I've been using Cubase 5 to manipulate some midi files. I can import
them ok, though whether the voices and midi channels are correct is a
bit hit and miss. This isn't really too much of an issue as I can
alter them to suite. I can finish a project and export the finished
mix to a wav file without a hitch. BUT sometimes I want to export the
part-finished midi file for a friend to continue working on...and this
is where I'm running into big problems. I can't seem to get Cubase to
export the voices and their corresponding midi channels....that info
is getting lost somewhere in the process. As soon as I try to open the
midi file up again, all I'm getting is the GM drums while everything
else has defaulted to piano.

I must have overlooked something basic...maybe something in
preferences, but I can't for the life of me work out what it is...

Can anyone help?.........LL

On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:37:06 +0000, lancelightning <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I've been using Cubase 5 to manipulate some midi files. I can import
>them ok, though whether the voices and midi channels are correct is a
>bit hit and miss. This isn't really too much of an issue as I can
>alter them to suite. I can finish a project and export the finished
>mix to a wav file without a hitch. BUT sometimes I want to export the
>part-finished midi file for a friend to continue working on...and this
>is where I'm running into big problems. I can't seem to get Cubase to
>export the voices and their corresponding midi channels....that info
>is getting lost somewhere in the process. As soon as I try to open the
>midi file up again, all I'm getting is the GM drums while everything
>else has defaulted to piano.
>
>I must have overlooked something basic...maybe something in
>preferences, but I can't for the life of me work out what it is...
>
>Can anyone help?.........LL

Don't export as midi, but send him the cpr?

On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:14:27 +0100, Max Doorrijhoogte
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:37:06 +0000, lancelightning <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I've been using Cubase 5 to manipulate some midi files. I can import
>>them ok, though whether the voices and midi channels are correct is a
>>bit hit and miss. This isn't really too much of an issue as I can
>>alter them to suite. I can finish a project and export the finished
>>mix to a wav file without a hitch. BUT sometimes I want to export the
>>part-finished midi file for a friend to continue working on...and this
>>is where I'm running into big problems. I can't seem to get Cubase to
>>export the voices and their corresponding midi channels....that info
>>is getting lost somewhere in the process. As soon as I try to open the
>>midi file up again, all I'm getting is the GM drums while everything
>>else has defaulted to piano.
>>
>>I must have overlooked something basic...maybe something in
>>preferences, but I can't for the life of me work out what it is...
>>
>>Can anyone help?.........LL
>
>Don't export as midi, but send him the cpr?

I wish it was that simple!! He isn't using Cubase. He has a very old
hardware sequencer. I can't get him into using Cubase.

I have a feeling that once I start using vsti's etc, I'm stepping
outside the world of General Midi altogether which could be the cause
of my problems. Nontheless I would have thought there would be a way
of exporting the patch info....something in MIDI Device Manager or
whatever its called?? I dunno...

Everything works fine for me when I'm creating my own songs...but
we're working on some backing tracks here...hence the need to use the
old midi file format which is antiquated. but still seems to be the
accepted way of doing things when it comes to this type of work.

Thanks anyway...any other takers?...LL

Op 22-2-2010 22:46, lancelightning schreef:
> On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:14:27 +0100, Max Doorrijhoogte
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:37:06 +0000, lancelightning<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> I've been using Cubase 5 to manipulate some midi files. I can import
>>> them ok, though whether the voices and midi channels are correct is a
>>> bit hit and miss. This isn't really too much of an issue as I can
>>> alter them to suite. I can finish a project and export the finished
>>> mix to a wav file without a hitch. BUT sometimes I want to export the
>>> part-finished midi file for a friend to continue working on...and this
>>> is where I'm running into big problems. I can't seem to get Cubase to
>>> export the voices and their corresponding midi channels....that info
>>> is getting lost somewhere in the process. As soon as I try to open the
>>> midi file up again, all I'm getting is the GM drums while everything
>>> else has defaulted to piano.
>>>
>>> I must have overlooked something basic...maybe something in
>>> preferences, but I can't for the life of me work out what it is...
>>>
>>> Can anyone help?.........LL
>>
>> Don't export as midi, but send him the cpr?
>
> I wish it was that simple!! He isn't using Cubase. He has a very old
> hardware sequencer. I can't get him into using Cubase.
>
> I have a feeling that once I start using vsti's etc, I'm stepping
> outside the world of General Midi altogether which could be the cause
> of my problems. Nontheless I would have thought there would be a way
> of exporting the patch info....something in MIDI Device Manager or
> whatever its called?? I dunno...
>
> Everything works fine for me when I'm creating my own songs...but
> we're working on some backing tracks here...hence the need to use the
> old midi file format which is antiquated. but still seems to be the
> accepted way of doing things when it comes to this type of work.
>
> Thanks anyway...any other takers?...LL

I have at times successfully exported MIDI with Cubase 5. It is not
always easy to check whether Cubase has done what you intended, unless
you have some independent MIDI monitor or other. When you reimport the
MIDI file into Cubase, it makes its own assumptions, so that doesn't help.

