Can't Get My Drum Tracker MIDI To Line Up Right?

[Marc]

I can’t get my drum tracker replacement midi to line up with the other (original) audio tracks in my project.  The MIDI file that I’m getting is also much shorter than the audio files it’s supposed to replace as well, running out before the song is over.

How is that even possible?  I don’t know the tempo of the original recording.  I’ve run some of the tracks through different software BPM tools, and I have gotten wildly different and some obviously wrong BPM’s.

What am I doing wrong?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.4
Operating system: macOS Mojave (10.14)

• This post was modified 5 years, 11 months ago by Marc.

Topic

[John]

Hi,

are you using SD3 as a plug-in in your host or standalone when you use Tracker to generate MIDI?

You can tell Tracker to try to find the Tempo and you can manually edit the Tempo map. If you drag down the MIDI to the SD3 Song Track you can choose to Import the Tempo. If you export the MIDI from Tracker or the Song Track, the Tempo map should be included so you may Import the Tempo from the MIDI file to your host, to make sure the MIDI isn’t sped up or slowed down by the host.

 

BR,

John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Jayos]

Hi. I know this is an old thread – but the question remains.

In cubase, when using a variable tempo and importing an audio file to Superior drummer to create midi triggers for export back to cubase, Superior drummer will not export an accurate midi file. It doesn’t align whether I detect tempo within superior, or import the tempo map from Cubase (Superior only allows midi import and not the standard xml which cubase uses for exporting tempo maps).

The method you outlined above still generates a midi file which is not aligned despite importing the tempo map via midi. You say the map can be manually edited – this defeats the object of having it done automatically. If I have to go in and manually edit nodes to get it to line up, then this function is not doing what it’s supposed to. There are other apps which are able to do it seamlessly.  I may as well go in and draw a separate midi note on every kick..  No thanks!

This is expensive software, and I don’t want to have to buy something else to do a job which this claims to be able to do. 🙂

Cheers

J

 

 

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: Windows 10

[Mark King]

I use Cubase and keep all my midi in Cubase. If I use tracker I create all the replacements in sd3. I then enable midi out in sd3 (also set midi in to none) and record the output to a midi track in Cubase. SD3 has to be set to follow host when playing back to record. Works for me and doesn’t take much time to setup. I really can’t be bothered with the tempo map thing and this works just as well with much less hassle.
When recorded onto a midi track just drop the midi onto the sd3 midi track or another instance of sd3. I always turn off midi out afterwards as well.

SD3 with older sdx,s plus Rooms of Hansa and Death & Darkness. Cubase and wavelab current versions. Roland TD50x using all trigger inputs for triggering SD3 only. Windows 11 computer. Various keyboards and outboard gear as well as VST instruments. Acoustic drums: Yamaha 9000 natural wood and Pearl masters. Various snare drums. RME BabyFace Pro FS and Adam A7X monitors

[Bear-Faced Cow]

You say the map can be manually edited – this defeats the object of having it done automatically. If I have to go in and manually edit nodes to get it to line up, then this function is not doing what it’s supposed to

Not true. Even the tempo mapping in a DAW is not always accurate and needs to be aligned to your downbeats of your audio. I use the Tracker in various multi tempo situations. If you align the tempo as was indicated by John the MIDI will exports properly with your tempo map. More importantly it will export with your downbeat properly placed so that you can change the tempo and your MIDI will follow along properly.

If you want the export done right, you need to put in a bit of work. That’s audio production as a whole.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[Author]

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