Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools

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williamcopper
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2015/07/07 06:58:56 (permalink)
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Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools

As I was drawing a simple volume envelope for an audio track, it suddenly occurred to me how much easier it was, and sensible graphically, than all the work I usually do to get a midi controller curve (with the mouse click either catching an unwanted line, or drawing an unwanted line, or filling with too many values, etc etc).     What about taking the graphics routines used for envelopes and allow them to be used to create a midi controller curve similarly?    Then reduce the curve to midi cc events.   Just the simple use of 'nodes' on a curve would be a dramatic improvement. 
 
Or perhaps something like this is already possible and I just don't know about it?    There is "reduce midi controller to envelope", but I'm looking for the reverse ...
[edit] just a little playing around, and I find that envelope curves can be created for midi ccs.  But I don't see how to reduce them to events (necessary for export as midi)...
 
post edited by williamcopper - 2015/07/07 07:12:33
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    SquireBum
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    Re: Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools 2015/07/17 00:52:44 (permalink)
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    I just ran a test by drawing CC data (CC #11 Expression) in the Track view automation lanes and saved out the MIDI file.  The MIDI file was loaded into another DAW and the automation lane data from Sonar was translated into CC #11 events in the other DAW.
     
    --Ron
     
     

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    williamcopper
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    Re: Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools 2015/07/17 18:07:22 (permalink)
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    Hm.   I tried the same for CC73 (attack time) and neither Sonar nor Samplitude imported Sonar's export with an automation curve for CC73. 
     
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    Spencer
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    Re: Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools 2015/07/17 21:38:02 (permalink)
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    yeah I +1, I just bumped my thread where I go in great detail about how automation sucks right now and how to make it better, feel free to +1 and comment
     
    I'm so discouraged at how behind sonar is in regards to automation that I took the habit of using long 32 bar LFOs in midishaper instead. it works really great. would be even better if, again, I had stepped horizontal values to automate it
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    SquireBum
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    Re: Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools 2015/07/18 00:21:54 (permalink)
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    williamcopper
    Hm.   I tried the same for CC73 (attack time) and neither Sonar nor Samplitude imported Sonar's export with an automation curve for CC73.

     
    Interesting.
    [EDITED original post due to additional research and to provide detail]
    Here's the steps I used:
    1. Created new project
    2. Inserted MIDI track
    3. Inserted 4 quarter notes in PRV and closed PRV  *SEE NOTE BELOW
    4. Clicked the track Edit Filter and selected Automation>MIDI...
    5. The MIDI Envelope dialog opened and selected Control, 1 - Modulation
    6. Inserted several nodes in the envelope and moved the node to create ramps.
    7. Repeated steps 4, 5, and 6 for CC #11 - Expression
    8. Repeated steps 4, 5, and 6 for CC #73 Attack Time(Manually entered "73" into the value box, because it was not in drop down list)
    9. Performed Save As..., set file type to MIDI Format 1, clicked Save and closed Sonar.
    10. Opened MIDI file in Reaper and the CC events for CC #1, CC #11, and CC #73 displayed in the MIDI editor.
    11. Opened MIDI file in Sonar and 3 lanes of CC events were displayed in the PRV.
    12. Opened MIDI file in Studio One v2 (Free version) and the Edit screen displayed envelope nodes for Modulation, Expression, and Attack Time
     
    *NOTE:  Added Notes to the clip, because Studio One would not create a clip [Event in S1 terms] from a MIDI file unless it contained Notes.
     
    Did you use a different procedure to create your CC #73 lane?
     
    -- Ron
    post edited by SquireBum - 2015/07/18 13:54:29

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    williamcopper
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    Re: Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools 2015/07/19 14:27:51 (permalink)
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    Thanks for the time spent squirebum,  I'm posting here as a reminder to myself to duplicate your approach .. haven't yet ...
     
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    b rock
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    Re: Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools 2015/07/22 18:57:10 (permalink)
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    Late to the party here, but the "automated" workaround has long been the use of a virtual MIDI cable between two MIDI tracks.  Draw the envelope in the first track, and send the output to the 2nd track.  With the 2nd track record-enabled, the 1st track's envelope is converted to MIDI events on the 2nd track.
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    Brando
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    Re: Midi controllers by means of envelope drawing tools 2015/07/24 12:32:34 (permalink)
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    b rock
    Late to the party here, but the "automated" workaround has long been the use of a virtual MIDI cable between two MIDI tracks.  Draw the envelope in the first track, and send the output to the 2nd track.  With the 2nd track record-enabled, the 1st track's envelope is converted to MIDI events on the 2nd track.


    Just noticed this Tom. As always you're a wealth of knowledge. I may have known this once upon a time but have now committed this to my little One-Note Book of Knowledge. Nice 'solution' (apostrophe'd to not dilute the OP's Feature Request - will serve the need here.)
    Thanks 
     

    Brando
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