Subject:ReWire

Posted by: briang

Date:11/24/2004 2:53:18 AM

Hi Guys

I have owned Acid for over 4 years, and am ashamed to admit it, but never got serious about using the programm.

My main interest is in video editing using Sony Vegas Video, and I have been using Smartsound Sonic Pro for some of my custom background scores, which I find easy to produce, as I do not have a musical background.

However, with the release of Acid 5.0 I have got really excited about the potential of Acid. I Have now even produced a few numbers with relative ease (there's hope for me yet, but a long way to go!).

I am a little confused about the concept of ReWire and Softsynths.

Can any of you advise me if any of the Native Instruments, Xpress Keyboards supplied with Acid 5.0 can be used without an external keyboard, and can be recorded directly into Acid 5.0.

I have read the manual, but find it a little confusing due to my lack of experience in this area.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Brian

Subject:RE: ReWire

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:11/24/2004 5:17:03 AM

Hi Brian,

Yes, you can create a MIDI file to trigger the Native Instruments soft synths from the Piano Roll Editor right in ACID. Here’s how:

1. Select Insert > Soft Synth... from the main menu
2. Select a soft synth from the Soft Synth Chooser dialog (i.e., B4 Express)
3. Choose the sound you want to use in the Soft Synth Properties and then close it
4. Select Insert > MIDI Track from the main menu. A new MIDI track will be added to the timeline and the MIDI Piano Roll Editor will appear
5. (Optional) Press the “Enable Snapping Notes to Specified Scale” button (tuning fork). This will prevent you from playing any notes that are not in the key specified.
6. Paint some notes in the Piano Roll and listen to them back with the play button.
7. When you finished, press the Save icon (diskette in the upper right corner) to save the data back to the MIDI file

If you wanted to play the first chord in the key of C, paint the notes C-E-G. Try using the Paint Tool with different note durations (start with Quarter note) so that your notes are guaranteed to be the same length. The keyboard on the left will sound the notes so you can work out a tune on the keyboard and then paint the corresponding notes on the timeline.

I find it a lot harder to work this way because I’m a musician and its just easier to pick up a MIDI keyboard and play the part I want, but lots of people do all their MIDI in the Piano Roll Editor.

ReWire would be used to sync ACID with another application like SONAR, Cubase, Tracktion, etc. It allows ACID to be used as a soft synth in other programs or allows other programs to be used as soft synths in ACID.

Hope this helps.

~jr

Subject:RE: ReWire

Reply by: briang

Date:11/25/2004 3:13:52 AM

Hi JR

Many grateful thanks for your comprehensive post and assistance.

I faithfully followed your advice, however after selecting a soft Synth (Paddington in FM 7 Express), closing it and then inserting a Midi track, and as you stated the midi piano roll appears. However, the soft synth that I selected does not materialise in the midi piano roll. It iremains as the original piano synth (which is what I was getting prior to my post, and hence my confusion about soft Synths).

Have looked at all of the midi settings, and they seem to be set correctly.

Do not wish to take up too much of your time, but if you have any suggestions they will be gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Brian

Subject:RE: ReWire

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:11/25/2004 8:45:49 AM

Brian,

Sorry, I made the incorrect assumption that you started with a new project in which no soft synths exist. That would automatically assign the MIDI track to the one and only soft synth. If, however, the DLS soft synth is already added to the project, the track will default to that. I should have realized you were in the middle of a project. (sorry)

1. Go to the track header for the MIDI track and to the right of the Scribble Strip (i.e., track label) is the Device Selector button.
2. Press the Device Selector and a drop down menu will appear.
3. Select the Soft Synth (Paddington in FM 7 Express) and that soft synth will now be assigned to the track.
4. Double-click on the track number to open the Piano Roll Editor and you should now here your soft synth.

Let me know if this works.

~jr

Subject:RE: ReWire

Reply by: briang

Date:11/25/2004 5:35:50 PM

HI JR

Brilliant!!

I woud not have easily picked the Device Selector myself to solve this issue.

Many thanks again, for your great help.

Looking for to the release of your Instant Acid book in 2005.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to you and your family.

Brian
Silicon Forge
Queensland
Australia

Subject:RE: ReWire

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:11/25/2004 6:35:01 PM

Brian,

I’m glad it worked. The Instant ACID book has an entire chapter devoted to MIDI Recording so it should be a big help once its released. (I can’t wait either) ;-)

~jr