User 905133

I wanted to do follow-up on this because one of my long-term to-do sets of projects is to port and update some of my older tunes from a hardware sequencer (backed up as *.mid files) into Cakewalk. So, thanks for asking about this--it gave me a convenient opportunity to move one step closer! ? Results will be different based on a number of things, especially the files you are opening, but in case it helps, here are two screen shots. (1) shows the result of placing file 2 after file 1. Here I have zoomed in all the way. (2) shows the result after file 3 has been placed after file 2. The zoom is almost all the way out. I look forward to the recommendations of others on this process. (1) (2)

Yes, I understood you wanted the files one-after-the-other. (Apologies for using "concatenate." My bad. ? ) In my test, I used files with multiple tracks. I did not juggle the different clips on the different tracks to line them up. So, if a bass part were on track 3 in file 1, on track 7 in file 2, and track 2 in file 3, I did not drag them around, duplicate them and reassemble them into my own bass track, etc. It should be easy to do in Cakewalk. Since I don't generally do this, I will defer to others who do and to others who know the relevant links in the online documentation and the correct pages in the Reference Guide. I just jumped in because I saw you wanted to place the files end-to-end, knew I could do it with audio files, and wanted to quickly test to see if it could also be done with *.mid files.

EDITED: I don't remember trying this with midi files, but with *.wav files I want to concatenate, I zoom in as tightly as I can, put the now time at the end of one file, and then drag the file in after it (that is, where the now time is). I will test this shortly to see if this also works with *.mid files. I will report my results either way (works/doesn't work). I tested with the method with PTN loops and with entire midi files. It works. I placed the Now Time cursor at the end of one file (in the Track View) dragged the second file to where it lined up with Now Time cursor. (That is, I released the mouse button when the file being dragged was directly on top of the Now Time cursor. I did this both from Cakewalk's Media Browser and a third party file navigation tool I use.

Looks like EA2 will be able to read *.midi files.

Very true! It would be easy enough to have a limited, dedicated workspace with the larger "Scrabble-for-Juniors" I, O, C, B, P icons but the normal-sized track control buttons just for the times I am setting those. Thanks for leading me to this option-for-aging-eyes.

Thanks for testing & confirming that. I have looked for possible settings that might be affecting this, but have not found anything. Its a shame IMO, because I really like the arpeggiator. Maybe someone else knows a secret setting.

I have used a momentary contact foot pedal plugged into a usb/midi keyboard and the knobs on the keyboard. They work fine for other functions, just not the arpeggiator functions. It is clear that the midi is going to where I want (latch, on/off, etc.) because the virtual button changes its state (lit/unlit), but not the function itself. I will try again with octaves.

@kzmaier Have you ever gotten the Inspector-based arpeggiator functions to respond properly to remote control midi commands?

@Astra-Ios Several months ago I explored the Inspector-based Arpeggiator. I really liked it a lot and was building a custom template. Unfortunately, I was never able to get midi learn to work the way I wanted. (I am still not sure if it is a bug or just user error.) Depending on what you want to do, it might meet your needs. In my experience, if you don't mind using a mouse for turning the arps on and off, latching them and un-latching them, etc. they seemed to work fine. The problem I had was that via remote midi, the virtual buttons changed (lit/unlit), but the functions did not change based on remote midi commands. Other than that, I thought they were quite flexible. http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Recording.17.html

I see that there used to be skins for z3ta+ 1.5 on the internet, but I can't find any links for skins that still work. My guess is that the one in the video (and posted above) is a skin. (I like it, too; so, I looked for it but couldn't find it.)

Another thread on SoundFonts:

Is this from Z3t+ 1.5 or a newer version (or an earlier version)? Perhaps they are the initials of the sound developer? (Just a guess.) In 1.5 there is a bank that says . Maybe BT stands for BigTone? Speculation verified by Canopus. See below.

Interesting idea. I thought resizing images would cause problems for the UI's stability so I never tried it. But as my eyes continue to age I might explore expanding the size of frequently used / hard to read elements. More research needed. Intuitively I suspect that trying to enlarge the buttons so they match the double sized icons won't work, but based on your suggestion its worth it to me to try. EDIT: Suspicion confirmed:

If the goal is to have an element browser from which we can put check marks next to elements and the press "OK" so that all of the checked elements override the theme currently in the Theme Editor, I think I'd use that, too! At present I override elements (as noted above) by using saved sets--such as my "Scrabble for Juniors" style midi track control icons [I, O, C, P, B] set.

