal softsynth or an external MIDI hardware synth.
So how do I go about to select external MIDI as the output, and then selecting the MIDI output channel?
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- KVRian
- 544 posts since 24 Jan, 2004 from Sweden
You select the midi output in the box at the right end of the track and midi channel for each clip in the clip properties box.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 128 posts since 26 May, 2020 from Norway
Ah!! Got it, and also found out where the property box is. What's a "clip" by the way? A track's recording?
I could probably benefit from a "starter's overview" of Waveform -is there anything like that available in form of a manual or video?
OK, in case others reading are wondering about the same thing I asked here, here's the MIDI output box at the right hand side of the track where I selected my MIDI interface's OUT port: Next, I clicked on the recording in the track which brought up its properties at the bottom of the screen, as seen here. And I was finally able to select the MIDI OUT channel. I also found out that I had to change "MIDI channel mode: MPE" to "MIDI channel mode: single channel".
I have no idea what "MPE" is, but it would not trigger my MIDI device until I changed it to "single channel". So finally I can actually start making music with my MIDI gear!
One final question though: I can't access the tracks properties until I've actually recorded something (and of course I can't hear anything until I've entered the properties to change the settings). How do I enter its properties before recording?
I could probably benefit from a "starter's overview" of Waveform -is there anything like that available in form of a manual or video?
OK, in case others reading are wondering about the same thing I asked here, here's the MIDI output box at the right hand side of the track where I selected my MIDI interface's OUT port: Next, I clicked on the recording in the track which brought up its properties at the bottom of the screen, as seen here. And I was finally able to select the MIDI OUT channel. I also found out that I had to change "MIDI channel mode: MPE" to "MIDI channel mode: single channel".
I have no idea what "MPE" is, but it would not trigger my MIDI device until I changed it to "single channel". So finally I can actually start making music with my MIDI gear!
One final question though: I can't access the tracks properties until I've actually recorded something (and of course I can't hear anything until I've entered the properties to change the settings). How do I enter its properties before recording?
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- KVRian
- 544 posts since 24 Jan, 2004 from Sweden
You can't. You need to record a clip or create an empty clip for step entry of notes. Note that if you record several clips on the same track, you need to set the midi channel for each of them.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 128 posts since 26 May, 2020 from Norway
Really?
That sounds very counter-intuitive, or maybe I've misunderstood.
I was hoping I could just select an empty track, set all the parameters (the synth's MIDI channel, quantizing etc.) and off I go and record.
So I basically have to record some "random notes" first (either from my MIDI keyboard while not hearing any synth sounds or step-input entries as you described above), set its properties to adjust the mentioned parameters, remove the "random notes recording", then finally record properly -this time while actually hearing the synth I wanted to use in the first place.
UPDATE: I just figured out a way!
After selecting the input and output of a track, click the red "+" (upper top right of the screen) and drag it over to that track. A popup will appear where you can select "Insert new MIDI clip" and presto! Now you can change its properties before recording!
Perhaps this is what you meant all along and in my ignorance I just didn't understand it.
That sounds very counter-intuitive, or maybe I've misunderstood.
I was hoping I could just select an empty track, set all the parameters (the synth's MIDI channel, quantizing etc.) and off I go and record.
So I basically have to record some "random notes" first (either from my MIDI keyboard while not hearing any synth sounds or step-input entries as you described above), set its properties to adjust the mentioned parameters, remove the "random notes recording", then finally record properly -this time while actually hearing the synth I wanted to use in the first place.
UPDATE: I just figured out a way!
After selecting the input and output of a track, click the red "+" (upper top right of the screen) and drag it over to that track. A popup will appear where you can select "Insert new MIDI clip" and presto! Now you can change its properties before recording!
Perhaps this is what you meant all along and in my ignorance I just didn't understand it.
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Last edited by dynamo on Wed May 27, 2020 10:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- KVRAF
- 1603 posts since 9 Jan, 2018
Dynamo,
Before I forget, if you haven't done so, get yourself Dexed: it's a FREE editor/librarian for the DX7 that also acts as an extra DX7 or two...or dozen. It's bulletproof under Waveform, and you can give yourself an army of DX7s ready to do your bidding: just load an instance of Dexed into as many tracks as you want, and listen to a whole bunch of DX7s back your real one up, each playing different programs loaded from different virtual cartridges.
You asked what's a clip. Good news: it's actually a good thing. Other DAWs have them.
If you're used to the old MIDI sequencer days, you would select a track for your instrument, hit record, and it would respond with MIDI data loaded into it.
Your multitrack tape recorder would record the audio output of that on its own track.
