It's About Time for Some More MIDI FX (MFX)

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2:43AM
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2016/08/02 07:44:19 (permalink)
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It's About Time for Some More MIDI FX (MFX)

Simple and easy, but all in all, Sonar needs more MIDI effects (MFX).  They are long overdue!
 
The current MIDI FX suite includes:
 
Arpeggiator - Basically obsolete with the in-track Arp.
Chord Analyzer - This was possibly useful back in the day when analyzing your collection of MIDI files.
Echo Delay - Useful but dated; but hey, it's what you did back in the day!
MIDI Event Filter - Limited use.  My guess is 1 out of 1000 people use this.
Quantize - Basically obsolete with the in-track Input [Rec] Quantize, or preserving "human" characteristics of your track and quantize in a non-destructive manner.
Transpose - Slightly useful, I suppose, if your controller doesn't have a transpose button, or for non-destructive transposing of a MIDI track.
Velocity - Moderately useful.
 
I would absolutely love to see a chord generator/combo-transposer like what Ableton has.  Their chord generator takes a little musical knowledge (i.e. knowing chords and/or looking them up and building them using transposition knobs), but it is superbly good!  And while we're talking Ableton, I really enjoy its Note Length effect.  This is insanely sweet for forcing your keystrokes to be as short as the most staccato note imaginable, thereby forcing hardware synths to sonically change, based on their amp or filter envelope characteristics.
 
This shouldn't be too difficult, but I'm no programmer.  I would imagine that MIDI FX (MFX) are some of the oldest recipes in the book and therefore easy to make.  There is no DSP involved, just straight-up manipulation of digital data.  But the code is DirectX, and maybe nobody in the Bakery knows how to do this anymore?
 
Forgive me if this is a repeat of something that's been said and/or asked for since sliced-bread, but I'll say it--and request it--again!
 
(And no referrals to third-party options).  They're all terrible, seriously dated, too difficult to implement, or too expensive for something that could be implemented for free and push Sonar up notch in terms of assisting creativity.
 
Thanks in advance.
#1

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    azslow3
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    Re: It's About Time for Some More MIDI FX (MFX) 2016/08/02 14:28:06 (permalink)
    +2 (2)
    There are more MFXes from other authors, almost all aged, but MIDI is also not new
     
    I have not found how to make a "generator" type of effects, but "filter/replicator" is not a problem. I have presented it to the world, with some examples, but there was absolutely no reaction. I mean it looks like no one is looking for MFXes.

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    Vas
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    Re: It's About Time for Some More MIDI FX (MFX) 2016/08/03 03:08:37 (permalink)
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    If Sonar allows VST midi FX (actually VSTi midi fx) to be used interchangeably with MFX (Cakewalk) the problem will be solved. No need for them to make any more MFX though it would be ok if they did. The MFX specifications may have to be altered to accommodate VST's.
     
    Better yet make an MFX modular environment that can host MFX (Cakewalk) and VST midi fx. This will be my preference. What I mean by modular environment is something like Bidule https://www.plogue.com/products/bidule/ that can host both MFX and VST midi fx. Yes I have requested that Bidule be made into an MFX (Cakewalk) that can host both MFX and VST's. In this case it will will only have a midi input and output and no audio input and output.
     
    Here is a partial list of VST midi fx: https://www.kvraudio.com/q.php?search=1&tg%5B%5D=79#results and https://www.kvraudio.com/q.php?search=1&tg%5B%5D=36#results Now these VST midi fx are put in the VSTi track which is fine. I would however be very happy if I can have the choice to use them the same way I use MFX (Cakewalk).
     
    Keep in mind that many of the VST midi effects are free.
     
    See also this thread: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Allow-VST-midi-plugins-in-MFX-bay-m3170173.aspx 
    and  http://forum.cakewalk.com/Is-there-finally-support-of-VST-MIDI-plugins-in-New-SONAR-m3375371.aspx 
    and http://forum.cakewalk.com/VST-MFX-Wrapper-Project-m632970.aspx?high=mfx 
     
    If Sonar allows total integration of VST midi fx into MFX it will bring many of the midi fans to start using this wonderful DAW.
    post edited by Vas - 2016/08/03 13:45:44

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    jimfogle
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    Re: It's About Time for Some More MIDI FX (MFX) 2016/08/18 13:24:59 (permalink)
    +2 (2)
    I would prefer the original request; that Cakewalk concentrate on updating and adding to the collection of built-in midi effects.  While the capability to intergrate third party effects is desirable and nice I believe built-in adds more value to the product.
    post edited by jimfogle - 2016/08/18 13:49:27

    Jim F
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    2:43AM
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    Re: It's About Time for Some More MIDI FX (MFX) 2016/08/18 14:03:28 (permalink)
    +1 (1)
    jimfogle
    I would prefer the original request; that Cakewalk concentrate on updating and adding to the collection of built-in midi effects.  While the capability to intergrate third party effects is desirable and nice I believe built-in adds more value to the product.



    Bingo!  Thank you for your post!
     
    (Be sure to vote my original post up, or however it works...)
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