Tutorial - Instrument definition in CakeWalk/Sonar

[Tubbs]

Excellent John....i have already learned more in the last day than i did in the last year!! ;D

This tutorial has really helped me out, especially the "Defining and Importing the Instrument Definition files" explanation.

As always...first class..

Many thanks..

[JohnG]

Jan 13, 2010 21:11:31 GMT Tubbs said:

Excellent John....i have already learned more in the last day than i did in the last year!! ;D

This tutorial has really helped me out, especially the "Defining and Importing the Instrument Definition files" explanation.

As always...first class..

Many thanks..

Very many thanks Gerry,

It really helps when I get such positive feedback. ;D

As you can imagine it took a fair amount of time thinking about it all, doing all the screenshots, uploading them and then writing the narrative around them. It makes the effort worthwhile when I feel someone has really gained something from it. So thanks again.

All the best,
JohnG.

[Emerald Midi]

Excellent stuff, John. Just what we’ve come to expect, really.

[JohnG]

Thanks Pat.

[Jacqui]

Really Interesting topic again John, the pictures are great, is an instrument definition the same as a patch?
Jacqui

[JohnG]

Hi Jacqui,

Hmmm! Not quite, but almost. The Instrument Definition file contains ALL of the possible "patches" that can be selected in an instrument. The word "instrument" is used to mean anything from a keyboard to a sound card or sound module, a synthesiser or, in fact, anything that can have its "patches" changed by sending it a MIDI command. (There are even some guitar amps that can have the FX changed by MIDI message!) That command could be as simple as a MIDI "program change" message, or additionally contain one or two "bank select" MIDI messages too.

So, once you've loaded an Instrument Definition file into SONAR, or an older Cakewalk version, as I have described above, then you have made SONAR aware of all the possible patch changes that can be sent to your instrument. Many of the latest modules, e.g. the SonicCell, have hundreds of voices (or patches if you like) to choose from, as well, often, as dozens of drum kits.

Does that help?
JohnG.

[simmo123]

Hi John,many thanks for this tutorial it is certainly going to help members like myself to get the best out of in my case sonic cell,i received the two "ins' files ok many thanks for that but am a little unsure of where to put them,because i have the luxury of a spare computer in which i keep all of my music stuff etc i have copied the "ins"files on to a memory stick & have transfered them to the 'music' computer where i have Sonar le and the sonic cell programmes installed ,the sonic cell 'ins patch' is 23kb and the rhythmn is 47kb in size so i think i have got this right,i have followed your instructions as to where these "master ins files" may be on my computer,ie,C/programme files /cakewalk/sonar le/sample content/ but i cant seem to find them anywhere,i do not want to make the wrong move at this stage so if you could guide me through i would be most gratefull,another point is when i open up sonar to do any editing the options/instruments/assign instruments dropdown box does not show sonic cell as an option,the sonic cell is not switched on at this stage,does it have to be switched on to recognise it,i have been able to edit midifiles through the editor function when the s/cell is connected,the options/output/instruments/assign instruments box shows that the output channel section 1-16 shows roland sonic cell and on the"uses instrument section it shows,general midi-general midi drums-generic(patches 0-127)- generic (patches-1-127)- roland GS-roland GS drumsets-soundfont device-yamaha XG-yamahaXG drumkits,
i hope i am not confusing you to much with all this detail,it may be that it is setup correctly,anyway John once more many thanks for your great tutorial i feel as though i am getting close to mastering it,no rush to get back to me and hopefully this may be of assistance to other members on the forum,Simmo,looking out of the window at what is going to be another hot day on the garden project 42c and i have got a rubbish skip coming anytime now,getting close to the finish at last,phew!!!!

[simmo123]

Hi John, thanks for all the latest info on the definition subject,i had my day well & truly organised so i have not had a chance to follow through on your valuable advice what with having a rubbish skip on site to start the huge cleanup after what has turned into a major garden reconstruction,starting from just a few small changes it has turned into a massive job.Today it hit a very hot 43c or in the old scale 109 F and more of the same tomorrow i found myself starting early to complete what should have been a fairly easy day in the backyard however i found that it got real hot very early so my plans for a cruisy day got scuppered and i was at it most of the day,i must admit it was a struggle towards the end and my breaks for cold drinks got more frequent,i dont know whether i am beginning to feel my age but it got to me today,everything,tools etc i touched simply were to hot to pick up and use however i found the extra reserves and finished what i had planned to do,but it took me the best part of the day to do it,when i think back to when i was younger i would just keep on going all day and not give it a second thought,i have just had a couple of very welcome coldie's a bit of tucker, a shower and i'm fighting fit all ready for tomorrow.I guess the weather in your part of the world is just the opposite at the moment.I will let you know how i go with cakewalk etc as soon as i can find the time to sort it out,many thanks for all your help on this little problem,i think i may have sweated out the two cold beers already and i may need to have a top up with a hot coffee,
Best wishes to you John,
Ole Simmo, (not a pretty sight in just he's undies) ;D ;D

[simmo123]

,Hi again, just a quick weather update,Patricia just informed me its still 41c and the time is 7.15 pm,i have cancelled the hot coffee in exchange for a coldie, ,Simmo

[steveb]

Hi John, IS THERE AN END TO THIS MANS TALENT AND PASSION, Thanks John very well done and much appreciated.

[JohnG]

Hi Steve,

Jan 18, 2010 9:23:43 GMT steveb said:

IS THERE AN END TO THIS MANS TALENT AND PASSION, Thanks John very well done and much appreciated.

Very many thanks. Complimentary posts are ALWAYS welcome. ;D

Actually I was feeling So-o-o-o guilty 'cos I hadn't posted a tutorial for ages.

Now I'm feeling MUCH better.
JohnG.


Oh, and Terry, can you package up a little of that warmth and post it here please? We're temporarily basking in the glorious warmth of 5C. At least the snow is starting to melt. There's a three foot high pile at one end of our car park and a two foot pile, about seven feet long at the other end. Both gradually diminishing. No, not that, SNOW!
It's what I do between writing tutorials!

[simmo123]

Hi John,just to let you know that Ole Simmo had a bit of a play around with Sonar le,a bit of trial & error but i managed to copy & paste the two 'ins' files into the Sonar folder & got them into where you select them to use while editing the midifiles using Sonar le so i am now able to bring up the sonic cell range of goodie sounds without having to go to the editor function of sonic cell and the other huge benefit is that on saving the edited file using the 'save as' function & giving it a different title it saved all of the changes so when i brought it up again all of the sonic cell instruments i had put in were all held,so many thanks for that you are indeed the guru of editing,just one question,when i initially open up sonar le screen after getting rid of the 'nags'do i leave the 2 audio tracks & the 2 midi tracks on the opening sonar screen or do i need to delete them leaving me a clear screen to import the midifile i intend working on or do i leave them as is,no rush just whenever you get around to it,
Best wishes ,Terry

[JohnG]

Yahoo!

Terry's using an Instrument Definition file!

Wonderful.

I'm really elated. ;D

The answer to your question, Terry, is that it doesn't really matter, but if it were me, I'd close the file you're not using.

Have fun and I hope it makes life a lot easier.

JohnG.

[spiffo]

I must be doing something stupid, where is the Tutorial?

This is 10 years old maybe it's gone missing somehow?

[freeway]

Hi spiffo

John is the guy that wrote up that tutorial he now has his own midi website can check it out here midi-tutor.proboards.com/ maybe he can help you out.

Regards
Barry