Transferring MIDI drum loops into sequencer

[jpdelanoye]

Hi there, I'm a novice recordist just trying to find my way around the MIDI realm, and had what may be an obvious question. I've been using EZDrummer as a sequencer/sound source (with Cubase 4, Macbook Pro), and recently acquired a bunch of third-party MIDI loops (IK Multimedia, Prosonic). I figure there must be an easy way to control the EZX drum kits from these loops but the MIDI layout is different, perhaps GM or some other configuration, on the loops. How does one re-configure the MIDI so the parts make sense? Drum map, maybe? The new files were imported OK since they show up in the "User Midifiles" library of EZDrummer, they just play dysfunctional parts. Thanks!

 

[dintymoore]

I use a free app called MidiPipe. It has a remap feature where you can reroute any notes, maybe that would work.

 

[jpdelanoye]

Thanks! Now, about this MidiPipe...

Thanks very much, dintymoore, that's very helpful and I wasn't aware of such a thing. I downloaded it and tried to use it but it may be a little over my head. How does one set up a pipe to change the MIDI control settings for different sound banks? In the "pipe" window, do you put "MIDI Input", then "Key Mapper" (or some other tool), then "MIDI Output"? This little unit seems like a useful and sophisticated gizmo, but unfortunately it comes with minimal instructions. I guess this might not be as simple as I hoped! 'Preciate cha...

 

[dintymoore]

Yes, the instructions are cryptic, but basically you got it right.

Drag the tools from the column on the left over to the right like this:

Then click on the Midi In in the column on the right, and below it should have the input choices - choose MidiPipe 1 In

Then click on the Key Mapper and go through the notes to reroute them. In the example above a C-1 incoming note gets turned into an E-1 note.

Then click on the last entry on the right column, Midi Out, and when the box below appears choose whatever the MIDI module you're using is, or wherever you want to send the signal. You could even reroute it back into Cubase.

When you got it how you like, save and name it. Then before you run Cubase, run MidiPipe and with it still open, open Cubase and set your Midi Outs to MidiPipe 1 In.

Hope that makes sense.

I'm not sure how to address your question "How does one set up a pipe to change the MIDI control settings for different sound banks?". You can set up a whole bunch of "pipes". What you see above is just one. I have 20-some going at once, and there's zero delay or screw up that I can tell. There's a pull down menu that lets you add on a pipe, but I'm not sure enough of your system to really know what you need.

A neat thing MidiPipe has is the DLS Synth, which is a Roland SoundCanvas built into every Mac.

 

[jpdelanoye]

Many Thanks, Great Intro to MidiPipe

Hey, thanks so much, that's some great information. This could be universally helpful for many applications and situations. Certainly appreciate your time and effort...

 

[dintymoore]

Great!

Note that there's the AList tool that gives you real time read out of anything going in. You can plug in a drum machine, hit a note and it could tell you what key was being triggered. The AList (activity list) doesn't do any modifying to the MIDI signal, it's just a monitor, and you can put more than one AList tool in a pipesto see what going on at various points.

The best thing about MidiPipe is that it doesn't seem to screw up the timing or reliability of the system. It seems to happen on a level that is rock solid.