How to add VST Instruments objects to tracks using different loops other than the default instrument setting?

hgmurray wrote on 2/26/2014, 3:26 PM

I'm using Magic Music Maker 2014 on Wins7. When add a VST Instrument object to a track it always comes up with the default loop selected, no problem. If I select another loop an close the instrument my object does retain the default loop. I'm not sucessful with Vita 2, Power Guitar and Electric Piano.

If you can help many thanks!

Comments

browj2 wrote on 2/26/2014, 11:15 PM

Hi,

I don't really understand what you are trying to do. If you put the default music from Vita 2 on a track, Vita 2 opens and you can select an instrument. The sound will change to that instrument.

What do you mean by select another loop and close the instrument?

Does not retain the default loop? No, it should not, you over-rode the settings by selecting another loop. If the loop is a an audio file, you can't change the instrument.

This may be what you are trying to do. After selecting Vita 2 from the Instruments tab, if you replace the default midi file on the track with a different one, then the track will take on the instrument associated with the midi file, but it will not be shown. Note that in the first image below on track 11, I dragged in a soundpool midi loop. The instrument changed but is not shown. To get back the Vital (not Vita) instrument, open the instruments to the left of the track and select the instrument under Vital that you want. Once you do this, do not try open the Vita 2 instrument using the icon under Instruments, as it just brings in a the default music midi file to set up for midi recording. If you want the open the Vita 2 screen a second time using a different midi loop but on the same track, click in the instrument box at the left of the track, go to the bottom of the list and select Instrument Editor or right click on the object and select Instrument Editor. The Vita 2 instrument screen will open as in the second image below.

Note that if you select an instrument that is not Vital from the list at the left of the track, then when you open the instrument editor, it will be the one associated with the instrument chosen.

If this does not help, then please explain clearly, step by step what you are doing. Screen shots would help.

browj2 wrote on 2/27/2014, 10:43 PM

Take a look at this to see if it helps:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/au7fyil0i8nno59/Tutorial%2002%20MMM2014%20Insturments.WMV

Procyon wrote on 2/28/2014, 11:12 AM

I'm going to take a stab at it here...

Are you trying to create two MIDI objects in the same track using two different MIDI instruments? If so, that's not possible. You can have only one MIDI instrument per track.

browj2 wrote on 3/5/2014, 6:38 PM

Hi,

I'm not sure that your problems are set up problems rather than not understanding how the program works.

Here are a few pointers:

As Procyon indicated, you cannot have 2 instruments on one track.
Before opening MMM, make sure that your keyboard is on and primed for midi, local off, otherwise you will not get the keyboard to play in the program.
When you open MMM, make sure that your settings are correct with the ASIO driver and the keyboard selected for MIDI input. I found that it is usually better to set the parameters, then close and reopen MMM with all of the parameters set. Maybe it's just me.
Try other instruments on separate tracks. I presume that you have Vita instruments. Try an acoustic piano on one track. Put some drums on another. Can you record midi to the piano track ok?
Make sure that the track you want to record to is armed - MIDI REC is lit and that an instrument has been selected.
If you choose an instrument and the instrument editor opens, check that the track is armed by playing the on-screen keyboard. The sound should play.
Make sure that the yellow bar at the top of the tracks covers the area that you want to record to or use as a loop. If you are using a 4 bar loop on one track and you want to record on another track along with the loop, the yellow bar and the record parameters (looping on or off) have to be set up for this.
If you record several bars on a track and then want to add more, you have to move the start of the yellow bar to the beginning of where you want to record, otherwise you will be recording over top of the part that you already recorded. This make it difficult because you cannot play/hear the first part of the song.
If you want to play/hear the first part of the song and then record from there using the same instrument, you have to use a different track. Thus, set up another track with the same instrument, set the yellow bar and looping on or off.
You can set up the yellow bar to loop on the part covered by it, but have the recording continues beyond it, or you can set it up to only record the length of the loop and then record over top againa and again until you stop recording. You need to review the manual to understand these parameters, like overdubbing.

I suggest that you get the basics sorted out, and review the help manual as you want to advance with things like changing the tempo.