dccurrent
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Sync MIDI to audio
Does anyone know the best way to sync the tempo of MIDI tracks to audio. Not just an audio clip, but a full length song. I've managed to get it very close by playing with the BPM number, but can't get it dead on.
Is there any way to do this?
Thanks,
DC
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jimkleban
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/10 21:08:57
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I too would love to know if there is an easier way then adjusting the TEMPO manually? I tried using the AUDIO SNAP feature but the tempo wasn't smooth... it would sync up every SNAP point but be off in between enough to make it useless to me... but that was a long time ago... now, it is the tedious method of matching BPM to the audio manually.
Jim
The Lamb Laid Down on MIDI www.lldom.com Studio Cat Custom i7 with Thunderbolt (wonderful system built and configured by our own Jim R) Apollo Duo (via TB) UAD Quad UAD Duo WIN 8.1 x64 with 32 GB Ram 4 SSD for programs and sample libraries Splat (latest version)
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slartabartfast
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 03:47:58
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It sounds like you are trying to match midi recorded to a fixed tempo to audio recorded by a human being, who probably was not performing like clockwork. Effectively that is like trying to match a metronome to an audio recording after the fact. The "easy" way to do it is for the performer to record the audio while listening to the metronome. Human beings are much more evolved computers than well, computers. A human performance will rarely line up with a mechanical clock, so whatever method you use to create an alignment will need to be adjusted multiple times throughout the process. In the extreme case most midi notes may need to be nudged into place manually. Algorithms can help, but you cannot expect to find a magical fixed bpm setting that will solve the problem.
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dccurrent
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 06:12:44
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Thank you slartabartfast,
I understand that human tempo, on it's own, is rarely perfect. In this case I'm trying to match MIDI tracks to a prerecorded electronic/dance song. The song was originally put together on computer so the tempo should be perfect. When I try to match up tempos, they start in sync, but slow go out of sync then back in. I guess I was hoping there was a way to mark, or tap out the tempo on the audio track and set the MIDI track to follow the markers for tempo. My goal is to trigger effects and lights in perfect sync with the song.
Is there any way to do that?
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Mr. torture
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 06:31:03
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Obviously there are slight tempo changes in the song, otherwise it should line up with your midi pretty well. Can you split the song into manageable blocks and manually add your midi to each beat?
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tomixornot
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 06:44:21
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I'm doing this from time to time to transcribe music but not following the conventional Tempo matching way. Most of the time, i'm in luck as the music I'm working with are newer and it's probably done with DAW / fixed tempo. After importing the audio, I would tempo tap Sonar to match as close as possible to the audio. 1. I set Snap on, put the now-time on bar 1 or 2 (if not already there), just for visual reference. 2. Then set Snap off, and align the audio first beat (also refers to the wave visually) to the now-time. 3. Audition the audio with the playback metronome and fine tune the tempo. Repeat step 1 to 3 till I get a satisfactory / manually adjusted tempo sync. It worked most of the time for me - and I don't need to use decimal in the tempo, just showing most material I worked with have normal DAW fixed tempo usage. Few times when my manual method didn't work, I follow the proper Tempo matching method, but doing the 1-3 steps first helps greatly. There are a few good videos done by some members here - this one I just pull off from youtube.. http://youtu.be/is2dRlI9SaI
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Audio interface : Roland Quad Capture Win 10 Pro / Sonar Platinum
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FastBikerBoy
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 06:54:39
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dccurrent
Thank you slartabartfast,
I understand that human tempo, on it's own, is rarely perfect. In this case I'm trying to match MIDI tracks to a prerecorded electronic/dance song. The song was originally put together on computer so the tempo should be perfect. When I try to match up tempos, they start in sync, but slow go out of sync then back in. I guess I was hoping there was a way to mark, or tap out the tempo on the audio track and set the MIDI track to follow the markers for tempo. My goal is to trigger effects and lights in perfect sync with the song.
Is there any way to do that?
Have you had a look at this video? That should sort it out for you.
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CJaysMusic
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 14:06:27
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Audio snap works great for this. If your not getting Perfect results with Audio snap, then review your audio snap settings and try again with settings more appropriate to your task at hand.
I can change a tempo of a track from 50 bpm to 120 bpm with no audible loss of audio quality.
Cj
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jimkleban
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 22:19:00
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Thanks Biker for the video link... I may give this another go now.
Jim
The Lamb Laid Down on MIDI www.lldom.com Studio Cat Custom i7 with Thunderbolt (wonderful system built and configured by our own Jim R) Apollo Duo (via TB) UAD Quad UAD Duo WIN 8.1 x64 with 32 GB Ram 4 SSD for programs and sample libraries Splat (latest version)
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bluzdog
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/11 23:23:06
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Yup, FBB has this sorted out. I've done this following his video and it works. Thanks Fast Biker Boy!!!
Rocky
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dccurrent
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/12 06:29:29
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I looked up audio snap in help files and looks like its only available in Producer and Studio versions. I have X1 Essential. I've been trying to do it with what Essential offers, and it just seems to be too much work. Guess I need to upgrade.
Besides upgrading, any other suggestions?
And BTW, Thank You Everybody!!!
Was very nice to all the help.
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chuckebaby
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/12 19:31:13
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you may find by that by using tempo decimals you'll have better luck.
but only if this audio was played to a metronome and dead on to a fixed tempo.
try something like 132.14 rather than 132 or 133.
its done between the trenches man.
ive done it with great success but like I said only with stuff that's been dead on to a tempo map.
old tape recordings don't work well because even though they have a click track or what not, tape has a tendency to wow, flutter, go off by small amounts.
capstan motors that are powered by DC current are not as accurate as our digital brothers.
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jb101
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Re: Sync MIDI to audio
2013/07/12 20:45:42
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chuckebaby
you may find by that by using tempo decimals you'll have better luck.but only if this audio was played to a metronome and dead on to a fixed tempo.try something like 132.14 rather than 132 or 133.its done between the trenches man.ive done it with great success but like I said only with stuff that's been dead on to a tempo map.old tape recordings don't work well because even though they have a click track or what not, tape has a tendency to wow, flutter, go off by small amounts. capstan motors that are powered by DC current are not as accurate as our digital brothers.
I think FBI 's route is the better answer. I've recomened Karl's video many times. We humans don't always play like metronomes. This is something I've noticed with music school graduates over the lastly few years - they can play with incredible metronomic accuracy, but are unable to "fall apart". I recently had to tab out "hocus Pocus" by Focus for a class, and it was remarkably hard to score Jan Akerman's lead. His timing was all over the place, and full of "muted" notes, but my god, it sounded good. Many of the students really struggled with it. They played it too clean and precise.
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