In the Waveform world, you have a track. You need to tell Waveform what type of data that track is going to be dealing with: MIDI or audio. This scrap of information is called a clip.
Go to the RED + in the upper right of the screen. Drag that + down to your track of choice and release. Waveform will ask you what kind of "clip" you want to create, MIDI or audio.
If MIDI, you can double click the clip and start editing, or arm the track, hit record, and let the clip record your playing.
If audio, you can record audio live from your keyboard by a similar process, or send your instrument some MIDI notes and the audio clip will record the results.
Alternatively, you can drag in MIDI files or audio files from other projects and Waveform will work with them as clips.
The advantages here are many: you can put audio clips and MIDI clips on the same track if you want!
You can drag effects VSTs right onto an audio clip and add powerful processing and effects for just that clip, even if it's a few seconds long. Example: take a vocal clip and add an EQ to it to create a speaker box effect for the duration of that clip without adding anything else. You can add panning, level changes, or other settings right to a single clip, resulting in some pretty solid automation. (Although you should do automation, too!)
You can drag audio or MIDI clips from track to track willy-nilly, as you need to. This is quick for doubling a part, backing up instruments with other instruments, or moving a hardware-based clip to a VST-based clip. For example, record a MIDI part with your DX7, then drag the resulting clip to a track with Collective loaded on it, and listen to Collective play a sampled cello play that part.
Myself, I create a ton of MIDI clips, breaking my tracks into a series of clips: intro, verse 1, verse 2, bridge, chorus, middle, solo, etc. Then I can drag the clips around very quickly to rearrange the basic structure of the piece. Waveform 11 now has an arranger track that makes this easy if your project has a bunch of tracks.
It takes about ten seconds to experiment with a clip before you'll understand how useful they are!
Before I forget, if you haven't done so, get yourself Dexed: it's a FREE editor/librarian for the DX7 that also acts as an extra DX7 or two...or dozen. It's bulletproof under Waveform, and you can give yourself an army of DX7s ready to do your bidding: just load an instance of Dexed into as many tracks as you want, and listen to a whole bunch of DX7s back your real one up, each playing different programs loaded from different virtual cartridges.
You asked what's a clip. Good news: it's actually a good thing. Other DAWs have them.
If you're used to the old MIDI sequencer days, you would select a track for your instrument, hit record, and it would respond with MIDI data loaded into it.
Your multitrack tape recorder would record the audio output of that on its own track.
In the Waveform world, you have a track. You need to tell Waveform what type of data that track is going to be dealing with: MIDI or audio. This scrap of information is called a clip.
Go to the RED + in the upper right of the screen. Drag that + down to your track of choice and release. Waveform will ask you what kind of "clip" you want to create, MIDI or audio.
If MIDI, you can double click the clip and start editing, or arm the track, hit record, and let the clip record your playing.
If audio, you can record audio live from your keyboard by a similar process, or send your instrument some MIDI notes and the audio clip will record the results.
Alternatively, you can drag in MIDI files or audio files from other projects and Waveform will work with them as clips.
The advantages here are many: you can put audio clips and MIDI clips on the same track if you want!
You can drag effects VSTs right onto an audio clip and add powerful processing and effects for just that clip, even if it's a few seconds long. Example: take a vocal clip and add an EQ to it to create a speaker box effect for the duration of that clip without adding anything else. You can add panning, level changes, or other settings right to a single clip, resulting in some pretty solid automation. (Although you should do automation, too!)
You can drag audio or MIDI clips from track to track willy-nilly, as you need to. This is quick for doubling a part, backing up instruments with other instruments, or moving a hardware-based clip to a VST-based clip. For example, record a MIDI part with your DX7, then drag the resulting clip to a track with Collective loaded on it, and listen to Collective play a sampled cello play that part.
Myself, I create a ton of MIDI clips, breaking my tracks into a series of clips: intro, verse 1, verse 2, bridge, chorus, middle, solo, etc. Then I can drag the clips around very quickly to rearrange the basic structure of the piece. Waveform 11 now has an arranger track that makes this easy if your project has a bunch of tracks.
It takes about ten seconds to experiment with a clip before you'll understand how useful they are!
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and even Deezer, whatever the hell Deezer is.
More fun at Twitter @watchfulactual
More fun at Twitter @watchfulactual
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 128 posts since 26 May, 2020 from Norway
Thanks for all that info and clear explanations which I find invaluable!
Wow! Clips are indeed very useful. I need to try those things out. Are there any good tutorials along the line of what you've explained so far (in the same clear and concise way)? I'd love to learn more.
