Skip to main content

MIDI problems

Posted

I've had a few problems with the mappings for MIDI instruments on HN. First, when I tried using it with Bandstand it worked pretty well, except the drum track always triggered some Asian percussion instrument called Shanai, rather than a regular drum kit. I never succeeded in changing this. (I think the "Shanai" setting appeared during the splash screen whenever I started HN, but I'm not sure.)

Bandstand also seems to have messed around with other settings, which are listed on HN's splash screen though I can't figure out where the changes have been made. One of these involves substituting bass sounds for drums whenever I try to import a MIDI drum track. ("Using Acoustic Bass instead of Channel 1," is the message given by HN.) The problem persists even after I've quit trying to use Bandstand.

Neither of those is a big issue for me, but one other problem continues to frustrate: the instrument for "Chords Only" has changed from piano to (I think) acoustic guitar. I remember trying out this instrument once by using right-click/Properties/Intrument in the accompaniment editor; I must have somehow changed the setting permanently, even though I don't see it listed anywhere. I used the "Chords-Only for Recording" accompaniment Andre posted on this forum, and it's been helpful, but I want to audition harmonies using Chords-Only (with the original piano sound) while I have a drum loop playing.


Mon, 2009-09-14 - 18:30 Permalink

There is probably no GM.Drumkit sound registered for your Bandstand device. You will need to have that sending on channel 10, too (a GM restriction for historical reasons). Once you have added a drum kit that is classified as such, everything should work fine.

You can edit the "Chords-Only for Recording" accompaniment to include a drum track. That will play the drums along when you capture chords.