Midi Newbie Help Request - Midi Dump To Computer, MIDI dump from hardware sequencer to Mac Options

[Josh Anomaly]

I'm no expert when it comes to MIDI so my apologies in advance if this is something basic / obvious / etc.

I'm trying to determine how to transfer multi-track MIDI files from a hardware sequencer that I used to use (a Brother PDC-100) to my Mac (G4, OS 9.2) so that I can use them in Cubase (v4.1). I'm using a MIDIman MIDIsport 2x2 USB MIDI interface.

I think I know how to simply plug the sequencer into the MIDIsport and have Cubase record all incoming MIDI data -- but is there a way to preserve the separation of the MIDI tracks in the original file (i.e. drums on channel 10, bass on channel 2, etc.).

Any help is appreciated -- thanks in advance.

Josh
2003 06 06

[BobbyA]

Josh-

I'll start with saying I'm not a Cubase user (or a PDC-100 user), so I'm not sure on all the particular features of that sequencer. I'm a DP4 user, but the same principles should apply.

Ideally, you could save your sequences as Standard MIDI Files, but I don't know if the Brother PDC-100 can do that or not. If you find that it can, follow the owners manual on how to save a song sequence as a Standard MIDI File (or SMF). Then you could open the SMF in Cubase and all your different instrument takes would show up on the proper tracks.
But, I suspect the Brother unit doesn't have the SMF option, so the way to do it would be to:

1. Plug your MIDI out of the PDC-100 to the MIDI in of the MIDIsport 2x2 (which lets you record to Cubase).
2. Put Cubase in multi-record mode, that is, make it be able to record on several tracks at once. Make the same number of tracks on Cubase as you have on the PDC for that song.
3. For each song, label the MIDI tracks on Cubase the same as the MIDI tracks on the PDC with the same MIDI channels, that is: MIDI channel 1 = Piano; MIDI chan 2 = Bass, etc.
At this point, you could hit RECORD on Cubase and hit PLAY on the PDC and you would be able to record all the MIDI notes and associated data to the proper tracks in Cubase. HOWEVER, this would yield undesirable results, because the tempo would be wrong. Even if you set the tempo on Cubase to the same as your song sequence on PDC (for example, 137 BPM), the timing would drift nastily and you would not be able to quantize later.
So the next steps are important.
4. Set the Cubase song sequence to the same tempo as on the PDC for tha song (137 BPM in this example).
5. Then, make sure the PDC is sending MIDI CLOCK OUT information. That should be in a menu somewhere. It may sending MIDI clock out all the time.
6. Next, on Cubase, set the MIDI clock on EXTERNAL MIDI CLOCK RECEIVE or something that sounds like that. So Cubase is in waiting mode for MIDI data before it will PLAY/RECORD. Test it by pressing PLAY on Cubase -- it should not play forward, but blink waiting for MIDI messages. Press STOP on Cubase.
7. Now cue up the very start of the song sequence on the PDC. Then press RECORD on Cubase. The sequence in Cubase should be in waiting mode, waiting for MIDI clock from the PDC.
8. Now press PLAY on the PDC. Cubase should start recording at the exact same tempo as the PDC, recording all the MIDI tracks in one fell swoop pass. Cool! If your MIDI keyboards and modules are connected to your MIDISport, you will hear all the instruments play at once while recording the sequence to Cubase.
9. Repeat all of the above for each song sequence you have until you're exhausted.
10. Pop open a cold beer to reward you efforts.

If you experience a delay at the beginning of each song sequence, you can insert an extra measure or two of silence on the PDC-100. That way Cubase will be totally up to speed when the actual musical MIDI notes begin.

That's it!!

-BobbyA