azslow3

I could implement multi-file support, GUI, DnD, etc... but I have decided to keep it "simple", at least for the moment. The utility is so small that calling it for single files from batch/gui wrapper should take almost no time. With advantage it is simpler to analyze when particular file fails. for /R %f in (*.arp) do <path to>\cakearp "%f" called from a copy of "Cakewalk Core" took around 5 second to extract all ARP files I have. PS. well, if for whatever reason you still think that is useful... the utility accept any number of arguments now.

Cakewalk has build-in MIDI arp. In addition to "usual" for arps sequences, it can use custom note sequences as the basis. The only supported format for these sequences is PTN. Cakewalk by itself can load PTN files, as MIDI clips and as a part of arp configuration. Cakewalk also can save arp configuration (including the pattern) into ARP files. But for some (which?) reason Cakewalk can't create PTN files nor extract them from ARP files. The following utility tries to provide missed functionality. It is command line program which accept single file name as the argument: if the argument has an extension "arp" (or "ARP"), it tries to extract PTN file from it. The extraction is verbatim (PTN files are saved "as is" in ARP files) if the argument has an extension "mid" (or "MID"), it tries convert it into PTN file. Note that conversion is not "1 to 1", only Notes, Wheel and CC events are converted and all other parameters in resulting PTN file are constant (I don't know what they specify). In my tests that is sufficient for arp operations, please let me know if I have overseen something (I mean the result does not work as expected) Background information about PTN files. PTN are "Project 5" proprietary format to store MIDI clips. In general it seems like the format support all information in MIDI clips (and some extra, f.e. flam). But only a part of that information is used by Cakewalk arp. Converting MIDI clip into PTN. Prepare a MIDI clip, by loading existing PTN file (f.e. File/Import/MIDI..., select "P5 pattern" as file type) or from scratch. Original tempo will be reproduced with 1/32 setting in the arp (note that factory ARP do not follow that rule, so even if you load PTN extracted from an ARP into the same ARP, the tempo can be different). The first note defines the "origin" for transposing the whole clip according to actual note on the track. Select the clip. File/Export.../MIDI groove clip. Use the utility with created MID file name as parameter.

May be I have overseen and you have mentioned that already... but have you switched nanoKONTROL2 into CC mode? Leaving it in DAW mode is looking for troubles till you use MackieControl plug-in. For RPN/NRPN/CC/etc. , find some source for reading about MIDI messages. "MIDI 1.0" standard from what I remember is not free and midi.org web site is getting worse and worse with time...

It is possible to use ACT MIDI in parallel with Mackie-Control. But there are some conditions for that: Mackie Control should not react on control you use with ACT MIDI. Otherwise engaging the control will produce both operations. Taking into account Mackie Control defines something for all Mackie controls and "compatible" devices send use subset of that controls, in practice that mean you need to redefine what particular control sends insert ACT MIDI as the first in the surfaces list, before Mackie Control. Otherwise messages from all controls not defined in ACT will "leak" as MIDI input.

The format is simple. "Sufficiently old" programmers can recognize it in a HEX editor ? But "trial and error" is problematic without a program which can generate the files, since in such condition we can only guess what is saved inside. I mean without the knowledge what is saved, it is a kind of pointless to search how that is saved. At the moment we know there should be MIDI notes with standard number of attributes. These I have found already. But there are several more attributes for every note, something apart from notes (may be CC/etc... now since I know loading PTN into Cakewalk is possible I can check) and something for the clip as a whole.

Since they still can read these files, I think they still have the code to write it. But I can write external utility. That is why I have asked which features to check and may be try to implement. In P5 documentation I have already seen how to mark notes as "flam" and there is corresponding control in the arpeggiator. MIDI in Cakewalk does not have such flag (or I am not aware about it), unlike f.e. Step Sequencer.

Thanks! At least now I have realized that P5 patterns ARE MIDI clips. I mean something Cakewalk can insert into a project as MIDI clip. I somehow had an impression all these PTN files bundles with Cakewalk are for the the arpeggiator only... and was wondering why some of them sound strange when used there... make sense, since in practice the arpeggiator put restrictions on what is played from the clip (no simultaneous notes) and how (the number of octaves). ?

