ProAudio9 Playback MIDI file w/Rolland XP-80 Issue

[billbo46]

I'm trying to play back a MIDI file I created as a Rolland sequence .SQV, on my Rolland XP-80. I saved it as a MIDI opened it up in Cakewalk and I'm trying to play the patch sounds on the Rolland in multitimbral performance. I have a SoundBlaster live Platinum card, and I can get the file to only play individual patches. When I select Track Properties and assign the Channel and Bank, and I'm using Patch 100... the correct patch plays. I have tried to individually select each track and force them to play and I can, but only individually, not in unison? The default performance channel is 16, but I set up my tracks and channels to correspond, Ch.1 track 1 and so on... If I look at the Rolland XP-80, It says that the patch performance displayed is on channel one? I have tried to set the RX/TX switch for each patch to have it's own channel, but I can't save the settings? If anyone understands what I'm attempting to do, please reply. My intent is to eventually be able to playback, mix down, and record my sequence to CD.

Thanks!
Newbe Billbo.

 

[ssscientist]

I'm not sure...

I quite understand why you need to involve Cakewalk in the portion of the process that's giving you so much trouble.

If the sequence sounds right coming out of the Roland, then it IS right. Unless you need something that Cakewalk can do and the onboard XP-80 sequencer can't, all you need is to play the stereo mix into your sound card capturing it as a stereo track either in Cakewalk or your favorite stereo editing software.

Having the sequence as MIDI data in Cakewalk won't help you with your ultimate goal of getting the song onto a CD.

I hope I understood your question --

 

[lumbago]

Download a free demo copy of Noteworthy Composer (www.noteworthysoftware.com)

It's small and compact and easy to use.

Import your midi file (accepting the defaults), and then check the patch assignments for each channel. You may have more luck driving from this program. At least you'll be able to see what is going on. Use PgUp and PgDn to traverse each stave and F2 to check the midi channel assignments.

In the XP, you'll may need to run in Performance mode (if it has it) or GM (general midi) mode to replay all different midi channels with a different patch on each one.

 

[billbo46]

Lumbago,
Thanks for the tip! I'd like to give Cakewalk Pro9 another try before I leap to another program, but I'll keep the noteworthysoftware link handy just in case! But Cakewalk is doing what I want it to do, but only one channel at a time? I may be getting ahead of myself and need to play, mix, and record each track as a .wav file first? Then have the sequence recorded as a .cda or mp3? Any other input would be greatly appreciated.

billbo46.

PS: The XP, will run in both Performance and GM mode, but it just won't replay all different midi channels with a different patch on each one at once? And all of the other tracks want to play a GM sound patch? When I set up the XP to show the Rhythm mode, then all three of my tracks on Ch. 10 reproduced the correct sound patch. But all of my other tracks that are assigned to a different channel want to play the rhythm patch sounds on Ch. 10. That's why in my original thread I mentioned the RX/TX switch for each patch to have it's own channel, but I can't seem to save the settings on the XP?

 

[Jsar78]

Hi there,

I use Pro Audio 9 with a Roland XP-30.

Not to sure about the difference in the interface but on the XP-30 I have to first set it to performance mode (not GM performance) - on the XP-30 it's just a button I press "performance"

Here I can set the channel (called PART on the XP-30)
- I hold performance and then press patch and the menu will let me browse the patches. once the patch is selected press performance and an * is listed next to the performance bank letting me know changes are ready for saving (be sure you have a USER performance selected so you can save the changes) Save the changes (XP-30 it's the UTILTY/CARD button and then enter on WRITE)

I'll do this for all 16 PARTS.

In Cakewalk (MIDI and patch select options) select the channel and be sure to map the Roland patch to the channel (in the instruments button) (this is very easy if you import the XP-80 Instrument Definition - see cakewalks support site for the file and instructions)

Then you basically select the patch and they shouls all playback.

The hardest thing to set up are the roland keyboards - be nice if the manuals offered more details.

I hope this helps and hope I understand what your problem was.

- jsar