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Synfire communicating to external synths

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I'm still having issues ceating a library of my own instruments with Synfire Pro.  

 

'Tyros uses a three digit number to access all its intruments ad bank The electric piano alone 

Tyros uses CC0 = Bank MSB

Tyros uses CC32 = Bank LSB

Program between 0 127

                      MSB    LSB   Program

SparkleStack is - 0    121   6

SweetDX         104        0   6

BalladSX             0     124   6

 

The GM insturments (Genereal Mode ) only need the prog #, disregards the BankMSB, BankLSB.

 

It seems the only way to  acces sthese other instruments is to create a unique unique two digit # plus program #.

 

Verry few instruments will use the same Bank MSB and Bank LSB for a catagory.  I set the method of selection to 'control-0(A) and the 2nd window to control 32-B + program sound.  I'm assuming the program will go over in the right side to audio-midie set up page. + Program I'm trying to end the MSB and LSB 14 into the Window A and B

 

When preparing a midi file to analyze in Synfire Pro, I clean up and edit the  tracks in Logic.  I try playing it thru QT, works fine, I hear 16 different instruemts I paly it throug another midie file player, it also worked fine.

 

When I load into Synfire it appears fine. Howeve after I import it, all 16 tracks are playing the same midi channel 1.  I don't know how to get aroun it, except create a new instruemt (15times) cut and copy data to a new t rack..

 

There must be somehting wrong here.

 

 

For now, I jusrset Tyros to GM standard, although I miss out on a lot of great sound, Sometimes when computer is really actuing up, I have to set synfire to play internal GM   I get of lot of hanging notes when sending SFP to external MIDI out

 

Can anyone shed any light on this..?   Than 

 


Fri, 2011-09-02 - 12:03 Permalink

To let communicate Synfire Pro with Tyros you must make a device setup for the instrument


The coming automatic installer VSTi don't do this for Tyros


It seems to me a specialistic job..to make a device setup..you can try it by yourself perhaps to find information about it on internet


( on Cognitone office they don't have the time for this? )

Sat, 2011-09-03 - 01:19 Permalink

Setting up device descriptions for external keyboards can be a pain in the butt.

 

The program select methods are "per bank", so all instruments that reside on the same bank (this goes for MSB and LSB) need to be grouped together.  This is might be trouble for the Tyros unless there is an alternate selection method, because you will have a lot of banks!

 

Basically, the way it works is you create a bank in the device description and select the method used for *that bank* of instruments.  Then add the instruments that all have the same MSB/LSB and set the programs and program change numbers appropriately.

 

 

I could probably create a decent description if I had a file listing all of the bank selection numbers and patches and names, etc. for the keyboard.

 

--

Here is an example fake setup and how it could be configured in individual banks using the MSB/LSB method (CC#0 + CC#32).  Imagine that the device has a bank of acoustic pianos, a bank of electric pianos, and a bank with some GM orchestral patches that match MIDI spec for program change numbers...

 

You would create a bank name and set the bank selection mode, plug in the MSB and LSB for the bank, then add the patches and number them.

 

 

Bank Name:  ACOUSTIC PIANOS

MSB (CC#0):  0  /  LSB (CC#32):  0

Program Change #:

1:  Steinway D

2:  August Foerster

3:  Bechstein

4:  Bosendorfer

5:  Erard

 

(For this you would create a bank named "Acoustic Pianos", pick the CC0+CC32 selection mode, put "0" in the MSB box, "0" in the LSB box, and create 5 programs numbered from 1-5.)

 

 

Bank Name:  ELECTRIC PIANOS

MSB (CC#0):  1  LSB (CC#32):  0

Program Change #:

1:  A200

2:  Rhodes

3:  Wurly

4:  CP70

5:  DX7

 

(Similar to the first, but MSB/LSB would be "1" and "0" using a different bank for these five patches numbered 1-5.)

 

 

Bank Name:  ORCHESTRAL

MSB (CC#0):  10  /  LSB (CC#32):  10

Program Change #:

41:  Cello

43:  Violin

49:  String Ensemble

69:  Oboe

72:  Clarinet

74:  Flute

 

(This one would be a bank with MSB/LSB set to 10 and 10... etc.)

Sat, 2011-09-03 - 01:31 Permalink

Test it out with a small description that only has a couple banks with a couple instruments configured.  It should work well with dynamic instrument addressing enabled, but the differences between the banks is all over the place after looking at Tyros patch lists.

 

It looks like it would be really difficult to do properly though, because a lot of the patches don't seem to sit in the same bank together.

 

You might have to cherrypick your favorites.  :)

 

Mon, 2011-09-05 - 16:46 Permalink

Thanx Keith;

 

On closer examination it appears none of the instruments are in the same MSB/LSB combination.  Each instruments has a unique 2 digit MSB/LSB #.  This of course means creating a unique bank for every instrument used.  The point was I wanted to be able to port the SFP document into Logic and NOT have to reset all the voices.  At this point that is the easier way to do.  I use SFP to create a sketch, then refine the sounds in Logic.  However I completely defeat the purpose of using Tyros, and it's 'advanced' voices.. I can have been certainly using GM sounds for now, and that works OK.

 

The next question - say I do create the bank setups.  Are the categories are already previously designated? Can I create new cateqories.. Tyros uses several cateqories (Live, SA2, Mega) Each has certain characteristics to make use of.  I.E Mega voices use notes in octave 6 - 7 to create artifacts (scratches, pops, clicks, harmonics). SA 2 voices use velocity and 2 articulation buttons to activate different samples or glides or glissandos (which are preterminced sequences of notes to create the glide or gliss effect).

 

This appears to be an 'out of the question' amount of work.. And once 1.5 arrives and you work thru your DAW, it becomes a moot point doesn't it?  

 

Andre will SFP 1.5 still handle assigning voices, or will it differ over to parent DAW?.

 

The other issue I had was with SFP deciding my 16 instruments were really just one instrument MIDI channel 1. I have gotten SFP to respond correctly on occassion, but other times, all instruments are on one channels or that two to sequential tracks (two different voices) are on 1 MIDI channel.  This is also dynamically changes. If I pick the bass track, SFP says the bass, and the next instrument, for instant bass, and piano are the same instrument. If I choose piano, SFP decided the piano, string are on the same channel. 

 

At other points, I will have all different midi channels responding correctly, If I decide to 're-analyze one instrument part, all instruments get reinterpeted as being the same midi channel. Again if I play the original MIDI sequence, from which I created the library.  All sixteen  midi channels play properly.  Or I can see them displayed if I use another midi playing app. 

 

I don't know if I'm having 'senior' moments, or what is happening.  At this point, more often than not I stick to internal GM instruments, and re-assign when I import into Logic. Which is admittedly defeating a lot of SFP power.