instant midi playback?

[rogerb]

I wonder if any of you very clever midi experts can tell me how to get an "instant start" when playing back midi. I have got involved with a theatre group and produced some music and sound effects (all midi 1 format) for a forthcoming play. They will be played through the theatre sound system but it is vital that they can be cued at exactly the right moments in the play. I have had a go with cakewalk but still can't seem to get the instant start needed. Thanks guys - I know someone will know how to solve this one.

Roger

[JohnG]

Hi Roger,

It should be possible to engineer a MIDI file so that it appears to be an immediate start but, for a start, how instant do you actually mean by "instant"? A fraction of a second, a second, two? If you're using Cakewalk (what version?) then you should find either a little utility called "Virtual Jukebox" or this jukebox facility embedded within CakeWalk (or Sonar for that matter).

If you're using Pro Audio 9 then take a look in the appropriate directory in C:\Program Files (mine's in \Cakewalk\CWPA9\), you should find a program called VJukebox.exe. If it's not there, then in Cakewalk go to "View" then "Play list" and it'll run up.

You can load up the set of files in advance into a play list (sorry about the pun), which you can subsequently save, and have them cued up ready to play at the touch of the space bar. A little experimentation with this and you may find it's just what you need.

As for the files themselves, they may need some editing to make sure that any silent measures at the start are removed. The setup measure may need "tweaking" to make sure it's the minimum possible length so that it only takes a fraction of a second before the music starts. I can do that for you if you don't know how to do it.

If you want to send the files to me I'm quite willing to take a look at them and do any editing needed to get them "up to spec." If you want that, the sooner you send me the files the better, and let me know your deadline, please. Please, please, not by yesterday.

Is the sound being generated by the PC, e.g. via Roland VSC or are you using a hardware sound module? If the former (a virtual instrument), then you may have some playback latency which is adding to the perceived delay in starting. That may be "tweakable" in the settings menu to reduce it to a more acceptable value.

All the best,
JohnG.

[rogerb]

John you really are a star! I will send you the files with more details via p.m.

Very best regards,

Roger