Since Sonar X1 I've been unable to use the separate MIDI channels to play specific instruments. So, I load violins on Channel 1, violas on Channel 2, cellos on Channel 3, basses on Channel 4. Then, I create MIDI tracks for each and enter the MIDI notation via the Staff Editor (which I feel has taken a step backwards since X1). When I hit play ALL MIDI tracks are playing on Channel 1 no matter what I do. The channel assignments are correct and the samples are loaded where they should be. The same configuration works just fine in my old SONAR 5 installation, so I find myself working in the older version to get what I want, then dumping audio into X1/X2 to be able to work. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone have a fix?

This has to be an issue with setting up the routing...

But, here's another way to go about setting up:  Open the browser to Plugins/Insturments, and drag MV into the track area.  Choose weather you want an instrument track, or spearate MIDI/Audio.  Load Violins I.

Then drag MV in again, and load Violins II, etc.  Drag in an instance for each instrument.  Each will have it's own instance of MV player, though they share all the code and resources, so not an issue.

Do you set the Midi Output Channels for each midi track?

Where are the midi channels set for the different synths?

I have no problem whatsoever with midi separation on my system.  I have Kontakt 5 loaded with 5 different instruments, each gets its own midi channel assigned within Kontakt, and I set the Midi Output Channel for each midi track going to those synths to the correct midi channel for those.

In addition, I have other synths loaded up, and these synths only process on one midi channel.  I do not set anything up for them whatsoever and they still play only what was recorded on their track.

I just setup a quick and dirty project to test out entering midi events through staff view, and had no trouble whatsoever with output.  Each track played it's events on the correct synth - no problem.

For this test project, I did the following:

1.  New project - Normal template (console is split to 2nd monitor, otherwise no change)
2.  Inserted soft synth Rapture x64, loaded a lead preset - some sort of square wave.  Did not create any tracks through the insert soft synth options dialog box.  I usually do these separately, and did so here.
3.  Inserted an additional soft synth, Dim Pro x64 loaded up a pad sound - again no tracks created yet.
4.  Inserted 2 audio tracks and 2 midi tracks
5.  Assigned audio track 1 to input from Rapture Primary Output Stereo, Output is set to Master
6.  Assigned midi track 2 to output to Rapture, input left to Omni
7.  Assigned audio track 3 to output from Dim Pro - Primary Output Stereo - output is set to Master buss
8.  Assigned midi track 4 to output to Dim Pro - input unchanged from Omni
9.  Clicked on midi track 2 to bring it into focus
10.  Clicked on View>Staff View
11.  Entered a bunch of nonsense notes then closed Staff View - which at the top indicated the correct track (track 2)
12.  Clicked on midi track 4 to bring it into focus
13.  Clicked on View>Staff View
14.  Entered a bunch of different nonsense notes, then closed Staff View - it also indicated correct tack at top - (track 4)
15.  I then hit Play (space bar)
16.  Both midi tracks played the appropriate midi events, and played them in the correct soft synths associated with each track.

To sum it up, no problem, following the above recipe.

Can you please try a project test following the steps I used above?  I would like to know what your results are then, 

Bob Bone

You say the same configuration works in S5 - have you confirmed that by opening an S5 project under X1?

Thanks for all the input... I'm going to figure this one out!!! Bill51 - I know that this can be achieved, but on a limited 4GB/32-bit workstation I am currently limited. More instances do cause more CPU and memory overhead which I'm trying to avoid. I've always been able to work a full 15 channels with one instance in the past, so I want to be able to continue to do so. robert_e_bone - no problems with that. The only difference was I'm running x32 versions of everything. All worked as expected. bitflipper - oddly enough the SONAR 5 project works perfectly once loaded into X1/X2! So I know the VSTi is working properly.

This has to be set inside the Miroslav player software surely?

You then set each Midi channel to correspond with your Midi track assignments.

This is how it works in Play, and the old Kontakt player that EWQL used to use prior to adopting Play.

I'm not at my DAW right now & haven't used staff view to enter notes for quite a while, but-

Midi channel can be defined in 2 places, on the midi track header & on the note event itself. In the misbehaving project are they set to your intended destination channel in both places?

I'm wondering if the later/current draw notes in Staff View defaults to a channel number (ie ch 1) that takes precedence over the track setting, or note event channels are ignored if the track channel is set (which I think is the designed behaviour) or something like that.

BINGO! Thanks ducatibruce2! That was the trick. I somehow missed that the MIDI channels could be assigned on each individual note and, as I was copying and editing tracks the channel was staying as channel 1. I went back through and reassigned the notes to their respective channels and, viola, everything worked as expected. Thanks so much! I owe you a beer or three...

No worries - glad to help out.

Glad it's working.

And yes, I was cheerfully doing my midi and audio settings and assignments the same way in X1 - to the person that had asked about that.

I would point out that I have multiple different synths loaded that are all recording and playing on channel 1, but not exhibiting that particular behavior of for example my Minimogue VA events being sounded on my SI-Bass or whatever.  Each midi track had an explicit assignment to an associated synth, and no two midi tracks went to the same synth.


The only time I really have cared about individual midi channel assignment is in a multi-timbral synth like Kontakt 5, where I may have 4-5 instruments loaded up in it, and control internal routing of events to instruments by setting each on a different midi channel, then setting the output midi channel of each channel strip for the respective midi tracks.

I am still curious as to the track and synth assignments and settings - just for my own feeble attempts to understand things.

If you do not mind, sir, can you please respond with those track and synth assignments?

Thanks, 

Bob Bone