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I am using Apple's Mainstage to control two 2 keyboards (pianos). It is easy to program patch changes, however, sending a simple CC command to a keyboard, is not so straightforward. I want to send either of the following 2 messages to midi channel 2: CC122 0 (Local control off) or CC122 127 (Local control on). I believe they can also be represented by the following hex codes: B1 7A 00 and B1 7A 7F. However, the only way Mainstage allows this command to be actuated, is by the attachment of a midi file containing the relevant CC numbers. Having read some of the posts on this forum, I believe it is possible to create a suitable midi file using Logic, however, I do not really want to spend £200 in order to just make a couple of files. I have also tried to create these files using Studio One Pro, without success. I believe it is possible to create a midi file without expensive software and so would be extremely grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. I have spent hours researching this and do not seem to be getting anywhere. Thanks.
Posted : 06/04/2024 9:52 pm
Signal is a simple MIDI file editor that works in a web browser.
The following steps show how to use Signal to make a MIDI file with a single Local Control CC message.
When reading these steps, refer to this image of Signal's piano roll with various controls labeled: signal-piano-roll.png
Start with a new file:
- Go to the File menu and choose the New command.
A new file starts off with several default set up messages. For your task you don't want any extra messages, so I suggest you delete everything so you'll start with a completely empty file. Here's how to delete everything: (also see this image: signal-delete-everything.png)
- Go to the Arrange tab.
- Drag a selection rectangle to select the first measure of both the Conductor Track and Track 1.
- Right click and choose Delete.
To change the track to channel 2:
- Go back to the Piano Roll tab.
- Make sure the track list is shown. (Click the triangle next to "Track 1" to show or hide the track list.)
- In the buttons for Track 1, click on the "CH 1" button to bring up a properties window. Change the channel to 2.
The only way to create a CC message is by using the graph area at the bottom of the piano roll. But once you have added a CC message, you can edit the exact value using the Event List. Here's how to create the Local Control messages you want:
- In the graph area at the bottom of the piano roll, click the "..." button, then find and add "Local Keyboard".
- Make sure the Local Keyboard graph type is active.
- Make sure the Pencil tool is selected.
- Make sure Snap is on. (The Snap button is the music note icon next to the Pencil and Select buttons. The snap setting will make it easier to draw on the graph at exactly time zero.)
- Draw a dot at time zero on the graph. (You want the time to be exactly zero, but the value doesn't matter, since you will use the Event List to edit the value in the following steps.)
- Show the Event List. (The button with three lines (a bulleted list) is used to show or hide the Event List.)
- In the Event List, you should see the "Local Keyboard" event. You can double-click on the value and type in either 0 or 127.
Now you can go to the File menu and Save the file.
Posted : 07/04/2024 4:13 pm
Topic starter
Bavi_H: The detailed and precise instructions you took the time to write, have solved a problem that I have been trying to figure out for a while. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out, I really appreciate it.
Posted : 07/04/2024 9:53 pm
