Helpful ReplyEasiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR?

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200bpm
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2018/09/20 16:22:49 (permalink)

Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR?

I have a large number of midi files which I'd like to be able to play quickly after import to sonar.
 
Is there a way to set up sonar so that it automatically routes midi to a virtual GM module, in much the way a browser does when confronted with midi?
 
If not, is there a built in GM module in sonar that tracks can be easily assigned to?  In my imported projects, I see the pulldown showing the instrument type, which suggests this capability is in SONAR, but i'm not getting any sound.
 
What I don't want to have to do is load individual sound modules into the tracks, set up individual channels, etc.  I just need an easy playback capability, with later ability to make modifications if the gm sound is not good enough for a particular instrument.
 
BTW, in these midi files, the instruments are separated to individual tracks.
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Search did not yield any relevant results.

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scook
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 16:29:42 (permalink)
If no MIDI output device is enabled in Preferences, opening MIDI files will automatically load TTS-1 and map the data to the synth assigning the appropriate GM instruments.The automatic assignment works with MIDI files only not project files, however; to preserve changes such as swapping out soft synths make sure to save the MIDI file as a Cakewalk project.
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kzmaier
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 16:32:41 (permalink)
The Cakewalk TTS1 instrument might be a quick start.  It can provide many gm instruments set on different channels in one instance.  Maybe you could create a template.
 
Ooops I was too slow...

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200bpm
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 16:43:35 (permalink)
scook
If no MIDI output device is enabled in Preferences, opening MIDI files will automatically load TTS-1 and map the data to the synth assigning the appropriate GM instruments.The automatic assignment works with MIDI files only not project files, however; to preserve changes such as swapping out soft synths make sure to save the MIDI file as a Cakewalk project.




 
HI,  I manually loaded the TTS-1 and its working fine, but it took individual assigns of each track.  Based on what you're saying, if I don't have a midi output device assigned, this should happen automatically.... Will check that out.  It would be exactly what I'm looking for.
 
BTW, the TTS-1 sounds just fine.  Are there any other bundled GM modules that a previous owner of X3 Producer would own?
 
And if I do find another GM module I'd like to use, is there a way to set the stock behavior so IT is loaded instead of TSS?  Thank you!

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a13xhp
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 16:54:50 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby 200bpm 2018/09/20 16:59:10
200bpm
scook
If no MIDI output device is enabled in Preferences, opening MIDI files will automatically load TTS-1 and map the data to the synth assigning the appropriate GM instruments.The automatic assignment works with MIDI files only not project files, however; to preserve changes such as swapping out soft synths make sure to save the MIDI file as a Cakewalk project.




 
HI,  I manually loaded the TTS-1 and its working fine, but it took individual assigns of each track.  Based on what you're saying, if I don't have a midi output device assigned, this should happen automatically.... Will check that out.  It would be exactly what I'm looking for.
 
BTW, the TTS-1 sounds just fine.  Are there any other bundled GM modules that a previous owner of X3 Producer would own?
 
And if I do find another GM module I'd like to use, is there a way to set the stock behavior so IT is loaded instead of TSS?  Thank you!


You could assign all tracks to the same output at the same time. Select all the tracks you want to assign to a MIDI output, press on the "tracks" tab and click on "Selected track outputs". This way you can assign all MIDI outputs to TTS-1.
EDIT: This should be done automatically if you don't have any MIDI outs selected under MIDI DEVICES in preferences.
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scook
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 16:56:45 (permalink)
TTS-1 is the only GM synth bundled with SONAR X3 and newer. The automatic MIDI mapping is hard coded to work with TTS-1 only.
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200bpm
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 16:58:30 (permalink)
scook
TTS-1 is the only GM synth bundled with SONAR X3 and newer. The automatic MIDI mapping is hard coded to work with TTS-1 only.




Thanks.   I did some testing and if you "open" a midi file, Sonar will automatically set up to play with TSS.  If you "import" (which is what i was doing), this behavior is not seen.
 
This works very well, TSS is quite adequate.  Do the new Bandlab folks get the TSS, or is it only X3?

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scook
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 17:04:11 (permalink)
Yes, automatic mapping with TTS-1 (introduced with X3) only works when opening MIDI files. Importing MIDI files are not automatically mapped and have tempo data stripped during import.
 
CbB includes TTS-1 and has the automatic mapping feature too.
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200bpm
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 17:06:57 (permalink)
BTW, how do you get the project tempo to match the imported file?  Songs are playing at correct perceived tempo, but the tempo says 120 which is stock.
 
Edit: Oops, youre a step ahead of me.  Tempo behavior confirmed.
 
Do midi files contain time signature information?  This file has multiple signatures, is playing correctly, but in some spots the notes do not appear to match with the grid.  
 
If the project is not showing any TS changes, like from 4/4 to 3/8, how do the notes manage to play correctly?
 

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abacab
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 17:06:58 (permalink)
200bpm
scook
TTS-1 is the only GM synth bundled with SONAR X3 and newer. The automatic MIDI mapping is hard coded to work with TTS-1 only.




Thanks.   I did some testing and if you "open" a midi file, Sonar will automatically set up to play with TSS.  If you "import" (which is what i was doing), this behavior is not seen.
 
This works very well, TSS is quite adequate.  Do the new Bandlab folks get the TSS, or is it only X3?




TTS-1 and Studio Instruments are the included instruments with Cakewalk by Bandlab.

DAW: CbB; Sonar Platinum, and others ... 
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scook
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 17:11:42 (permalink)
200bpm
BTW, how do you get the project tempo to match the imported file?  Songs are playing at correct perceived tempo, but the tempo says 120 which is stock.

Imported MIDI files use the existing tempo map in a project. Tempo data is not imported from MIDI files.
Opening a MIDI file creates the project tempo map based on the MIDI file data.
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fwrend
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Re: Easiest way to playback general midi files in SONAR? 2018/09/20 22:20:52 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby abacab 2018/09/21 00:29:05
FYI, Johnny aka Cactus Music on these forums has a nice write-up on Sonar & MIDI on his website
 
HERE

Wren 

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