Fading on Midi or Instrument tracks

[iZiKKO 8]

Hi guys. Fading is easy on Cakewalk IF you have just a regular audio track. BUT, if you have a midi or instrument track it gets more complicated. What is your easiest, or preferred method of fading in and out on midi tracks? This is a beginner question, so please explain this as you would explain it to your grandmother

 

Edited March 25, 2019 by iZiKKO

[msmcleod 2,161]

I tend to use instrument tracks, so I'll fade that out the same way as any other audio track.

For multi-timbral VSTi's, I either:

• Make sure the VSTi is sending to multiple outs, and do the fade automation on the relevant audio track; or
• Record the controller information for either CC #7 (volume), or CC #11 (expression) depending on how the VSTi (or hardware MIDI device) reacts.

The Roland "D" series sound modules (D110, D50, U110)  for example, don't react to CC #7 in realtime - i.e. existing notes stay the same, and the new volume only takes effect when the next note is played. CC #11 can however be used to affect the volume for notes that are already playing.

 

[iZiKKO 8]

11 minutes ago, msmcleod said:

I tend to use instrument tracks, so I'll fade that out the same way as any other audio track.

 

Mate, regular "drag" fading does not seem to work on Instruments tracks either?

[msmcleod 2,161]

10 minutes ago, iZiKKO said:

Mate, regular "drag" fading does not seem to work on Instruments tracks either?

Ah - ok, I see what you mean. 

I normally do it as automation:

[iZiKKO 8]

38 minutes ago, msmcleod said:

I normally do it as automation:

Brilliant! Automation it is! Thank you for your help, mate!

[ChernobylStudios 62]

You can also right-click on the automation itself and select faster or slower curves that'll mimic the audio slopes.

[sjoens 144]

Instrument track clips behave like MIDI clips until frozen, then they behave like audio clips. So you have 3 choices.

1. Add volume cc's in PRV (MIDI clip) (works only if softsynth responds to cc data)

2. Add a volume envelope or Automation (MIDI & Audio clips)

3. Real time fade (Audio/Frozen clips) - This one can be permanently applied to the clip by bouncing it.

Edited May 8, 2019 by sjoens

[iZiKKO 8]

Thank you guys for all these good tips! Re. fading with automation tracks have you noticed if they use lots of CPU? 

[Freyja Grimaude-Valens 269]

You'd be better off if you use Expression instead since Expression scales off of the Volume, which will make it easier if you need to do an overall adjust on the track's loudness.

[Tree's Studio 0]

From the original post,  easy or preferred.  He's familiar with audio fading from his description and pic of his faded in/out audio track.  It really depends, but easiest is a single click on the tracks freeze icon, then it's business as usual for fading in/out.  If you have effects in the effects rack, it gets more complicated, but certainly early on in the recording/creative part of song development, if you just want a super fast way to fade a midi clip, this is what I use.  As you can see in this clip from page 841 of the May 2020 Cakewalk Reference Guide (English version), is tells you the effects don't work in a track if it's frozen.   On my DAW pic, the freeze icon is active which is why the former midi clip in green now looks like an audio clip (because it is until you unfreeze the clip/track)  Good luck.