Jack 007Over the years since EZdrummer 1 i bought quite a few upgrades, EZ2, SD2, SD3, midi packs, EZX – and SDX – expansion packs, 3rd party stuff like Groove Monkey etc. Some recent, some on ebay, and also from downloading updates for older bought versions and installing them. All ending up seemingly in a data mess with double entries, often with a different parent folder name but the same content. See pictures.
Tried to clean it up by hand looking at the folder files having only ‘-header’ as content, but i can’t figure out how the Toontrack system pointing to the ‘sub’ folders works. Is there any logic there, or better a separate editor?
Each time i use the internal midi base restoration protocols internally, either from SD3 or EZdrummer 2, i seem to loose all my user data settings. NOT FUNNY as some took quite a bit of time like edits from imported data from other sources like Groove Agent.
Henrik EkblomThe internal structure of the MIDI isn’t designed to be changed manually by users. Of course it’s possible, but not supported by Toontrack (via any special software or similar).
When you add your own MIDI packs, do you place the folders manually in the Toontrack MIDI path on the disk, or do you use the Add User/Linked Folder in the Grooves/Search tabs?
There are some things that disappear when you reinstall the MIDI database, such as favorites. We are aware of this shortcoming, and will look at it for future updates.
Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack
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Thanked by: Jack 007Jack 007Usually with the Toontrack installers, but sometimes manually, but only after something seemed to be (re-) appearing at the wrong location. Or when there were headers without content, or content that was placed ‘automatically’ elsewhere. F.i. I would like to put all Reggae or Jazz related stuff from different sources under the same (customized) headers, and not filed under EZD, and/or again at EZX, or Superior Drummer. The logic in this file system beats me.
There was a separate folder called Database inside my EZ drummer Sounds folder seemingly doing nothing; disabling it didn’t do anything … see pic. Might have been a remainder of an old (EZD1?) installation? 2014, but there is a N.Y. SDX vol3 in it i just bought yesterday. Maybe it came back from working as tech in another studio in the past, alas the database in my head sucks at times too. I like NY3 BTW.
Jack 007And why do i have to use ‘Add to Database ‘manually for each item separately here, also after using the ‘Restore Midi Database’ function?
Henrik EkblomWell, the database is read and kept in memory by the software at startup, so if you change the path during runtime, it would still work in some scenarios. Not recommended though, since it will need to write the database to disk at some point!
The idea behind the Grooves tab in SD3 is to let you filter out things by search terms or filters. So if you for example search for “Reggae” or select that genre, the reggae MIDI would be listed, thus rendering the actual order of folders and files in the file system less needed.
Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack
1
Thanked by: Jack 007Jack 007So i should use the ‘Ad to Database’ function to save the yellow marked entries in ‘Database’ ? No way to do that all in one run then? Now you seem to have to do that separately for each item selected. Thnx BTW for your help, J
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Thanked by: Didier MartiniHenrik EkblomAnd why do i have to use ‘Add to Database ‘manually for each item separately here, also after using the ‘Restore Midi Database’ function?
This won’t happen if the order of the folders and the files is left as the Toontrack installers add them. If you, however, manually move, rename, etc., things in the MIDI folder, things may stop working, or as in this case, you have to manually add the folders to the database. Things like tags may stop working too, when manually changing things in the MIDI folder, so it’s highly recommended to leave it the installers creates it.
If you want it the way you have done it, you have to click each folder and “Add to Database”.
Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack
1
Thanked by: Jack 007Jack 007Well, guess i figured it out. Only thing i don’t get is when to use .default or .header in the naming folders, … @_….; seems to work both.
And NEVER use the ‘restore database’ function, after changes made. The ‘Add to Database’ function should be an automatic affair. Very time consuming. All cost me about a day, but the mess came to be due the various Toontrack installers & updates themselves IMO. This system should be totally over hauled.
Is this database SD3 creates the one stored in C:\users\’name’\appdata\toontrack\roaming\superior3?
Tested loading an old setup there, indeed. This is a ABSOLUTE and REALLY WRONG location. Occasionally when working on a job and windows messes up once again, i usually reload an older Boot image … all SD3’s stored midi library data are probably lost then. I run all my audio and video programs and plugins from a separate SSD drive to keep the boot drive as small as possible. Steinberg, Toontrack and Waves are not my favorite software manufacturers in regards of an easy going workflow. They force you back up Boot partitions too often. -J
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Thanked by: Didier Martini
jonah66I totally agree, the midi browser and formatting is a bit of a mess. I don’t think the user midi option is the best way, for me anyway, to implement adding 3rd party midi. A separate editor is a great idea, allowing you to edit and organise your own midi files and format the way the Toontrack addons are.
it just seems to be complicated for no reason whatsoever.
Please consider a midi browser revamp in the next patch/update.
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Thanked by: Jack 007 and Didier MartiniNo products in the cart.