I just dabble with the theme editor, so I will defer to the experts. However, with my limited experience, I did something that >>might<< fit what you describe, but only (1) if you are talking about exporting some elements from one or more themes and then importing them into another theme and (2) if the elements are compatible (e.g., the same dimensions). You could also be trying to do something totally different; I'm not sure. For example, I have some customized themes that only over ride some elements of a factory theme. So, when the Arranger track came out (which changed the size/layout) of a number of elements, I was able to import my tweaks onto the new factory theme because there were no size/dimension incompatibilities. Another example I haven't tried yet: I like some elements others have in their themes--so I plan to try to borrow those and build my own set of overrides so I can apply them to other themes.

I don't use TH3, but I tested it and was able to click on some knobs in the TH3 modules and do either midi learn, or assignment to automation slots. The power button on this module (AQTX Spring Reverb) seems to be assignable.

I agree with (b) as I suggested previously. We can scroll with the mouse wheel while reading, but once we go to edit, we have to use up/down buttons. Personal preference, but I would like the mouse wheel for both, not a scroll bar for reading and mouse control for editing. EDIT: There is a scroll bar for read mode.

I first heard about it from this (in the thread I linked above): I don't have anything that runs OSX, so I have to assume that's where its coming from. I have no idea if there are massive amounts of *.midi files available on the internet. I will defer to others who have used OSX.

Thanks for the heads up about "fast startup." I have an older version of Windows 10, so perhaps I don't have a setting for that. Not sure its related, but I did find my Power Options > High Performance was set to Allow Hybrid Sleep = On. Not sure what that does (more research needed).

Out of curiosity, are *.midi files standard midi files? I renamed my *.smf with a *.midi extension and evidently I already had another *.midi file from somewhere. Both open up in Cakewalk from "Everything" - a file searching/listing tool I have used for a while. I understand the issues you raise, @Robert Bone --esp. the suggestion that other extensions should be accessible via Cakewalk itself. I totally get that!!! I also get that renaming file extensions is not necessarily anyone's first choice. With that in mind, this is just another possible work-around for opening the files without having to rename them--for the time being. Personally, I think that if the developers decide to allow for other extensions to be seen and opened from within Cakewalk, perhaps there could be something in Preferences so users can choose which extensions they want Cakewalk to see and access. We all have personal workflows. For example, I like being able to have file filters for various things, including different types of Cakewalk files. There are probably other tools that do the same thing, too. for example: Not trying to distract from the suggestion; just offering some ideas on work-arounds.

I know I had this working a few days ago since I posted some images of some of the hot spots for dragging tracks. Here's a hot spot for dragging folders. I will test it again. Yup--they move.

I have not started using the new Arranger Track yet, but your suggestions sounds like something I could use, too (when I get back into some of my note-on-staves projects). I see that we can have the staff view open and by pressing A, I get the Arranger Track at the top of the Track View. Also, I can open the Arranger in the Inspector. I don't know what we can and can't do with the staff view open, so I am asking for clarification of your idea. Thanks.

Based on that, I assume you can if they have been saved as *.mid files. If they have been saved in a proprietary file format and/or have extensive commands that are unique to MOTIF, extra work might be needed beyond just opening up a *.mid file. I will defer to others who might be familiar with MOTIF and other hardware sequencer file formats. My experience has been mostly with E-Mu gear sequencer files--which are backed up as *.mid files and can be easily opened in Cakewalk. (Also I had some experience with very old software that used *.smf files and ancient Casio CZ-5000 sequencer files.) Just out of curiosity: If they are stored as *.mid files, does Cakewalk open them and show you the tracks? If so, have you tried assigning them to a multi-timbral soft synth (such as TTS-1) or other external multi-timbral gear? ADDENDUM: I was curious about the file format and found this. So maybe you did export them as standard midi files. Also, I found an old [1995] *.smf and it opens in Cakewalk.

I remember a previous discussion. Not sure your question is answered here (I haven't looked for it yet), but it might have some overlap with your question.