If for some reason it was not clear from my post, I already have deep understanding what (and how) arps (and auto-accompaniment) engines do. The question is what (if anything) from that is implemented in Cakewalk. Discovering that by bouncing clips is possible... but people who edited patterns in Project 5 probably just know. PS. this thread is about Cakewalk arpeggiator. There are many plug-ins and DAWs which do that better. But all of them are "off topic" here.

Unfortunately Mackie plug-in is not flexible. And if you don't use it you need to start from scratch. "ACT MIDI" has too many limitations, even for your device. If you have time, read "ACT MIDI explained"

I have a question about patterns. May be someone who used Project 5 can remember. Do they have some "extra" functionality in comparison to normal MIDI clips? I mean "real" patterns in other programs have many "extra properties". F.e. some notes don't change position when the pattern is transposed, other stay in tune, etc. Are some Cakewalk patterns also have similar properties? And now why I am asking... I have create my first PTN file (just for fun... to check I can...). So it is possible convert MIDI into PTN/ARP (and back). But there is way more information in PTN then I can understand, and since I don't have Project 5 I can't check it influence (or influenced) something or that are "historical" chunks which are not used by Cakewalk. PS. PTN/ARP files are in "Cakewalk format" (like CWP files). The conversion is NOT packing binary MIDI file into an "envelope". I mean don't waste you time in attempts to reproduce my successful test ?

In the perfect (or at least logical...) world, what they document should be "correct": https://steinbergmedia.github.io/vst3_dev_portal/pages/FAQ/Compatibility+with+VST+2.x+or+VST+1.html For programmers: note there is NO character filtering in the name converter, the name is used verbatim. But Steinberg's world is not perfect nor logical. Steinberg at some places implement things not according to there own documentation (so I will not be surprised if they use different function in Cubase). And since the documentation does not describe many details (f.e. in which encoding plug-in name should be...), developers just guess what they should do. I wish all developers abandon VST3, I know that is not going to happened any time soon. But there is already one "major" DAW which support LV2 on Windows ?

You have probably misunderstood my point (or humor in which it was packed). I just mean such devices are not targeting the same applications as specialized music creation interfaces nor have the quality/stability of RME. In other words such problems can be expected. If possible, WASAPI/Exclusive is preferred over WDM/KS mode these days.

If I remember correctly, "unplugging" the device on which Cakewalk was stuck have enabled me to choose different one. That was with one of virtual interfaces inside virtual machine, but I think that should work with real device on real computer as well. Probably disabling the interface in Windows also helps. PS. things with names sounding like "extreme professional" are normally not professional ?

@musekamp note that theoretically it is possible on software level in Cakewalk. But the only surface plug-in which supports that at the moment is AZ Controller, and creating corresponding preset is not 5 minutes job.

A bit more concrete: switch the device into CC mode (press and hold SET MARKER and CYCLE buttons while connecting USB cable) make sure Korg MIDI input is found and enabled in Cakewalk MIDI preferences make sure you do NOT use any Control Surface plug-in in Cakewalk preferences (at least not with Korg MIDI input/output) What Korg sends can be configured using Korg editor.

...or may be user can read the documentation (for the device and for the DAW). Reading the first, you can find how to switch DAW modes on MKV. Set it to Mackie 1 ("NC1"). Also you can notice you have to use "MIDIIN2 (Oxigen 49 MKV)" as DAW control input (and since your device has no feedback, probably start with output unassigned). From the second, you can find how to add some Control Surface (https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=ExternalDevices.03.html), and since your device imitate Mackie, you can choose "Mackie Control" here (do you remember what to set as input for it?). Also in Cakewalk documentation you can find https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=NewFeatures.003.html and in fact you have to set "Disable handshake" (if not already set). After that, most DAW operations should work as described in M-Audio documentation. If you buy a e-guitar, you also have to plug it into "correct input" and set correct "parameters" to make it sound "right". Probably you will not write "it should be a much easier process..." is this case ? What is "correct input" and what are "correct parameters"? Obviously it depends from what you want. With (some) surfaces that is the same, there is no single "correct socket" nor "correct parameters". General purpose surfaces like yours are flexible. ----- But may be something is not working yet... From the same sources, you can find that changing mode on keyboard to Mackie 2 ("NC2") will change knobs "resolution" while setting "Universal" or "Cubase" mode in Mackie Control plug-in can change the function of some buttons/knobs. ----- And in case you don't like what M-Audio has considered to control in DAWs, you may consider "rolling your own". Yes, that takes more time. But that is possible. You will need to learn how to configure MKV to send what you want (for that you have to find what you want it sends) and then configure the reaction on all controls.

