Exporting MIDI Files

keyboarder85 wrote on 2/21/2016, 6:24 AM

Hi,

I am fairly inexperienced with midi etc. but I've project going on, which I need to use various instruments.

I'm trailing Samplitude 2016. I select the instruments I want sounding, play what I need, then export the midi file. However, when I play it back, all the sounds are just piano. I can hear all the different lines being played, but not the sound of the instrument selected.

What do I need to do to make sure that whatever I've created in the software, when I save as a midi file, the insturments sound like what I've selected?

Thanks in advance for any help or tips.

Comments

browj2 wrote on 2/21/2016, 12:24 PM

Hi,

As far as I know, you only get one instrument with the trial version. It seems that you have more.

You say that you export the midi file. When you play it back, what are you playing it back with? Some other program? If so, then you have to select an instrument in that program. A midi file is just like notes on a page, it doesn't contain an instrument.

If you want to play back an exported file and hear the instrument in something other than a midi program, you have to export the file as audio, like mp3 or wav, not midi. Then when you play it back you will hear the instrument that was used in the program.

In SMS, double-click on a midi object to open the midi editor. At the top left, the first button is MIDI event list. Click on it to see the list. That is the contents of your midi file. It contains information about which note/key to turn on, when, how loud, etc. There is no sound in a midi file.

johnebaker wrote on 2/21/2016, 1:37 PM

. . . . What do I need to do to make sure that whatever I've created in the software, when I save as a midi file, the insturments sound like what I've selected? . . . .

AFAICS you cannot do this - the exported MIDI files do not have the necessary information (Program change event) as to which instrument to use - it only contains the information as John CB has said.

If the MIDI file did have the information and it was not one of the instruments specified in the Midi standards, then the external player would use the default instrument ie piano.

You may be able to change the midi file in a third party software, however that is outside the scope of this forum.

HTH

John EB

keyboarder85 wrote on 2/22/2016, 9:52 AM

Hi,

Thanks for everyone's feedback.

I'll try and explain what I'm tying to do and hopefully, someone can offer some advice.

I have a show coming up, but I want to play individual parts in to Magix, save it as a MIDI file and transfer the file to my Keyboard. I am then hoping that whatever I've played into Magix, including the type of instrument, would then play back through the keyboard and allow me to play along with it.

Many thanks.

browj2 wrote on 2/22/2016, 11:28 AM

I don't know if what you want is possible; beyond my capabilities. I have a cheap Casio. It allows me to load a midi file. I created a midi file in SMS, exported it, imported it into my keyboard, but it only plays back as a piano.

Obviously the Vita instruments that you would likely use in SMS are not available on a keyboard, only the ones available in the keyboard. I don't know how to tell the program which tone to use but there must be a way. If you find it, please let us know how.

The normal way, I believe, is to use the output channel to the midi keyboard and select an instrument from the keyboard. This way, playback is on the keyboard using the keyboard tones. You can playback several tracks, each to separate channels with different keyboard instruments, and then play along with them.

Good luck.

johnebaker wrote on 2/22/2016, 12:26 PM

AFAICS what you want is not possible for the reasons I stated in my previous answer - there are no Program change events in the exported MIDI files.

I believe this is why SMS/MMM allows you save the MIDI notes played and assign different synthesizers to the same imported MIDI file.

John EB