Subject:DLS Soft Synth Bug with Drums?

Posted by: darrena

Date:10/27/2008 9:53:59 PM

I never really used the DLS Soft Synth in prior versions of Acid. But it seems like they are making a big push for it, including a lot of new DLS instruments and a whole download section full of MIDI clips and example songs. So I wanted to get a feel for things.

First I opened up the DLS soft synth and tried out some of the sounds from the Acid Pro 7 Content\Custom Sound Sets and Song\DLS Instruments folder.

Most of the instruments played ok, but none of the drum patches played even when I applied a drum map (shoud I have to? the kitcore drums did just fine without it). They wouldn't play even if i played the keys that appear in the DLS Soft Synth itself.

So I opened one song from the same directory, Interstellar Boogaloo. It played fine.

Then I opened Vodun Groovin, which was all drums. Only one track plays. The MIDI track strip meters are lighting up for every track, but no drums expect for Track 10, Hand Drum 3

In fact, in just about every MIDI song I open from this collection, the drum tracks fail to play. And every DLS Soft Synth drum kit from this folder won't play when I play it by hand, but every other instrument does.

??

Subject:RE: DLS Soft Synth Bug with Drums?

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:10/28/2008 6:03:50 AM

It is a long time MIDI standard that drums are transmitted on Channel 10. Insert the DLS Soft Synth, insert a MIDI track, set the MIDI Channel on the track to 10, you will now see all of the available drum kits in the Program Change control. Enable In-line MIDI Editing and change to any one of the drum kits and the piano keyboard on the MIDI track will be replaced with the names of the drums. (pretty cool) ;-)

~jr

Subject:RE: DLS Soft Synth Bug with Drums?

Reply by: darrena

Date:10/28/2008 7:46:25 AM

Maybe, but then why would the pre-fab Acid projects that use the DLS soft synth drums also not work? Wouldn't they have confiured them right?

(I should say maybe because I haven't tried the suggestion as I'm now at work.)

Subject:RE: DLS Soft Synth Bug with Drums?

Reply by: darrena

Date:10/28/2008 4:40:31 PM

Ok, I tried again, now in front of Acid and my MIDI gear. Here is EXACTLY what I am doing:

1. RT-Click in the track strip of a new project
2. Insert MIDI Track
3. Click the little keyboard icon in the track strip for the new MIDI track, choose Insert Soft Synth
4. Choose Sony DLS Soft Synth
5. In Sony DLS Soft Synth, click the open icon (folder)
6. Browse to the directory "Acid Pro 7 Content\Custom Sound Sets and Songs\DLS Instruments7. Open any drum kit
8. Play notes on the real keyboard or the virtual keyboard in the DLS Soft Synth UI

Nothing (note if I slect any non-drum kit sound, playing notes works fine)

9. Change the output on your MIDI keyboard to ch10 and play notes

Nothing

10. Click the keyboard icon in the track strip and choose MIDI Channel -> 10, try playing notes again.

Nothing

11. Click the MIDI port icon on the track strip and change the input from MIDI channel ALL to 10, try playng notes again.

Nothing.

12. Close this project.
13. Open Project: Acid Pro 7 Content\Custom Sound Sets and Songs\Cinematic Groove\Vodun Groovin.acd
14. Press play

Only one track plays:#10 Hand Drum 3 (??) even though the meters show MIDI activity on all tracks which are presumably properly configured by Sony.

15. Open any other project from this directory that has a drum track and press play.

All music plays using the DLS Soft Synth EXCEPT the drum tracks

So... I think we have a problem.