Week 143: Using BLE-MIDI (Bluetooth MIDI) Devices in SONAR
 
No, it’s not the old school Bluetooth with the unacceptable audio latency, but Bluetooth MIDI which is efficient and offers very low latency. It’s been in the Mac for a while, and Windows 10 Anniversary edition introduced it to the Windows platform. If you’re interested in the nuts and bolts, The MIDI Association has published an article with the basics, but there’s also a very informative blog post from Noel Borthwick here on the Cakewalk site.
 
With products from Zivix, Korg, and CME, BLE-MIDI is making inroads and SONAR supports it, assuming you’re using Windows 10 Anniversary edition or later. Let’s look at the step-by-step process for connecting a BLE-MIDI device to SONAR (Bluetooth Audio is a separate topic—we’ll stick with MIDI for now).
 

 
1. Pair your BLE-MIDI device with Windows. To do this, in Windows choose Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth, then pair the device. After pairing, Windows will show the device as connected. In this screen shot, the Jamstik is connected to Windows.
 

 
Note that rom the Media Creators update onwards, Microsoft changed how you pair to Bluetooth devices. You no longer see new devices in the standard show Bluetooth devices window, but you need to click the “Add Bluetooth or other device” button there to add the device first.
 
2. In SONAR, choose the UWP driver mode under Preferences > MIDI > Playback and Recording.
 

 
3. Your BLE-MIDI device will appear under Preferences > MIDI > Devices.
 

 
4. Now you can use your BLE-MIDI device as a MIDI track input. You’re good to go!
 
However, note that there are some potential issues when using UWP:
 

• Not every existing MIDI device is guaranteed to play nice with UWP; multi-port MIDI devices may show up with all ports showing the same name (this is a Windows issue that has been logged with Microsoft). For now, I use UWP only when connecting BLE-MIDI devices; otherwise, I use MME.
• If you try to open SONAR with UWP set in Preferences, SONAR may hang if you have a BLE-MIDI device selected as a MIDI input or output and the device is not connected via Bluetooth (note that connected and paired are two different states in Windows 10). The easiest way to solve this hang is to turn on the device before starting SONAR, and then switch to MME mode before turning off this device. Another tip: The hang/crash only occurs when using a Bluetooth MIDI output port. If only a MIDI input is used it will not hang, but will report that the port is not available on loading SONAR.
• If SONAR gets hung to the point where you can’t go into Preferences and return to MME, open the registry and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR\Platinum. Click on Platinum, and set CoreMIDI to 0.

 

 
Microsoft is aware of this bug, so given their "rolling updates" approach, I hope it will be fixed sooner rather than later.

I didn't know about this from Yamaha.

WX5  can run off batteries, so adding this will free it completely. I was just looking for a coiled midi lead with an angled connector, but for $50 I may as well try this first. If it works I may hack it, remover the casing and fit it into the inside of my WX5. I'd just need solder this midi out points.
 
Do you know, the power supplied to Midi, is it just on the sending end of the chain? I'm wondering if this the Midi In attached.

So what am I missing? I can't seem to find tip 143 anywhere.. does it only live in the book?
 
Thanks
PK
 

pjkemp
So what am I missing? I can't seem to find tip 143 anywhere.. does it only live in the book?
 
Thanks
PK

 
The tip for week 143 is two posts above yours.

Kamikaze
I didn't know about this from Yamaha.

WX5  can run off batteries, so adding this will free it completely. I was just looking for a coiled midi lead with an angled connector, but for $50 I may as well try this first. If it works I may hack it, remover the casing and fit it into the inside of my WX5. I'd just need solder this midi out points.
 
Do you know, the power supplied to Midi, is it just on the sending end of the chain? I'm wondering if this the Midi In attached.

But that gizmo I think is the Yamaha MD-BT01, which it suggests is only for Apple devices. Does it work with Sonar / windows ?

Iain, the md-bt01 (midi connector) works just great with the wx-5, windows and with sonar. I don't know about the USB version as i dont have it...
 
hope this helps....
Phil Kemp

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that because SONAR has the UWP option, the Yamaha device would work. The genesis of BLE-MIDI was on the Mac, and what ended up on Windows is similar, if not identical.

Anderton Community Tip: Deciphering New Project Options 

Is it possible to turn off per project audio folders entirely like in prior versions?
Two reasons. I liked old way of just one Audio Data/Picture Cache folders total.
I'd also want to open Bundle files and NOT have to create a 'per project' folder.
It's possible to uncheck a box to skip it, but I want to open bundles in one click.

I don't recommend it, but you can call up New from the start screen and when it's time to save, direct saving audio to the Cakewalk Projects / Audio folder. 
 
I also don't recommend bundle files not because there's anything wrong with the bundle file per se, but like a zip file, lose one bit due to media degradation and the project is gone. Bundles are great for collaborating, but I highly recommend using per-project folders because they make organization and backup easier.

Week 144: Four Quickie Automation Tips
 
Tip 1: Instant Switch to Clip Automation
 
Often, you’ll want to switch back and forth between a clip and its associated clip automation (Gain or Pan). Of course, you can go to the Edit Filter and use the drop-down menu, but there’s a much quicker option.
 
If Clips was selected in the Edit Filter prior to selecting Gain or Pan clip automation, you can switch the Edit Filter between the clip automation and Clips by holding Shift while right-clicking on the clip (if something other than Clips was selected in the Edit Filter, you’ll switch between that and the clip automation).
 
Tip 2: Instant Switch to Volume Automation
 
Here’s another quick switching-oriented shortcut for instant access to the Volume envelope, even if the Volume envelope lane isn’t open. For a selected track, type = to switch the track’s filter from whatever was selected to the Volume envelope. Note that if you select a clip in a different track, this shortcut will still apply to the track that had been selected. You need to select a different track to have the shortcut affect the clips in that track.
 
Tip 3: Instant Global Edit Filter Change
 
Don’t forget that Quick Grouping works with the Edit Filter. Ctrl-click on the Edit Filter, and all track Edit Filters will show whatever you choose.
 
Tip 4: See Parameter Automation Full Name in Edit Filter
 

 
The Edit Filter truncates long automation parameter names, and the abbreviations may leave you scratching your head as to what is really selected. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution: Hover your mouse over the Edit Filter label, and you’ll see a readout of the full name.