Rayzoon Technologies LLC

wellesleymusic · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:09 am Post subject: MIDI Playback Issue

Hi all, I'm pretty new to Jamstix but can already see what a fantastic product it is. My problem is figuring out how to get Jamstix to play back an arrangement previously generated with a free jam or keyword jam.

OK, so I setup for, lets say, a free jam and record my MIDI input during the Jam. Jamstix is react responding/reacting to what I play, and I can see the velocity slider moving. When I'm finished I replay the track I recorded and the arrangement created by Jamstiz during the jam. Jamstiz does not appear to be responding the the recorded MIDI as the MIDI activity indicator is not active - guess this is because it's not seeing anything on the MIDI input channels?. The only way I can get the same result as during the jam is to duplicate the track and route the MIDI output of the second version to Jamstix (I need the original track routed to the relevant VST instrument). This seems a very cumbersome way of working.

Have I missed something obvious?

Many thanks for any advice.
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Core 2 E6600, 2GB RAM, 2x320 SATA II HD
Cubase Studio 4
Jamstix, BFD, NI B4II, Trilogy, Lounge Lizard EP3, The Grand 2, EWQL Gold

Ralph [RZ] · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 13332

This is not a Jamstix but a host limitation. You need to send the MIDI output of your recorded track to Jamstix. In many hosts you will have to make a copy and put it on the Jamstix track as you outlined. Some hosts (such as Bidule) allow you to route the MIDI output of a track to multiple inputs, which makes this a lot simpler.
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Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

wellesleymusic · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 9:03 am Post subject:

Many thanks Zauni, thought it was me for a moment. Meanwhile I have found a solution which might be of interest to others. After creating my arrangement I switched Jamstix to Manual jam and "Jam with Audio", put the AudioM8 plugin as an insert in the Cubase output bus and, hey presto, I get my velocity changes back. Better still, if I add other tracks (audio, midi or whatever), I can get Jamstix to repond to the overall volume of the composition - great. I have also played with velocity curves using "read/write automation" in Cubase - this is handy for adjusting Jamstix velocity during silent intro's, for instance.

Anyway, many thanks, I'm really having some fun now!
_________________
Core 2 E6600, 2GB RAM, 2x320 SATA II HD
Cubase Studio 4
Jamstix, BFD, NI B4II, Trilogy, Lounge Lizard EP3, The Grand 2, EWQL Gold

Ralph [RZ] · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 13332

Glad to hear that and your trick with audioM8 in the bus is very neat!
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

Vindes · Junior Jammer Joined: 19 Aug 2005 Posts: 3

Another option is to use a midi loopback device, like Loopbe1 or Midiyoke. Using Loopbe1 as an example, once you've recorded your midi keyboard track route the output to Loopbe1 instead of your VSTi. Then you can use Loopbe1 as the midi input for both your VSTi and Jamstix.

This is still a bit cumbersome, but less cumbersome than copying the midi data. Not sure how it compares to the AudioM8 solution, which is a clever one. Only drawback to that I could see is you may be playing with really hard velocity, but have the keyboard track volume down in the mix. Would that make AudioM8 think you were playing softer? (I haven't used AudioM8 yet.)

JohnR · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:28 am Post subject:

I used to copy MIDI tracks as well until I came across send and insert channels for MIDI tracks in Cubase SX2.

You might have them in SL2 as well. If you do, they are on their own tab in the inspector for your MIDI track. Just set a Send channel to be Jamstix - it will be in the drop down list. The MIDI data will then be sent to your MIDI instrument as normal, but will also be sent to Jamstix.

Any number of MIDI tracks can be sent to Jamstix in this way without having to copy them.

Hope this helps in SL2.

Ralph [RZ] · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 13332

JohnR · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:37 am Post subject:

wellesleymusic · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:05 am Post subject:

John, brilliant!! After 3 years using Cubase I had never looked into MIDI sends. It never ceases to amaze me how much we all benefit from sharing ideas and solutions on forums like this one.

All these options have their merits so we can choose from them as the situation dictates.

Thanks to all.
_________________
Core 2 E6600, 2GB RAM, 2x320 SATA II HD
Cubase Studio 4
Jamstix, BFD, NI B4II, Trilogy, Lounge Lizard EP3, The Grand 2, EWQL Gold

drummix · Jammer Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 44 Location: France

btw, Cubase has a sequencing machine , called "step designer"

to use it, insert the plugin as a midi insert effect (and set your midi track output to jamstix, of course)