compress/expand MIDI track

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johnc14
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compress/expand MIDI track

Post by johnc14 »

I'm away from home and without my DP6 manual. I need info on how to use the compress/expand section of the change velocity part of the regions menu to add compression to a MIDI track. I would really like to download a pdf. of the DP 6 manual if that is possible. I didn't find that option on the MOTU site.

Also, I am using a Yamaha P 90 keyboard and DP doesn't have a patch list for this keyboard. Where can I get one and how do I load it?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John
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Tim
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by Tim »

I never really took the time to mess around with DP's velocity compressor. I still do it my old way: reduce velocity by a percentage, then increase by a set value.
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FMiguelez
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by FMiguelez »

.

I haven't used it either. I really prefer any of the other methods.

I assume you would treat it like a regular audio compressor. It must be the same principle behind it. Set the threshold, set the ratio, etc.

You can leave it as a plug in running in real time. But you can also "print" the resulting compression, so you could actually see what it did to your velocities. If you change your mind, undo. Or keep it as a plug-in and close your eyes and only listen to the results... you can bypass it and make it active back and forth without actually committing at that point.

If you don't mind my asking, what exactly is it you are trying to accomplish? Why do you want to compress the velocities?

And no. There is NO PDF DP MANUAL!
Mac Mini Server i7 2.66 GHs/16 GB RAM / OSX 10.14 / DP 9.52
Tascam DM-24, MOTU Track 16, all Spectrasonics' stuff,
Vienna Instruments SUPER PACKAGE, Waves Mercury, slaved iMac and Mac Minis running VEP 7, etc.

---------------------------

"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
bongo_x
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by bongo_x »

I use the velocity compressor plugin almost all the time, simply because I don't like the velocity curve of my keyboard and I'm not a very good player. I does work pretty much just like an audio compressor.

bb
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HCMarkus
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by HCMarkus »

MIDI compression/expansion works really well when a velocity-sensitive patch is too sensitive or not sensitive enough... you can adjust the MIDI data to get what you hear in line with what your technique is expected to deliver. FM and Bongo are right... it works pretty much like an audio compressor.

Get Cherrypicker (donationware download) and search the web for a P90 patch list. I found one for my S90ES not long ago.
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cbergm7210
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by cbergm7210 »

Tim wrote:I never really took the time to mess around with DP's velocity compressor. I still do it my old way: reduce velocity by a percentage, then increase by a set value.
I as well. Or I use max and min to limit the ranges.
Mac Pro 2.66GHz Dual Quad Core Nahalem, 16 Gigs RAM, DP 9, RME Fireface 800, MOTU MIDIexpress 128, Mac OS 10.8.5

http://www.rfjmusic.com
johnc14
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by johnc14 »

thanks all for the responses. What I'm trying to do is recreate a more realistic sound in a piano overdub. I recorded piano, bass and drums live but the monitor mix was so bad that I couldn't get a decent piano performance because I couldn't hear myself. The new overdubbed piano track was played at much lower velocity with a resulting tone difference which doesn't ring true to me next to the intensity of the other instruments. Any ideas?
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FMiguelez
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by FMiguelez »

.

You can either: rerecord your piano performance to your liking, or:
Spend as much time as you need tweaking and editing velocities till you get what you like (by using any editing technique at your disposal).

Since this is a MIDI track, you can really do anything you want. But the question is, WHAT is easier? At what point should you just re-track? How much time are you willing to spend with this "rescue"?
Mac Mini Server i7 2.66 GHs/16 GB RAM / OSX 10.14 / DP 9.52
Tascam DM-24, MOTU Track 16, all Spectrasonics' stuff,
Vienna Instruments SUPER PACKAGE, Waves Mercury, slaved iMac and Mac Minis running VEP 7, etc.

---------------------------

"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
newrigel

Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by newrigel »

FMiguelez wrote:.

You can either: rerecord your piano performance to your liking, or:
Spend as much time as you need tweaking and editing velocities till you get what you like (by using any editing technique at your disposal).

Since this is a MIDI track, you can really do anything you want. But the question is, WHAT is easier? At what point should you just re-track? How much time are you willing to spend with this "rescue"?
That's what I say too...
johnc14
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Re: compress/expand MIDI track

Post by johnc14 »

thanks for the suggestions.
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