New to Digital Performer

stuartjmoran · Post by **stuartjmoran** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:31 am

Hi,

Ive just downloaded the DP8 demo for Windows with the intention of switching from Cakewalk Sonar X2 to Digital Performer for live use.

The main reason for this is that Im a keyboard player in a band and want to be able to use Digital Performer for my live rig set-up.
From what my research tells me I should be able to call up my patches on my hardware and use a V Rack to use my VST instruments.

Cakewalk works well with set lists and setting up patches for my ext MIDI keyboards however to use softsynths is a much slower process in the setup. This is where V Racks come in and the main reason to switch to DP.

The main thing I need to do in DP8 is patch changes and saving these settings. Also MIDI routing. This is all achieved with creating MIDI tracks in cakewalk using the input and outputs to route my devices and I set patches by using cakewalk instrument definition files.

My Main first point is there an equivalent to instrument definitions (patch lists) I have a Korg Krome and a Yamaha MX that I use. If so how do I create them. I have read about cherry picker but this is a MAC app and Im a windows user. Is there some equivalent to this app for PC. Im at a lose end. V racks and the idea of saving live shows is what most appeals to me.

I would appreciate any help in this matter.

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:09 am

You might search the forum for "DP live in performance" as there are quite a few threads about that.

One immediate method (and I don't use DP live) might be to have the V--Rack but set up sequences (DP calls them "chunks") and have a key command or MIDI message setup to change the chunk. In the various chunks you could setup all the patches and have them load as a bank. You might have to have the sequence start to effect the changes but again, that can all be automated with keys on the PC and/or a MIDI message.

I'm sure others will jump in later today with alternate plans to accomplish your tasks.

I don't know about the PC equivalent to Cherry Picker.

Welcome to MN.

Michael Canavan · Post by **Michael Canavan** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:51 am

stuartjmoran wrote: My Main first point is there an equivalent to instrument definitions (patch lists) I have a Korg Krome and a Yamaha MX that I use. If so how do I create them. I have read about cherry picker but this is a MAC app and Im a windows user. Is there some equivalent to this app for PC. Im at a lose end. V racks and the idea of saving live shows is what most appeals to me.

Yeah there is, and you should be able to find some way to translate your Sonar patch lists over to DP. Cherry Picker is one way for sure, but if Sonar has already defined your files, there's got to be a way to get that information to DP.

I have to run off to work, but I think this is a translator issue. .ins to midnam.

short search pulled this up.
http://www.aatranslator.com.au

adriano · Post by **adriano** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 11:17 am

Hello Stuartjmoran,

You can try this:

http://www.midizone.de/en/

Check the documentation first though.

stuartjmoran · Post by **stuartjmoran** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:30 pm

Cheers for that the download worked a treat and I now have 2 midnam files for My Yamaha MX and My Korg Krome.

I have copied them into the C:\ProgramData\MOTU\Digital Performer\MIDI Devices\motu\
Then the Krome in the Korg folder
and the
MX in the Yamaha folder.

I thought that would be it but they still aren't recognised in digital performer. Been into the Bundles set-up and they are not listed.

Only had this programme a day once I can get this setup I can start learning how to use it.

Cheers in advance

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:33 pm

MIDI Life Crisis wrote:[...]One immediate method (and I don't use DP live) might be to have the V--Rack but set up sequences (DP calls them "chunks") and have a key command or MIDI message setup to change the chunk. In the various chunks you could setup all the patches and have them load as a bank. You might have to have the sequence start to effect the changes but again, [...]

AFAICT, if your patch changes are inserted at the very beginning of the MIDI tracks, and if MIDI track outputs are set to your VIs sitting in the V-rack, calling any chunk (= sequence) will load the patches present in that chunk. Fast and easy...

stuartjmoran · Post by **stuartjmoran** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:08 pm

I have been looking at chunks and V Racks and that's exactly what i'm looking for. A the minute i'm still stuck with midnam file. I have tried it in every directory possible still cant get DP to see it. Im at a loss with this now.

adriano · Post by **adriano** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:51 pm

stuartjmoran wrote:I have been looking at chunks and V Racks and that's exactly what i'm looking for. A the minute i'm still stuck with midnam file. I have tried it in every directory possible still cant get DP to see it. Im at a loss with this now.

Hi stuartjmoran.

Did you download from the link I posted?

Did the app also created a .middev file? If not, go to the Yamaha and Korg folders where you placed the .midnam, find the .middev file(s), open them and and add your device model. If you look closely inside those files, there are device names for .midnam files already created in the folders.

stuartjmoran · Post by **stuartjmoran** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:06 pm

Hi,

Yeah downloaded your app that was brilliant thankyou it let me import my cakewalk insturment defintions for my 2 keyboards and then export them as midnam files. So cheers i really appreciate that

I have opened the middev files but they dont make much sense to me at the minute.
I keep trying, i just dont really understand the middev file.

adriano · Post by **adriano** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:14 pm

Hello again,
Have you also tried the following step:
Please, visit link http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... st#p485712

Look at the answer from Mike @ MOTU in the white box-fist post

MOTUnation.com