Anyway what Cubase exports is determined by the settings in
Preferences/MIDI/Midi File. "Export Inspector Patch" means that any
settings to the "program selector" field (which you have on a track that
is routed to a MIDI device) is converted to Program Change / Bank Select
messages. This is what you want. Make sure it is selected.

To be honest, I don't rely on this myself. I don't make General MIDI
files for the public domain. If I have to export as MIDI, I make sure my
tracks and events are clearly marked with the name of the instrument or
whatever. I leave it to the other side to get the settings right.

HTH

Jos.

--
Ardis Park Music
www.ardispark.nl

On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:46:23 +0000, lancelightning <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:14:27 +0100, Max Doorrijhoogte
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:37:06 +0000, lancelightning <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>I've been using Cubase 5 to manipulate some midi files. I can import
>>>them ok, though whether the voices and midi channels are correct is a
>>>bit hit and miss. This isn't really too much of an issue as I can
>>>alter them to suite. I can finish a project and export the finished
>>>mix to a wav file without a hitch. BUT sometimes I want to export the
>>>part-finished midi file for a friend to continue working on...and this
>>>is where I'm running into big problems. I can't seem to get Cubase to
>>>export the voices and their corresponding midi channels....that info
>>>is getting lost somewhere in the process. As soon as I try to open the
>>>midi file up again, all I'm getting is the GM drums while everything
>>>else has defaulted to piano.
>>>
>>>I must have overlooked something basic...maybe something in
>>>preferences, but I can't for the life of me work out what it is...
>>>
>>>Can anyone help?.........LL
>>
>>Don't export as midi, but send him the cpr?
>
>I wish it was that simple!! He isn't using Cubase. He has a very old
>hardware sequencer. I can't get him into using Cubase.
>
>I have a feeling that once I start using vsti's etc, I'm stepping
>outside the world of General Midi altogether which could be the cause
>of my problems. Nontheless I would have thought there would be a way
>of exporting the patch info....something in MIDI Device Manager or
>whatever its called?? I dunno...
>
>Everything works fine for me when I'm creating my own songs...but
>we're working on some backing tracks here...hence the need to use the
>old midi file format which is antiquated. but still seems to be the
>accepted way of doing things when it comes to this type of work.
>
>Thanks anyway...any other takers?...LL

Maybe the old trial-and-error way?
Fiddle with settings, export as MIDI and then play back with a simple
player such as Winamp.
Time-consuming, I know, but it will get the job done in the end

On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:24:49 +0100, Jos Geluk <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Op 22-2-2010 22:46, lancelightning schreef:
>> On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:14:27 +0100, Max Doorrijhoogte
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:37:06 +0000, lancelightning<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've been using Cubase 5 to manipulate some midi files. I can import
>>>> them ok, though whether the voices and midi channels are correct is a
>>>> bit hit and miss. This isn't really too much of an issue as I can
>>>> alter them to suite. I can finish a project and export the finished
>>>> mix to a wav file without a hitch. BUT sometimes I want to export the
>>>> part-finished midi file for a friend to continue working on...and this
>>>> is where I'm running into big problems. I can't seem to get Cubase to
>>>> export the voices and their corresponding midi channels....that info
>>>> is getting lost somewhere in the process. As soon as I try to open the
>>>> midi file up again, all I'm getting is the GM drums while everything
>>>> else has defaulted to piano.
>>>>
>>>> I must have overlooked something basic...maybe something in
>>>> preferences, but I can't for the life of me work out what it is...
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone help?.........LL
>>>
>>> Don't export as midi, but send him the cpr?
>>
>> I wish it was that simple!! He isn't using Cubase. He has a very old
>> hardware sequencer. I can't get him into using Cubase.
>>
>> I have a feeling that once I start using vsti's etc, I'm stepping
>> outside the world of General Midi altogether which could be the cause
>> of my problems. Nontheless I would have thought there would be a way
>> of exporting the patch info....something in MIDI Device Manager or
>> whatever its called?? I dunno...
>>
>> Everything works fine for me when I'm creating my own songs...but
>> we're working on some backing tracks here...hence the need to use the
>> old midi file format which is antiquated. but still seems to be the
>> accepted way of doing things when it comes to this type of work.
>>
>> Thanks anyway...any other takers?...LL
>
>I have at times successfully exported MIDI with Cubase 5. It is not
>always easy to check whether Cubase has done what you intended, unless
>you have some independent MIDI monitor or other. When you reimport the
>MIDI file into Cubase, it makes its own assumptions, so that doesn't help.
>
>Anyway what Cubase exports is determined by the settings in
>Preferences/MIDI/Midi File. "Export Inspector Patch" means that any
>settings to the "program selector" field (which you have on a track that
>is routed to a MIDI device) is converted to Program Change / Bank Select
>messages. This is what you want. Make sure it is selected.
>
>To be honest, I don't rely on this myself. I don't make General MIDI
>files for the public domain. If I have to export as MIDI, I make sure my
>tracks and events are clearly marked with the name of the instrument or
>whatever. I leave it to the other side to get the settings right.
>
>HTH
>
>Jos.