Sorry for bumping own thread... but Google is definitively not my friend and attempts to put comments to videos from known "Cakewalk bloggers" have failed (comments disappeared). I mean when someone is looking for a good solution, he/she had no change to find it ? So I have created my own video (see the first post) ?

"Simple instrument track" is how Cakewalk call it: https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=SoftSynths.05.html I prefer to think about it as "Simple (instrument track)", and use "Instrument (track)" for synth output tracks(s), "Synth" for an instrument in the synth rack. Not as bad as with ACT, but just "Instument" term is ambiguous is Cakewalk. Synth is always separate thing in Cakewalk, unlike in other DAWs where synthes are effectively handled as FXes. And they need at least 2 tracks, one MIDI with output to the synth and one Audio with input from the synth. "Simple instrument track" is visually merged representation of (one) input MIDI track and (one) output Audio track. Most controls (including Mute) in Simple tracks are for Audio track. You can split simple tracks or combine related tracks into simple at any time. I repeat, that is just visual representation and so there are no changes in the project (all settings and routing are preserved). You can manipulate the content independent from tracks. That includes events, items, takes and Matrix. To find combinations and try different arrangements live, explore Matrix. Another approach is using take lanes with Comping. There are videos on YouTube about both features.

If you want mute to work as you want, you need to show both tracks. I mean: mute is working properly, but you want it work unusual way (so you need to disable "smart mute") "simple" track is internally 2 tracks, which can be shown as one. You do not created redundancy when you decompose simple tracks. If you want mute MIDI track but still be able to play live, you will need "redundant" track for MIDI input. Note that is also unusual, till in recording. For recording that is supported without extra track. That is not a "work around", that is a possibility foreseen by Cakewalk developers to do what you have asked for. More natural and so default approach is to mute the track when it should be really muted (so instantly), mute/delete the content (item or take) if it should not play and choose desired mode for recording.

The website remind me about 90es, I have created my first web site around 95 (after writing a web server for Windows to host it) ? Seriously. Commercial (and even not commercial) websites should look a bit different these days. It may be worse to invest into that... Also "View Your shopping cart" button produce "not secure" warning. Just to make a website correctly respond to S, the simplest certificate is sufficient. I don't understand why you was asked for a "proof of business", that make sense for signing software (and from what I remember required for signing drivers). Web certificate just confirm what user see in the browser is really coming from the address the user is typed (https://www.nortonmusic.com/). Sure, now users can see the site owner is from Florida/Fort Pierce, confirmed by major certification authority. But I don't think many users really check that (and probably most people don't even know how to see that information...). Probably that was the reason the first proposal was contacting webhost company. Many of them support S for free (using Let's Encrypt or similar certificates).

You can mute selected MIDI clip or you can split an Instrument track into MIDI and Audio tracks, then you can mute just MIDI track (but check "Smart mute"). You can right click on Mute button and select "Remote control...". But that feature is not the best approach. Better use Control Surface plug-ins ("ACT MIDI" and "Generic" will do the trick in Banks, "AZ Controller" has more options). Apart from mentioned "mute clip", you can have several MIDI tracks pointing to the same synth. So you can mute the track with content but still play throw another one. You can use "Automatically record arm" feature: https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Recording.13.html If you are going to use AZ Controller (for custom muting, f.e. by track names), you can also add "Exclusive record arm": https://www.azslow.com/index.php?topic=298.msg1453#msg1453 Apart from mentioned plug-ins, there is my own: https://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,275.0.html Note that some similarity (MFX plug-ins, SMF as a forum framework...) are just coincidence. I am NOT the person behind https://viramor.com/

In ReaCWP documentation you can find technical explanation why that is difficult even between just 2 DAWs, even so the target DAW is the most flexible DAW at the moment.

At least one of "officially supported" DAWs has features (1) and (2). And solutions for (4). But no (3), that is outside of "Boolean logic" and so not supported there ?

In Cakewalk preferences, Audio section, select Devices and enable channels you want. If you can't find them there or they are grayed, check Driver Model in the Playback and Recording.

So, you just had bad unit from the beginning... That can explain why you had several strange problems before.