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440 Forums _ Digital Performer, AudioDesk _ Os X, Dp4, Midi & Patch Lists

Posted by: TiguerSound Mon 7 Jul 2003, 21:26

Newbie to this forum.
I'm running DP 4 ond OS X 10.2.6.
Let me preface this - all my MIDI devices are working just fine with one problem.
This may be a stupid question.
When I set up my MIDI environment in OS X Audio/Midi set up, I descibe my equipment, cables etc. etc.
When in DP4, I have no option to choose or change patches on any MIDI device. Since there were no pre-defined units to choose from in Audio/MIDI set up, I'm assumming there is no patch list information anywhere. I would think that I would at least get a defaualt Patch 1, Patch 2 etc. drop down list in DP4 when I click either the patch colum or the default patch column in the sequence window. The clicks do not do anything. I have no option to choose anything. The only thing I can do is select the device and MIDI channel, and then manually dial up the sound from the front panel of my MIDI device - major step backwards.
1. Is there a place to define my patches?
2. Why am I not seeing a drop down list of default (patch 1, patch 2 etc.) pathces for any instrument?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Posted by: ilska23 Mon 7 Jul 2003, 22:22

I suffer from the same problem as you.
Did you use DP 3 before and do you have a Freemidi configuration from that?

If so you are able to convert your old Freemidi configuration and the patchlists that comes with DP3 (and DP4 too I think) These patchlists are factory made. So if you have special patch lists as I had, for devices like the Roland U110 they have disappeared forever in DP 4.

What I know MOTU will release the patch editor/librarian called Unisyn 2.0 for OS X during 2003.
I thought the program was a little bit difficult but that is probably the solution for making patchlists into DP4 later this year.

Best Regards

OS X and midi is just in the beginning, that's for sure. Perhaps we have to give a year or so before it is comparable with OS 9 from the patchlists point of view.

Posted by: TiguerSound Tue 8 Jul 2003, 17:48

Thanks for the reply. I tried the Freemidi thing (Freemidi conversion program) but it looks like it just configures Aduio/Midi set up like I already did in OS x.
Does anyone know where the patch lists are supposed to be stored? Any one know why I don't see a list of default patches and why I don't even have a choice? (clicking on the area in DP for Patch or Default Patch doesn't do anything - like it's disabled or something.)
Thanks

Posted by: ilska23 Tue 8 Jul 2003, 21:59

QUOTE (TiguerSound @ Jul 8 2003, 16:48)
Does anyone know where the patch lists are supposed to be stored?


Yes. Go to to the folder called Library
Next Go to the folder called Audio
Next Go to the folder called MOTU

There you will find patchlists for most devices.

But dont ask me how they showed up there.

For me those Factorymade patchlists are working in DP 4

Posted by: TiguerSound Tue 8 Jul 2003, 22:23

For whatever reason - I have no patchlist or manufacturer info or anything in that folder.
I did find a program called Cherry Picker that seems to offer some hope. I'm messing with it now.
http://nav.440network.com/out.php?mmsc=forums&url=http://www.savagetranscendental.com/cherrypicker/

I do not know why I don't have any MIDI info in these folders - I've reloaded DP4 and the full OS X OS.
I was able to get a patch list showing in DP4 using Cherry Picker but it doesn't actually pick the patches, I have to choose them using Cherry Picker. It's a workaround but I'd like to know why I have no Midid info in my OS.

Posted by: TiguerSound Tue 8 Jul 2003, 22:53

Ok I went to my Previous systems folder (which is created after you re-install OS X) and there were all the Files. Patches are working fine in DP. All is well in TiguerSound land now. Very odd.
Thanks

Posted by: ilska23 Tue 8 Jul 2003, 23:13

Just want to Thank you for the tips with Cherrypicker.
This is what I been looking for.

There is now hope for me to convert my special patchlists which costed me hours in the past.

I am just said that Motu wont release Mosaic for OS X.

I have ordered a G5 and still I cant rely on OS X so OS 9 is the system that works most of the time.

But I hope it will be possible to switch completely sooner or later.

