Subject:MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Posted by: Moody

Date:12/28/2005 10:06:42 AM

I'm giving up... I've tried to switch over from using Cakewalk, but I just can't get used to doing any kind of MIDI work within ACID PRO (v4.0). I serioiusly hope that Sony fixes this in V6, because the features around MIDI (namely editing and recording) is so archaic, it is keeping me from being able to ditch other programs. I'm thinking about ditching ACID all together and just go to Sonar Home Studio Version 4, but I want to wait to make sure Sony isn't going to do anything about MIDI. (and yes, I've sent a product request already to Sony.)

I don't know.. I guess I'm just venting... because other than MIDI, ACID is great.

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:12/28/2005 10:42:19 AM

MIDI recording is one of the weak points in ACID and let’s hope Sony is listening and does improve it. In the mean time, what in particular are you having trouble with? I record MIDI in ACID all the time and, yes, it is convoluted, but it does work. Explain your workflow and what’s bothering you and perhaps we can help you improve your workflow a bit.

~jr

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:12/28/2005 2:18:47 PM

I don't think Acid could replace Cakewalk. If you use MIDI a lot, you would probably be better to upgrade to Sonar. I use Acid all the time, but I do serious MIDI work in Cubase SL3. I like Acid because even with the latest improvements to Cubase Acid is still the easiest way to get something quickly grooving. I can't imagine Acid ever being "improved" to the extent that it becomes a free-form tape-recorder style environment like Cubase - it would probably kill what is good in the process!

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: Moody

Date:12/28/2005 9:44:39 PM

Thanks JohnnyRoy (and jumbuk) for your comments.

What gets me right now is that if I wanted to "re-record" something, it seems that I have to create a new MIDI file. In cakewalk, I can record something realtime (using my keyboard), go back in, quantitize notes (which you can do that in ACID), delete some notes out (which you can do that), and/or re-record and add some notes on top of what is already there (using my keyboard). I haven't been able to figure out the last part. It seems in aCID, you get one shot at recording it. After that, everything has to be done through the piano-roll. I can get things to work... it's just a lot of extra work. In Cakewalk, it's, well... a piece of cake :)

Any ideas? Am I missing something? (which is always a possibility).

Thanks again!!!

Stephen Moody

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:12/29/2005 11:40:46 AM

You are not doing anything wrong. ACID has a paradigm of one file per track which keeps you from re-recording because that would be a new file (and thus require a new track).

What I do is record my part in a loop several times. Usually the first take isn’t in the groove and as I play it a few times it gets better and better. Then I select that event in the chopper and select the best performance and chop to new track. Then you can tweak that in the Piano Roll editor if you need to.

Think of it this way. You never record the actual track. You always record several performances into a scratch track that you chop to the real track. You can even copy and paste sections of each performance in the Piano Roll Editor to make one perfect performance. I realize this is not as easy as just punching in and out of a single track but it works once you get use to it.

~jr

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: ozzborn

Date:12/29/2005 6:19:44 PM

i hope 6.0 is more stable
the piano roll editor needs to scroll while project plays.
more stable
stop crashing the rewire dll
stable

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: Spectralis

Date:12/30/2005 8:51:09 AM

I think the one loop per track is my biggest bugbear with ACID. That goes for audio as well. I hope Sony changes this with the next release.

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: Hitime

Date:1/3/2006 4:22:27 AM

I just want to agree with all this MULTIPLE TAKES IN ACID IS A PAIN!!!

Subject:RE: MIDI in ACID SUCKS

Reply by: MusicLine

Date:1/7/2006 8:34:06 PM

I can only agree with you, guys - as a Cakwalk and PowerTracks user, I just can't see myself doing any MIDI work in ACID.

ACID, in all fairness, is great when it comes to loops (except for that annoying one-loop-per-track limitation) - all the rest it does, in my experince, is just functional...