Global MIDI output setting

[Orvkat]

Hello I just bought Mixcraft recording Studio 10.5 (was thinking about moving over from Cakewalk)!
I edit and use a lot of GM midi files and I like to use my Roland Sound Canvas 8850 module and I don’t see any global MIDI output setting for MIDI (only input) in preferences…kind of a deal breaker if I have to set each track channel and instrument for every MIDI I want to work with!

Cakewalk and BIAB sets global MIDI outputs and automatically set each track for GM instruments and channels for my hardware MIDI modules when I open files!

Best regards,

Orvkat

[CactusMusicBC]

Hi Yes I saw that you contacted me via Messenger. Easier to reply here.
Hopefully someone can answer this question. Very few daw's seem to support full midi implementation and the only reason CW does is because it started life as a Midi sequencer so hardware was required back then.
But Hardware is still a big part of the Electronic music scene so I would think Mixcraft has midi output capabilities.

What I'm not finding is the way to select midi channels but this forum so far for me has always come through with an answer. Be aware that it is Thanksgiving weekend in California so you might have to wait a little longer for a reply. I too own a old SC 55. I never use it because I now use Synth font player. But I will see if I can find a solution. That's how you learn a new Daw. Dig around.

[CactusMusicBC]

OK I think I found what we are looking for. It was a fluke I spotted this when watching the tutorial. He was talking about something else.
Click on the midi instrument icon to open the dialogue to choose the instrument. You'll see one option is "External Midi Devices" This was what I had missed before.
You choose your Midi interface ( mine is a Motu) and then in the dialogue you have all the midi output options for Channels etc.
Haven't test it yet because dang if I can find the power supply for the SC 55. But I also have a Korg o5R/W. Now where's a midi cable?
Anyhow I have no doubt it will work.

Screenshot (1623).png (111.21 KiB) Viewed 1070 times

[CactusMusicBC]

It worked perfectly with my Korg sound module. I changed all the tracks to output to the Motu. The bummer is it changed the track name too.
If I left the dialogue on outputting on all channels the korg responded to the GM patches correctly. The only thing I had to do was select my Motu as the output for the track. I see how you do have midi tracks in Mixcraft.
And many VST instruments have midi out which I will try that next.
Take note that to test this I am using a downloaded GM midi file.

all_over_now.mid

(46.37 KiB) Downloaded 42 times

[Orvkat]

Well worked as you described first time anyway!
I saved it as a midi file then as a Mx10 project file… the midi file open with the Mixcraft tts-1 type sound fonts (no midi outputs) and the project file remembered my MOTU M2 MIDI outputs but, didn’t get the instruments (only the drums)!
Have tried TTS-1 to compare the sounds?
Starting to miss my old Cakewalk… Lol

[Orvkat]

Well work as you described first time anyway!
I saved it as a midi file then as a Mx10 project file… the midi file open with the Mixcraft tts-1 type sound fonts (no midi outputs) and the project file remembered my MOTU M2 MIDI outputs but, didn’t get the instruments (only the drums)!
Have tried TTS-1 to compare the sounds?
Starting to miss my old Cakewalk… Lol

[cactus-head]

Hello,

The default MIDI GM instrument settings is under Preferences > Plugins . This setting controls how a loaded MIDI file assigns instruments and tracks based on the content of the MIDI file. Any synth/instrument that has been read by Mixcraft as a plugin can be used. The instruments chosen will depend on how the default presets are setup in the plugin.

Unfortunately, the only instruments available for this function are internal. There is no selection for External MIDI. The workaround would be to have a VSTi that can be set to a default external MIDI port. WinMM Multiport VSTi comes close but I see no way to keep it from defaulting to an empty port upon loading.

External MIDI ports can be assigned manually on the track; but there is no global assignment for external out beyond what is indicated above.

[CactusMusicBC]

Ya, It's weird but in CW plug ins GUI's all have a settings ( Cog wheel ) where you can select "Enable midi output" The stand alones app if available also have this as well. But In Mixcraft as well as Waveform this is not there. I haven't checked other Daw's yet,. So it seems it is up to the software vendor to add this feature.
I don't have time right now, but I will see if a Mixcraft project retains the midi output assignments. I don't see why it wouldn't.

As I said you can use any VST GM player in Mixcraft if you don't like the Acoustica instruments. I myself think they are just fine. I don't generally use GM sounds for anything serious, I use them to see if a downloaded midi file is worth fixing up. I always replace the instruments with better stuff. There are a million better sounds available for free these days.
And seriously, the Sound Canvas is a zillion years old and the sounds are way outdated. I keep mine because it looks cool sitting on the shelf! Nobody would buy it from me I would think. The MS Wavetable synth sounds better to me for many patches. And I love Coyote the most.
But the TS-1 was the best because it had the mixer and you could add effects. Cubbases Halicon is definitely the ultimate GM player but even then some patches suck. The Bass sounds like a fart.

[cactus-head]

Hi,

Saving a project will work for the project because the instruments will have been defined for the project.