Great advice about Dexed (I downloaded it a few weeks back for organizing/backing up my DX-7 patches (hopefully it'll handle my TX-802 as well, but with my limited knowledge in DAWs I haven't really given it a go yet). Unbelievable that it's free!
I actually figured out the Red + button myself before reading your reply (kind of proud of that
) but appreciate the explanations and confirming that it's the way to do it and why.
It seems I'm past the initial frustrations and can actually start making music with WF11. Now the fun begins! ... and I can slowly start making some simple music tracks with both MIDI hardware and softsynths (such as Dexed).
Wow! Clips are indeed very useful. I need to try those things out. Are there any good tutorials along the line of what you've explained so far (in the same clear and concise way)? I'd love to learn more.
Great advice about Dexed (I downloaded it a few weeks back for organizing/backing up my DX-7 patches (hopefully it'll handle my TX-802 as well, but with my limited knowledge in DAWs I haven't really given it a go yet). Unbelievable that it's free!
I actually figured out the Red + button myself before reading your reply (kind of proud of that
) but appreciate the explanations and confirming that it's the way to do it and why. It seems I'm past the initial frustrations and can actually start making music with WF11. Now the fun begins!
... and I can slowly start making some simple music tracks with both MIDI hardware and softsynths (such as Dexed).-
Peter Widdicombe Peter Widdicombe https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=336849
- KVRian
- 1208 posts since 29 Aug, 2014
It looks like you pretty much can do that. Select the track; and if you press G it will generate an empty midi clip at the cursor position. Set the destination midi interface at the right (if you have more than one; the default is probably default audio device). Select the clip, and you can set the midi output channel for that clip.
Now, if the cursor is WITHIN the clip when you press record, it will add events to the clip (default; may be an option to overwrite??). It will extend the clip as necessary until you press stop.
If NOT in that clip when you press record, it will add new events into the track default channel 1, unless it runs into the other clip present and merges the 2 (and use the MIDI channel number that was assigned to that clip). This on waveform 10, so possibly some subtle changes in 11.
A challenge you might run into is control of multiple external synths and mixing. Volume control in the track will not effect the volume of the external synth, unless you re-route it back into waveform (got lots of audio inputs??) and manipulate on THAT return track; or do them one at a time and record them as audio tracks. I like my old VFX, but because of that challenge I normally just use it as a controller and use .VST's instead.
Now, if the cursor is WITHIN the clip when you press record, it will add events to the clip (default; may be an option to overwrite??). It will extend the clip as necessary until you press stop.
If NOT in that clip when you press record, it will add new events into the track default channel 1, unless it runs into the other clip present and merges the 2 (and use the MIDI channel number that was assigned to that clip). This on waveform 10, so possibly some subtle changes in 11.
A challenge you might run into is control of multiple external synths and mixing. Volume control in the track will not effect the volume of the external synth, unless you re-route it back into waveform (got lots of audio inputs??) and manipulate on THAT return track; or do them one at a time and record them as audio tracks. I like my old VFX, but because of that challenge I normally just use it as a controller and use .VST's instead.
Waveform 13; Win10 desktop/8 Gig; Win11 Laptop; MPK261; VFX+disfunctional ESQ-1
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- KVRian
- 544 posts since 24 Jan, 2004 from Sweden
I always record the output of my synths one at a time into audio tracks. That way, I can add effects, adjust the volume and use each synth for more than one sound.
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- KVRAF
- 1603 posts since 9 Jan, 2018
Stuttaton's method provides to most control, for sure. I'd suggest Dynamo try it his way until you get everything down before experimenting with multichannel recording.
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and even Deezer, whatever the hell Deezer is.
More fun at Twitter @watchfulactual
More fun at Twitter @watchfulactual
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 128 posts since 26 May, 2020 from Norway
Luckily I have an audio interface with 8 analog inputs. I got it so I can for instance record all 8 individual outputs from my drum machine in one pass. Then repatch the synth hardware into the audio interface so I can record 8 new sound sources (multiple synths etc.) while syncing to the internal MIDI clock.
That's something I look forward to and haven't been able to do in the past (having no recording gear apart from a stereo tape deck), so this is a dream come true!
That's something I look forward to and haven't been able to do in the past (having no recording gear apart from a stereo tape deck), so this is a dream come true!
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- KVRAF
- 1603 posts since 9 Jan, 2018
Enjoy! If you start recording in groups of 8 channels, Waveform will keep up with you and give you effectively unlimited audio tracks all mixable independently. Imagine what you could do with that!
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and even Deezer, whatever the hell Deezer is.
More fun at Twitter @watchfulactual
More fun at Twitter @watchfulactual