Song Editor

[alanclare]

Is it possible to use the Song Editor/Creator to modify part of a drum kit's performance (voice and/or volume) in a previously-recorded MIDI song file? A typical situation might be a carefully-crafted song which on playback proves to have an intrusively-loud bass drum.

Alan

[Normanfernandez]

You need MixMaster for that.

[DerekA]

If you don't want to use MixMaster, it is possible to do it on the keyboard, using the step editor where you can adjust individual notes and velocities.

But this is most suitable when you are just targeting one or two notes in the performance, it would be quite laborious to do it for something that may have hundreds of occurrences in the song. Using the keyboard only there's no easy way to perform a 'bulk' update.

[alanclare]

Thanks Derek. I suspected as much. I have used the step editor to locate the first line where the errant drum dwelt. I reduced the volume (velocity?) to something bearable, copied the line, and then worked my way through the passage, deleting the lines and pasting the quieter replacements in their place.

It worked, but as you say, it's a laborious process.

I have an aversion to using proprietary software, like Mixmaster. I begrudge the time that the learning process requires. Also, if I do explore the value of using such aids, I use them so infrequently that I need to always start afresh the learning process.

Alan

[ckobu]

Alan, I totally understand the aversion you have to external software. Unfortunately, without that, you are completely helpless in processing Song. But that's why with it you have complete control over all parameters. MixMaster is a great program but for processing Song I still recommend the good old XGWorks.
Watch the video, for what you need, the first half of the video will be enough, up to 5 minutes. It's easy to process the things you need. The main changes are described for up to 5 minutes. If you want a little more, it's in the rest of the video. If something is not clear to you about the procedure, I will be happy to help you.

https://youtu.be/dmNPgXeirVA

regards, ckobu

[alanclare]

ckobu - I appreciate and understand your support for external programs like MixMaster & XGWorks, and the kindness you display in your concern that I am rejecting a tool that could make life easier for me in my quest for simple editing of a MIDI file. I'll try and explain.

I've had my PSRs970 for five years and I am still amazed at what the Yamaha engineers have packed into it. In terms of value-for-money, I have to rate it very near the top of all the purchases that I have ever made. I am still opening doors built into this machine which allow me to see more of what it contains. As I, with the invaluable help of members of this forum such as yourself, find out what this arranger will do for me, I find that the Song Editor itself has limitations. I am not surprised. I shall work around it. But I have learned from using that 1-16 Tab, the Step Recorder, more about the structure of MIDI files than I knew before. That's good enough for me. I feel a bit closer to the heart of my keyboard. External software, such as MixMaster, would make life easier, but I would feel as if I were cheating on my machine.

Way back in 1970, I spent a year at University trying to develop a methodology for a computer-based system for handling information available from the then new ways of text recognition by machine. My project had the ambition of using files of natural language text as a basis for a computer-based information retrieval system. The programs that I wrote during that very happy time were all written in the assembler code of the University's large mainframe computer. By using a language very close to the internal structure of the computer I could write programs that could handle the large magnetic tape files in a reasonably short time - usually overnight by avoiding overload of the mainframe's processing power. I loved writing in assembler code, because I felt close to the machine. I'm a bit like that with my s970. It's got limitations. I accept that there are limits and I shall be happy to work within those limits.

Thanks again, Alan

[Joe H]

StyleMagic allows us to import a MIDI song file. In the (graphic) Drum Editor you can make "global" settings/changes very easily with little or no learning curve.  The edits possible can drastically change the sound of the drum kit's individual sounds.  It's a very valuable tool.

Joe H

[jm]

Hi Alan
I'm not sure this will work? But couldn't you lower the volume (drums are usually Channel 10) using the keyboard, then re-save the midi using a different name I.e. V.edit & name of song.
I unfortunately have not been able to play my keyboard for nearly 18 months now. otherwise I would try it out for you.
Kind regards
Jan

[alanclare]

Jan
Thank you. What you suggest is broadly what I do. I play the song and listen to the individual tracks to identify which track contains the sound that I need to suppress. As you say, this is often track 10, which is RHY2, but not always. Often, a mad drummer intrudes on track 9, RHY1. The next step is to identify approximately the bar (measure) where the sound starts.

Now I invoke the Song Creator and tab across to the Channels 1-16 editor, select the errant channel, and move down to where the sound that needs its volume adjusted starts. I position the cursor on the line where the first occurrence starts, move back to the preceding line, insert a new line, place the cursor on the column which contains the Control instructions, use Data Entry to make this Ctrl, change the next column to 7 (verified as Volume), then enter a suitable value for the volume that follows.

Now is a good time to save the Song, probably under a different name. Still using the channels 1-16 editor, move back a few bars from the new line and play the Song to listen to the change. If necessary, alter the Volume value, and try again.

I'm sorry this is a bit long-winded, but I'm hoping that someone more experienced than me will read this and correct my mistakes.

Alan