Import Time Signature changes

[simonteh]

I use Tracker to create MIDI tracks from kicks and snares audio tracks that have been already recorded over a tempo map in my DAW (Cubase).

What I always do is to export an empty MIDI file from Cubase and then import it in Tracker so I have the correct tempo map inside it (Tempo Map > Load Tempo from Midi File…)

However, to my very unpleasant suprise, this doesn’t import the signature changes, making Tracker almost useless when it comes to any song that has signature changes or just isn’t in 4/4, which is crazy.

I have read that you only introduce signature changes manually, but that isn’t very efficient when it comes to a whole album with MANY changes. Also, since it’s almost impossible to synchronize SD3 playback to the DAW playback (if there’s a way please tell me), it’s also extremelly inefficient to listen to the whole song (only the kickdrum) and have to guess where you have to put the signature change, since you can’t even listen to the whole instrumentation but only the track you have inside SD3.

I know I must be missing something, there has to be a way to import signature changes somehow, otherwise we’re doomed to only use SD3 with flat signature songs (?). What is the option that I’m missing and why aren’t signature changes imported together with tempo changes when you import tempo from MIDI file?, this is really basic but necessary stuff.

I’d appreciate any answers here! thank you

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: Windows 10

• This post was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by simonteh.

Topic

[Mac McCormick]

Key signature changes are not part of the MIDI 1.0 spec and therefore cannot be transferred via MIDI.
Changing tempo actually changes what you listen to. Key signatures are only for reference.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: Windows 11

Cubase Pro, Korg Kronos, M-50, Hammond XK-1c, Toontrack SD3, EZBass w/lots of expansions, many VSL Vi's, Shreddage 3 everything, and shit-tons of FX plugins.

[simonteh]

I really hope it was that simple, the problem is that when I import/drag back the MIDI coming from tracker, it comes with its own time signature (4/4 by default), overwrittig the structure I have in Cubase and therefore ruining all my time map from there on (all the songs to the right are now out of synch).

It’s weird what you say about not being able to transfer signature via MIDI because that’s how you do it when exchanging tempo maps for mixing or tracking an album between different engineers. I’ve done it hundreds of times: I receive a MIDI file with tempo and signatures, I import it to Cubase, I have all the structure of tempo AND signature changes.

• This post was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by simonteh.

[John]

Hi,

I think you guys are talking about different things; Key Signature changes are not relevant to Superior Drummer but Time Signature changes are.
The Song Track in SD3 can Import both Tempo changes and Time Signature changes from a MIDI file. The Tracker cannot Import Time Signature changes.
Does it work to find the hits in Tracker first (with Tempo Imported), then Transfer the MIDI to the Song Track, followed by Importing the Time Signature changes from the MIDI file?

I don’t know why the Song Track can Import Time Sig changes but the Tracker can’t, perhaps one for the Wishlist in the Requests & Feedback section?

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[simonteh]

Hi John, thanks a lot for your help, you solution worked great, although it adds a few steps that seems to be avoidable if we were able to import time signatures in Tracker. However, at this moment what I want is a solution and this one works. Really appreciated.

To sum up (for future readers), if you want to create a MIDI file in SD3/Tracker preserving the tempo AND time signature changes in your DAW, what you must do is:

1) Create an empty MIDI file in your DAW with the length of your song and export it.
2) In SD3, go to Tracker, drag your audio file (say your kick drum), import the tempo from empty Midi file created in step 1 (Load Tempo Map from MIDI file…)
3) Once you have created your hitpoints, click blue ‘Export’ button at the top right (inside the Tracker window)
4) Drag that MIDI to the Song Block (‘Drag MIDI to song block’ at the bottom), Check ‘Include tempo’ and then ‘Add MIDI’
5) In the ‘Track’ menu (bottom left) > ‘Import Time Signatures from MIDI file…’
6) Finally, drag that MIDI file (in the song block) to your DAW.

As I said, we could avoid the last 3 steps if we were able to import Time Signature changes in Tracker.

1

Thanked by: John

[Author]

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