Subject:MIDI losing instrument settings

Posted by: feign

Date:12/16/2006 5:44:11 AM

Okay, here's a new one. Using AP 6.0d in Windows2000SP4.

I open a MIDI track. By default, all tracks are assigned to DLS Soft Synth, which is fine by me.

I right-click each track and change the assigned instrument. For example, I highlight the Saxophone layer, and reassign it to "Vibraphone". It works, sounds fine.

I save and close the file. Then later I reopen the file. The Saxophone track no longer sounds like a Vibraphone or the saxophone. It sounds like "Piano 1" in the Piano folder of the program Change menu. I check, and the track is still assigned to Vibraphone.

I reassign the track to Xylophone. Sounds like the Xylophone. I reassign the track back to Vibraphone. Sounds like a Vibraphone again.

Save and close the file. Re-open it. Same problem occurs.

Then I finally realize that EVERY MIDI file I open, every track sounds like Piano 1, no matter what instrument it has been assigned to. One has to manually reassign each track to the intended instrument each and every time I reopen a MIDI file.

Funny thing is, when I preview the MIDI file in the Explorer window, it plays back correctly. The problem is only when the MIDI file is being edited. When I render the project to WAV, it renders the way I hear it in the editing mode: every instrument sounds like Piano 1, unless manually re-re-assigned.

This problem did not occur in 6.0b. I have changed no system settings, none of my ACID settings, all the hardware settings are the same as ever.

Seems like a bug to me, new since 6.0b

Subject:RE: MIDI losing instrument settings

Reply by: thenoizzbox

Date:12/16/2006 7:07:08 AM

I see a similar problem but with the Superwave pro VSTi synth. When I re-open songs with that synth, it opens with the default patch and not the one I had selected last. Both SFZ+ and DR-008 seem to work ok. I never use the DLS soft synth so I can't say if it has the same problem for me.

I too noticed that the original release of Acid Pro 6 did not have this issue. I can't remember if I noticed it first in 6.0b or c though.

Subject:RE: MIDI losing instrument settings

Reply by: pwppch

Date:12/16/2006 10:28:16 AM

I am unable to reproduce your problem.

Is every track assigned to a different MIDI channel? If multiple tracks are routed to the same channel on the same synth, there will be a conflict as to what patch get's used.

If you could give me a simple step by step scenario that easily reproduced this. Please don't leave out even the simplest of steps you take. Also please specify exactly how you have your ACID defaults.

If you could send me an email, I would like to get a project that shows this problem from you.

Thanks
Peter

Subject:RE: MIDI losing instrument settings

Reply by: pwppch

Date:12/16/2006 10:39:19 AM

I just tried the demo of superwave pro. It appears that it ignores the patch set on a track at load time. The work around is to add a patch keyframe to the track. You do this by clicking the track's Patch button and selecting

"Insert Program Change Keyframe"

It seems that superwave resets after the inital load to its default patch set after ACID first sends out the desired patch change. Using the keyframe forces a reset since ACID compares the current keyframe against what the synth tells it the current patch is.

I will investigate further, but this work around should solve your problem.

Peter

Subject:RE: MIDI losing instrument settings

Reply by: feign

Date:12/16/2006 7:05:32 PM

Peter, I will send an email separately. The problem occurs even when I open a third-party MIDI file. Every track is assigned to a different channel. No matter what MIDI file I open, everything defaults to Piano 1 on first play...in sound only. The actual settings for each track show whatever instrument was assigned.

So, here's one VERY simple scenario:

1) Download a MIDI file from anywhere.
2) Preview it in Acid's Explorer window. Hear a variety of instruments.
3) Put it on the timeline in Acid
4) Press the Play button
5) Hear Piano 1 for every track
6) Check the channel for each track. You'll see that they are assigned to instruments other than Piano 1, but they sound like Piano 1.
7) Change the track's assignment to any other instrument. That track now sounds like that instrument.
8) Save the file.
9) Close it.
10) Re-open the same file. Go back to step 2. Sounds fine.
11) Go to Step 3,4 and 5. Sounds like everything is Piano 1

That's a pretty simple scenario if you ask me. I'll send you a sample file separately by email.

Subject:RE: MIDI losing instrument settings

Reply by: vespesian

Date:12/17/2006 8:05:48 AM

same here - with some vst's....

Subject:RE: MIDI losing instrument settings

Reply by: feign

Date:12/17/2006 4:41:28 PM

Peter,

Just want to find out how to send you an attachment. I'm not using any VSTs other than whatever comes with Acid Pro 6. My problem occurs with all settings at default.

Subject:RE: MIDI losing instrument settings

Reply by: pwppch

Date:12/17/2006 6:52:35 PM

"with some vst's" does not help us at all.

Could you be specific?

Thanks,
Peter