Tezza1971


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Tezza1971


 Basically I want to create layers of instruments all playing the same notes.  

This is the clincher. Ordinarily, we would not want to do this, but occasionally, we might.
There is a way, and the cloning idea was very close.

First, lets take a quick look at some of the stuff that isn't working for you.
"Enable MIDI Output" is a special scenario, and most synths do not support it.
The only time I've really seen it in use was a VSt that created patterns from notes in the track, and spit those patterns out to a synth on another track.
The drum map can send individual notes to different synths, but it cannot send all notes to multiple synths.

Back to the original question.
Clearly, you cannot send the output of one MIDI track to several synths.
Copy/Paste will do what you want, but you MUST click one very important option:

Link to Original Clip(s).


Select and copy the clip in your original MIDI track. Nothing special yet.
The key is in the Paste menu.
I don't have MC6, so I'm not sure which of two variations you will see.

Now, Paste the clip into another MIDI track.
You may see only Paste, or you may also see Paste Special.
If you see Paste Special, the linking option will be there.
Otherwise, it will be under Paste.
In either case, be sure the Link option is checked.

When the clips are linked, they will have a dashed border.
If you edit notes in any linked clip, the change will be reflected in all of the linked clips. 
You will still need a separate MIDI track for each synth, but this approach will allow you to simultaneously make the same edit to all of them.
Give this a try. I think you'll like it.

Note: When learning a new procedure, I highly recommend lots of "Save As" at critical steps. It makes it easy to go back if you get tangled up.

Thanks guys, you are all so helpful. Robert B, thanks for the info, with some of your tips I was able to work something out so ...ITS WORKING!... I ended up using the CLONE TRACKS ... CT gives you the option of selecting what you want to clone, I deselected everything except "Clone Events" and I also selected "Link to Original Clips"... Things to remember... clone only pure MIDI tracks.... add the desired soft synths that you want as destinations (in my case there were 4)... add them WITHOUT creating tracks at the same time... then go and add audio tracks separately (one for each synth). Set the source for each audio track to each synth (I set destination to master). Go to each midi track and set the destination to each soft synth... DONE! I will do a youtube screen tutorial for this later.... It's been an epic battle for a newbie LOL! Thanks again for all your help everyone.

Nice.
I see what you did, and that looks like a very elegant solution.
Not bad for a rookie. You're going to do fine with this stuff.
Glad to help.

Without being an expert, I would estimate that in an ideal world, you can set the input of a track to the output of any other track - be it [audio to audio] or [midi to midi]. Had that been the case, I would only need one midi source rather than "clones" cluttering up the space on my screen. Small price to pay for what it essentially ridiculously great value for money software. They have a special on at the moment and it was even cheaper than the normally tiny price. So I'm not complaining :) One thing that remains a mystery to me is that there seems to be 3 track types. MIDI I understand, Audio I understand, but there is this thing referred to as a "simple instrument track" where the midi source can be set and the audio output can be set. In the mixing console, it shows up as a typical audio track (except the source is midi). There doesn't seem to be any way to access or change the instrument itself. I'm gonna have to start using a different browser so that all my text doesn't keep getting compacted.

I'm guessing cake did not make that function work because as Robert mentioned, it's something that people rarely do.  I can't think of one single time I have used that method. 

I clone tracks on rare occasions but it's not normally to do what you are doing. I sometimes clone audio vocal tracks to work on them in melodyne .... in case I screw up royally, I still have the original to fall back on. I delete the original tracks when I finish and am satisfied. 

I believe a simple instrument track is just what it says. Instead of having one midi and one audio track linked with the synth, you only see the midi track and the audio track is essentially hidden.... you rarely ever do anything with the audio track anyway, so that is a way to "declutter" the screen. Being "old school" I still like to see both tracks of a synth.... so I don't use the simple instrument tracks very often.

You can also hide and unhide tracks. Both in console and track view. 

I general don't hide tracks, I will make them as small as I can if I don't need them, but I always do want to see them.  Out of sight, out of mind and I don't want to forget a track. Besides, nothing is as irritating as working on a mix and hearing something but not "seeing" where it's coming from. 

I will only hide a track if it's muted and I don't think I will need it in the mix..... just temporary until I finish the project mix, then I unhide it and delete it from the project. 

Always remember..... "delete" isn't always permanent.... it just seems that way. 

Does MC6 support Track Folders?
If so, they are great for keeping your screen tidy, but your tracks are readily available.
I like to keep synth outputs and related MIDI tracks in the same folder. In the case of TTS-1, this can be up to 20 tracks.
That's a lot of screen real estate.
When a folder is collapsed, the tracks are tucked neatly out of the way.

Track folders... already been using them :)

MC6 is awesome!