Hi Jos...

Thanks for your input...Yeah I've tried all the stuff in '
Preferences' as you suggest. It does indeed work ok sometimes, but
more often than not, much of the original voice/midi info gets lost
once I start manipulating the files within Cubase. Your last comment
about clearly marking instrument names/events etc. is probably as good
as it gets.

I'll blame my mate for using his crappy old midi sequencer!! We'll
get around it one way or another. Someone told me that Sonar was
better at handling midi files...but I'm not about to change my DAW for
that!! I use Cubase mainly for recording my original songs, and it
does everything I want for that purpose.

I'd still be greatful for any other ideas.......LL

On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:08:26 +0100, Max Doorrijhoogte
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


>
>Maybe the old trial-and-error way?
>Fiddle with settings, export as MIDI and then play back with a simple
>player such as Winamp.
>Time-consuming, I know, but it will get the job done in the end

Yeah...there isn't much along those lines I havn't already tried. None
of the media players will successfully open the files up once I've
exported them from Cubase ...I've tried Windows Media Player, the
Apple one - whatever its called..Winamp, a couple of others...you name
it. To make matters worse my mate is trying to open them up using an
old Yamaha hardware sequencer which doesn't help at all.

The problem is, I think, down to what happens to the files inside of
Cubase..it would appear to be beyond capabilities of the GM/XG type
formats.

I'm still open to ideas though.....LL

On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:24:49 +0100, Jos Geluk <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

I've found a workaround...It seems that the midi channel and voice
info is getting lost or corrupted when the original midi file is
loaded onto Cubase instrument tracks. If I create the same number of
midi tracks and drag all my finished work down onto those..reset all
the voices and midi channels...voila! Cubase will now export the midi
file properly. Its a lot of messing about, but at least my friend can
now load up my work.

The midi file format is antiquated. but it is still widely used for
backing tracks. I don't think that the current incarnation of Cubase
is really designed for this type of work. I might benefit from loading
up an old Cubase version...VST5 springs to mind.

I'd still appreciate any other suggestions....

LL

Op 23-2-2010 12:30, lancelightning schreef:
> On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:24:49 +0100, Jos Geluk<(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:


> The midi file format is antiquated. but it is still widely used for
> backing tracks. I don't think that the current incarnation of Cubase
> is really designed for this type of work. I might benefit from loading
> up an old Cubase version...VST5 springs to mind.
>
> I'd still appreciate any other suggestions....

Dunno about that. I have often tried to have SX2 export MIDI. I think
only one ever really played in another player, as it had only one track
with a single instrument. I had more luck with Cubase 5.

Why don't you ask around in the alt.binaries.sounds.midi group for a
decent editor? I haven't been there for a while, but I remember the
topic of a MIDI editor came up frequently. There should be several good
ones to be found. Then export from Cubase as best you can, and tweak the
file with the MIDI editor.


Jos.

--
Ardis Park Music
www.ardispark.nl

On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:40:50 +0100, Jos Geluk <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Op 23-2-2010 12:30, lancelightning schreef:
>> On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:24:49 +0100, Jos Geluk<(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>
>
>> The midi file format is antiquated. but it is still widely used for
>> backing tracks. I don't think that the current incarnation of Cubase
>> is really designed for this type of work. I might benefit from loading
>> up an old Cubase version...VST5 springs to mind.
>>
>> I'd still appreciate any other suggestions....
>
>Dunno about that. I have often tried to have SX2 export MIDI. I think
>only one ever really played in another player, as it had only one track
>with a single instrument. I had more luck with Cubase 5.
>
>Why don't you ask around in the alt.binaries.sounds.midi group for a
>decent editor? I haven't been there for a while, but I remember the
>topic of a MIDI editor came up frequently. There should be several good
>ones to be found. Then export from Cubase as best you can, and tweak the
>file with the MIDI editor.
>
>
>Jos.

Good idea..I do have an old Yamaha sequencing program somewhere buried
away. I'll try and find that...Its rather old but it might provide a
simple solution. Or possibly an older version of Cubase... Otherwise
I'll ask around as you suggest. I will try that NG.

I have actually found a workaround in Cubase 5, but it involves an
awful lot of messing about.

Thanks for your suggestions....LL