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Standard Midi File trouble

I was reading the new features of 8 and one that caught my eye was that when you open a a Standard Midi File (smf) it now works like garageband and assigns software instruments to the midi file instead of assigning external midi channels. anyway, Here is what it says in the manual page 633:

Note: As a default behavior, Logic Pro will automatically create software instrument
tracks for each MIDI track, and assign an appropriate GarageBand instrument to each,
when you open a MIDI file. If you want to use external MIDI tracks for each MIDI track,
press Option while opening the MIDI file.

So I thought I would give this a try and see how it works. first thing I did was open Logic and started with a new blank project and assigned one audio track to it I used the open file command to open the smf, because if you import it only imports the midi info and not the global info. Logic asked if I wanted to close the current project and I did. The it asked if I wanted to copy the current environment or make a new one, and I chose a new one. The file is a smf type 1 and has 7 instruments all with general midi patch change commands assigned . I also tried this with smf type 0 and got the same results

1st result: Logic created 17 channels in the arrange, 12 instruments and 5 external midi. 4 of the tracks with midi data on them, were assigned to software instruments which corresponded correctly to the programs assigned. 3 of the tracks with midi data were assigned to an external midi device. I did this a few times always with the same results

Next I thought I would try opening a template that I have made with 8 audio, 8 instrument and 16 external midi tracks and using the environment setting in it when I opened the file. I kept the template open also and used the environment setting from it. when the midi file opened, I got a warning that I was out of memory, I clicked OK then it open and arrange window Identical to my template but with no regions in the tracks. I hit play anyway and the song started playing even though there were no regions and there was no spl. it was plying my external synth all channels worked fine. I thought I would check some of the editors and the notes are there in the Piano roll and event windows. It seams my main arrange window is locked though because I cannot select another track in it but if I open the mixer I can.

OK now what happens when you press option when you try to open a midi file?

Well that worked as expected and gave me all external midi devices, but it also gave me 17 midi tracks 7 that were for my smf and 10 that were empty

Anyway I was wondering if anyone one else can try this and let me know what happens

Powermac G4 dual 1 GHZ MDD, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Logic Pro 7.2.3, DP5.11, MOTU 896HD (Black Lion), coffee pot

Posted on Sep 23, 2007 3:31 PM

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Posted on Sep 23, 2007 3:56 PM

Not exactly an exhaustive test, but I "opened" a couple (ah, Internet Midifiles, How I Despise Theee) and got similar flaky-ish behaviour.

It did open instruments, but some tracks were just set to the GM device to playback through, rather than loading a corresponding instrument, so the drums and some other parts don't play.

Didn't load any external instruments like you saw though.
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Question marked as Best reply

Sep 23, 2007 3:56 PM in response to Donald Hoeber

Not exactly an exhaustive test, but I "opened" a couple (ah, Internet Midifiles, How I Despise Theee) and got similar flaky-ish behaviour.

It did open instruments, but some tracks were just set to the GM device to playback through, rather than loading a corresponding instrument, so the drums and some other parts don't play.

Didn't load any external instruments like you saw though.

Sep 23, 2007 4:19 PM in response to Bee Jay

it is interesting that you did not get drums, which is default midi channel 10 to play. which is the same result I got also midi channel 2 and 3 were not assigned to a soft instrument either. I think I will make a smf with all 16 midi channels and see which are assigned and which are not

oh by the way, double yuck on internet midi files! I have made hundreds of my own that I use as backing tracks for my live gig.

Sep 23, 2007 5:00 PM in response to Donald Hoeber

OK, after further testing I think this may be another problem with the Garage band instruments, rather than an import glitch. for example: if I open a smf with program change # 33 which is fingered bass on midi channel 2, I cannot get a logic instrument and it opens a GM external midi channel. If I change it to #32 which is upright bass, I get a logic instrument with an upright bass. So maybe the trouble is that if Logic can't find an instrument that corresponds to that program change it just opens a GM midi track?

Sep 25, 2007 10:40 PM in response to Donald Hoeber

Well I think the problem is solved. There was a conflict between Logic and iLife 06. I bought a new computer this week and had to load everything into it. I decided not to put in iLife 06 yet including Garageband and all the jam packs. I loaded all the new .caf files off the Logic DVD

I opened a midi file and all tracks loaded with Logic instruments. the problem was that a lot of the instruments had been erased somehow or over written by Logic studio. Now I believe they are all there and things are working as they should

Standard Midi File trouble

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