Midi Drums and Sonar

[DarkCide]

I've exported Guitar Pro drum tracks into a midi. I want to be able to manipulate the different sounds/volume of each instrument. Is it possible to do with Sonar? Do I need a synth? How do I do it?

[dachay2tnr]

Originally Posted by DarkCide

I've exported Guitar Pro drum tracks into a midi. I want to be able to manipulate the different sounds/volume of each instrument. Is it possible to do with Sonar? Do I need a synth? How do I do it?

Your terminology has me a bit confused as to what you are asking.

Do you mean you created a midi track? If so, then yes you need a synth to play it back. This can be a hardware synth (sound card, keyboard) or a software synth (DXi or VSTi). Sonar comes with a couple of general midi DXi's that you can use if you don't have a hardware synth, or want to expand your choice of sounds.

I believe the newer versions of Sonar also come with a sound font player, so you can also use sound fonts. There are quite a few free sond fonts available on the web.

[DarkCide]

Ok, I've been able to use the software synth cyclone to play the midi drums tracks.

Is there a way to change the sounds of each instrument such as the kick, snare through the synth? All the drum instruments seem to be playing through the same channel 10 and I can't seem to be able to control each seperately!

[dachay2tnr]

Originally Posted by DarkCide

Ok, I've been able to use the software synth cyclone to play the midi drums tracks.

Is there a way to change the sounds of each instrument such as the kick, snare through the synth? All the drum instruments seem to be playing through the same channel 10 and I can't seem to be able to control each seperately!

You could put each drum on its own midi track and run it to a separate instance of the DXi. There is a Cal program that will split the notes out for you. It's called Split Notes to Tracks.

However, I prefer to do it manually, since I like to keep certain notes grouped together on one track, e.g., Open, Closed and Pedal Hi Hat. What I find fairly easy is to clone the drum track a few times, and then delete whichever drums I don't want from each track. You can select an entire drum sequence by clicking on the corresponding piano key. This will highlight the entire track for that particular note, then just hit the delete key.

[DarkCide]

Originally Posted by dachay2tnr

You could put each drum on its own midi track and run it to a separate instance of the DXi. There is a Cal program that will split the notes out for you. It's called Split Notes to Tracks.

However, I prefer to do it manually, since I like to keep certain notes grouped together on one track, e.g., Open, Closed and Pedal Hi Hat. What I find fairly easy is to clone the drum track a few times, and then delete whichever drums I don't want from each track. You can select an entire drum sequence by clicking on the corresponding piano key. This will highlight the entire track for that particular note, then just hit the delete key.

Now I'm using Battery 2 is my software synth and there is no sound coming out. Some synths work and some don't. I've noticed battery's pads blink so I know it is reading the midi signal. How can I make it produce sounds?

I was able to clone the midi tracks and will use your preferred method by deleting instruments in the piano roll. How do you adjust the volume of each seperate instrument and can you change the sample (sound) for each instrument?

[dachay2tnr]

Originally Posted by DarkCide

Now I'm using Battery 2 is my software synth and there is no sound coming out. Some synths work and some don't. I've noticed battery's pads blink so I know it is reading the midi signal. How can I make it produce sounds?

I was able to clone the midi tracks and will use your preferred method by deleting instruments in the piano roll. How do you adjust the volume of each seperate instrument and can you change the sample (sound) for each instrument?

Don't own Battery, so I can't help you there. Sorry.

As for adjusting volume, if you use a separate instance of the DXi, you can adjust the volume on the audio track that it is patched to. Although some (most?) DXi's have individual volume controls within the DXi control panel. Depends on the DXi and your preferred approach I guess. However, multiple instances of a DXi will chew up CPU power in some cases.

[ariyus]

Originally Posted by DarkCide

Now I'm using Battery 2 is my software synth and there is no sound coming out. Some synths work and some don't. I've noticed battery's pads blink so I know it is reading the midi signal. How can I make it produce sounds?

I was able to clone the midi tracks and will use your preferred method by deleting instruments in the piano roll. How do you adjust the volume of each seperate instrument and can you change the sample (sound) for each instrument?

u have to assign a wav files on each of the blinking pads... so u must have sample files (drumkit) ..blinking means the pads have been triggered by your midi files... u almost got it...

[DarkCide]

Originally Posted by ariyus

u have to assign a wav files on each of the blinking pads... so u must have sample files (drumkit) ..blinking means the pads have been triggered by your midi files... u almost got it...

Thank you very much. Worked nicely!

How is it possible to know what instrument each trigger is without experimenting by adding a sound first.

For example, you have all kinds of pads blinking when the drums are playing, how do you know which is the highhat, snare, kick...etc?

[ariyus]

i often arrange midi file using piano roll... it is much easier.. u can click a note on piano and hear what sound will come out...

but each pads in battery 2 has a key range assigned... u can check it on cell tabs > cell control > key range...

hope that helps...