Posted by: dixiechicken Wed 9 Jul 2003, 11:01

You DO HAVE midi info on your system. The patchlist are in ONE of two possible places.

1:)
/Library/Audio/MIDI devices/MOTU

or

2a:)
/Users/[your user]/Library/Audio/MIDI Devices/MOTU
2b:)
/Users/[your user]/Library/Audio/MOTU

The pachlists themselves are xml-documents with the suffix - *.midnam.

These are plain ASCII-files you can edit in ANY text-editor ( dont use MS Word )
( cut copy and paste WILL WORK - if you are careful to follow proper syntax )

Cheers: Dixiechicken

Posted by: Seth Sat 12 Jul 2003, 02:11

I came up with a way to convert FreeMidi patch lists into the XML format using Excel and some formulas to do text manipulations and wrap the data in the appropriate XML syntax. So now, after much fiddling, I have all my expansion board patches for the Proteus 2000 available plus was able to get patches for the Yamaha S90. DP4 under OSX is finally almost as usable as DP3 with OS 9.

One problem I haven't solved yet. With FreeMidi you could set up patch lists that used patches from multiple synth banks. So, for example, you could have a patch list of Synth Basses which might contain patches from 2 or 3 banks. With the XML spec, I can't see how you can do this since the spec requires the bank select controller values in the definition of the patch list. Anyone have a way to make this work?

Seth

Posted by: dixiechicken Sat 12 Jul 2003, 10:53

Seth - Depends on your synth, no.

On my Proteus 2000, Three of Seven soundbanks are userconfigurable.

Those three comes factory defaulted containing sounds from the other four soundbanks
that are NOT user configurable.

If your memory slots/banks for storing your own sounds - are accessible via bank select command
then you should be able to make your own custom patchlists.

Cheers: Dixiechicken

Posted by: Seth Thu 31 Jul 2003, 03:51

[sorry, didn't see your post until just now]

I see that I could create a bunch of patches in a user configurable sound bank on the synth, then create a patch list for that bank. But that's a lot of work - I don't have patch library software that runs in OSX. The convenience with FreeMidi is that I could create a text file that would result in a "virtual" bank that was recognized by any FreeMidi software. Thus, I could put together a set of patches (from multiple physical synth banks) for "Bass and Synth Bass", for example. Anyway, I'm still wondering how to make this happen with the XML patch spec.

Posted by: ilska23 Thu 31 Jul 2003, 07:02

You're absolutely right. I just can't save my text editor files in the XLM-format.
It is Apple who has decided that they should use XML for midipatchlists.
It is not for the amateur. I guess XML is something you generate by program codes.
I don't think a musician should have to be a programmer.

Best Regards

Posted by: fugu Thu 31 Jul 2003, 17:58

hi,


the problem with TextEdit uses rtf as it's default save format. another (plain) text editor like BBEdit or any of the CLI apps (emacs/vim/ed etc) will save the file just fine.

Also there's a little app called http://nav.440network.com/out.php?mmsc=forums&url=http://www.savagetranscendental.com/cherrypicker/ that will wrap a nice little GUI around the .midinam files.

And finally once you've created a .midinam file for your devices (here's the 'give back to the community part: make factory default namelists for every device you have) there's more then one site (search here and osxaudio.com and unicornation.com for links) that is offering storage for default .midinam files.. That way everyone only has to do it once and nobody is stuck with a reinvented wheel..


hope this helps

fugu

Posted by: dixiechicken Thu 31 Jul 2003, 21:49

Just downloaded Cherry Picker today.

The docs state that you CAN create custom patchlist for a bank of sounds in OS X - BUT...
thoose sounds/patches got to belong to that SAME bank.

I can identify all sounds in my Proteus in 4 User banks - editable storable by me.
I can identify all sounds in my Proteus in 7 Cmpsr banks - non editable.

Docs seem to indicate that I can create a custom patchlist for User bank 1, but only by using the very same sounds/presets that are already there.
The same sounds in another order - as an example.

Havent really checked this out in practical way yet - but I will.

Cheers: Dixiechicken

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