I think the OPs question is about opening a blank project and loading any MIDI file and having Mixcraft separating the instruments by track and assign the instruments to their external hardware. It is possible as a default setting but only if there is a VST that selects a specific external MIDI port to which the hardware is attached. By default, this doesn't seem to exist in Mixcraft.

For example, I have 11 MIDI ports. One of the hardware ports is to my Babyface Audio Interface to which I have a keyboard attached. If I can assign the Babyface port to the Preferences > Plugins > Default General MIDI (GM) Instruments box then each track would output to that port as an external instrument. Loading a MIDI file would break out the MIDI file per track, identify the channel and the program changes, and the keyboard (hardware) would playback the MIDI information accordingly.

Because an External Instrument (or MIDI port) cannot be assigned to this box, it will not work. However, if there is a VST that outputs to and defaults to a specific MIDI port, then it could work. The only VSTi I've found that comes close is WinMM Multiport VSTi but unfortunately only allows you to set the MIDI port after the fact.

This is the same problem with trying to replace the Acoustica Instruments default GM with a Soundfont Player VST. Unless the soundfont VST opens with a default SF2 file loaded in place, there will be no instrument playback. One would have to load and assign the SF2 file to each track instance of the SF2 player.

[CactusMusicBC]

Thanks Cactushead. That's good info. I'll wait for the OP to respond but what I thought they were doing was transferring older midi projects from Cakewalk to Mixcraft.
In CW you create a project with all midi tracks, note that these are not instrument tracks, they are midi and make no sound. And those tracks have a OUTPUT dialogue box where you can choose either a VST, if loaded, or any available midi ports. Then each track has a dialogue box were you enter Channel, Bank and patch. It was probably like this since the 90's.
This is what is different in Mixcraft. There's no dedicated Midi track for using hardware only. I think everything is there it's just done differently so takes a bit to sort it out.
What I find is some folks have been doing things for decades and are a bit resistant to change. Really, there's no reason to be using a Sound Canvas for your sounds anymore. I speak from experience because l keep my Korg wired in and I prefered it up until only 10 years ago when I finally switched to VST's. I also have a sound canvas and it has some interesting sounds but the meat and potatoes Drums, Bass and Piano are pretty dated now.
I am still a big fan of Hardware. That's why the 05R/W is still in use. It has these massive synth pads I have yet to replicate on a VST.

[cactus-head]

...note that these are not instrument tracks, they are midi and make no sound. And those tracks have a OUTPUT dialogue box where you can choose either a VST, if loaded, or any available midi ports. Then each track has a dialogue box were you enter Channel, Bank and patch. It was probably like this since the 90's.
This is what is different in Mixcraft. There's no dedicated Midi track for using hardware only...

If the goal is to get existing or new tracks set up for external hardware playback, then you were on the money with selecting <External MIDI Devices> as an instrument from the change instrument dialog box.

I guess because foundationally Mixcraft is for recording, if you route MIDI to an external device you would have to route the audio back from that device to an audio track in Mixcraft to record it.

If someone is used to MIDI hardware, they also might be used to MIDI master/slave relationships. Mixcraft doesn't function in slave mode - it won't act on MIDI clocks being sent to it. So using an external sequencer won't control the tempo of Mixcraft. I say this because using the external out instrument of Mixcraft and then looping back the audio from the hardware receiving the MIDI would be a scenario to have a consistent clock (generated by Mixcraft) for your tracks.

[Orvkat]

Thank you so much for all the help!

You’re right and the old SC-55 sounds pretty wimpy so…I use the Ketron SD2 or my Roland 880 or 8850 (sometimes TTS-1) to get a base line! Then add various VST’s for a gig ready sequence.
Most of my backing tracks are from either BIAB (realtracks and MIDI) or commercial MIDI files that I bought or downloaded from the internet. Lately I’ve used some Mp3 tracks and after lining up the click track I’ll add some MIDI to help with queues.
I would be ok if I just could get TTS-1(DXi) to play my GM MIDI files as a default soundfont in Mixcraft and be able to change instruments included in the TTS-1 (Sorry…I think TTS-1 sounds better than the Mixcraft soundfont)!
I Installed Mixcraft 10.5 next to my Cakewalk on the same computer and got most of the plugin from Cakewalk but no DXi’s.

[CactusMusicBC]

DXI is a ancient format from a bygone era. Modern Daw's don;t support it. It is on the brink of total extinction and that is why CW and Sonar no longer include it in the install. But I found it sort of weird they also stopped having the MS wavetable as an option for midi output at the same time exactly a year ago?? In a way it's a shame because there was nothing really wrong with DX as well as as far as GM sound players go MS wavetable sounded about the same to me. Steinberg won the battle and we have VST.
My band is Ample P bass, Addictive Drums, Air's DB 33 organ and the old Cakewalk True Pianos. Then I use AIrs Xpand for Horns and weird stuff. Strum Session and Ample Guitar for Guitars. I love the old Lounge Lizard from AAS. A few others of which none cost me very much.

[ppayne]

Hi,

Y
You could try this for DXI

https://craiganderton.org/how-to-use-dx ... only-daws/

Patrick