Overdubbing MIDI CC data problem

[teleblaster]

I have a synth part recorded using Alchemy player. The players interface exposes a filter cutoff knob for this patch. I can easily assign the modulation wheel on my midi keyboard to that knob by using the handy little dropdown tool in Alchemy player. Doing this gives me real time control of the filter cutoff; tres cool.

The problem is I want to go back over an existing MIDI performance and overdub that CC information, and it's not working. I hear the changes aurally while doing the overdub, but at playback the filter reverts back to 0, which effectively cuts off all the audio.

I'm a relative MIDI noob.... and I'm running Reaper. It's not known for it's sterling MIDI features, but this s/b a pretty simple task. There's a MIDI editor window that shows the various CC channels along with the piano roll information. I can draw an envelope for the mod wheel and it plays back, but I can't seem to automate recording the same envelope.

DAW is Reaper V 3.x (latest drop)
Keboard is an M-Audio Keystaion 61

Thanks in advance

[rnrmachine]

It may be that the computer doesn't know what to do with both sets of data. Being that it has the old AND the new that you recorded. You might have to edit (erase) out the "wheel" data so new can be added.

Also, check MIDI options for something along the lines of... "replace old data with new". Otherwise, MIDI blends the two (or more) and does NOT erase old. The common default for most sequencers is to just continually add the new midi data.... with expression type stuff, such as the mod wheel, you can see how this will develop problems.

IF you touch the wheel too early... you will erase the wanted data. So starting AFTER wanted wheel mods is the preferable choice. In other words, learn to use "punch in" "punch out" options.

Good Luck!!

[markjsmith]

Hey Erich,

I don't know if you tried just using a second midi track assigned to the same instrument? I would just record the mod wheel data there.

Congrats on getting Stylus btw!

-Mark

[teleblaster]

Thanks for the input guys.

rnr -- you might be on to something there. I'm going to look into that. I'm setup to overdub so I don't overwrite the piano roll/note information with the cc overdub, but maybe there's a setting to replace cc data with overdubs, rather than merge it in?

mjs-- Reaper isn't setup like most DAWs. Virtual instruments are treated like any other track insert, they don't go on a special VI buss. But you can route anything anywhere in Reaper, so I might be able to create another MIDI track, record the CC data then route that output back to the MIDI track with the VI on it. Also, haven't gotten Stylus yet, planning to order it this coming Friday; wifey's getting me an early bday present -- woohoo!

I pulled off this piece for a few hours to work on a bone crushingly simple slide guitar piece -- no CC required or even allowed for that matter.... I'll let you all know how it goes once I get back to this

Thanks again

[Len911]

I don't use reaper, but in cubase you have to press the "write" or "W" button to write automation. The "write" is akin to recording automation. The "read" or "R" button only reads or "plays" the automation.

Writing automation for the cc mod wheel track shouldn't overwrite the piano part.

[teleblaster]

Thanks Len, that was the info I needed. For those that are interested in the solution. Mapping the mod wheel to 'control 3' in Alchemy player works flawlessly. Once that is set, in reaper you open up a seperate 'lane' for automation envelopes -- this huge freaking menu allows you to create a lane for any automatable parameter on any effect or vst on the track. Once that lane is created set automation to 'write' hit record and away I go using the mod wheel to control the filter cut-off knob for Alchemy.