Any changes to MIDI in 11?

[Blissful World]

Anyone in the know about whether MIDI is exactly the same in 11 or have some enhancements been added? Haven't read a word about it yet.

[nigelpry]

No word, no mention in Russ's video ... I'm not expecting any MIDI enhancements other than maybe timing improvements stemming from the 64bit rewrite.

I don't think there will be any editing functionality changes, and I don't expect Sibelius functionality to be merged into PT further.

Guess I'll still be using Cubase for detailed MIDI work for years to come yet. And I've never understood why Steinberg's drum grid editor was never copied into other DAWs, it's not their intellectual property as it copied the ideas used in 80s drum machines. Remembering which drums are which on a piano roll editor in a real PITA.

[DAWgEAR]

I would love to see two things:

1. MIDI playlists operating like audio playlists
2. A dedicated MIDI drum editor (or drum mode of the existing MIDI editor) with user definable drum maps

But I don't have high hopes for either.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by DAWgEAR

I would love to see two things:

1. MIDI playlists operating like audio playlists
2. A dedicated MIDI drum editor (or drum mode of the existing MIDI editor) with user definable drum maps

But I don't have high hopes for either.

I agree. An easy workaround for the lack of proper midi playlists: create several blank midi tracks, set all of them for no output. After a pass on your record track, copy/paste to one of the blank midi tracks(label them Take 1, Take 2, etc). Only a couple of extra mouse clicks

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by nigelpry

And I've never understood why Steinberg's drum grid editor was never copied into other DAWs, it's not their intellectual property as it copied the ideas used in 80s drum machines. Remembering which drums are which on a piano roll editor in a real PITA.

DP has had a drum grid editor ever since I can remember, possibly predating Steinberg. Though PT has gotten a lot better at MIDI, it has a long way to go to catch up with the competition.

[sunburst79]

I didn't see any MIDI related news. Without advocating complacency I think they've done pretty good overall with PT11. Hopefully there are some MIDI improvements and added features in future versions

[Blissful World]

I suppose in a way we can look at removing virtual instruments limitations as a MIDI improvement.

While I accept the fact there will probably always be a gap between Logic/Cubase and PT for advanced electronica composition, a drum editor would go a long way toward narrowing the gap.

I am familiar with the complexity of programming and know changes aren't implemented by waving a magic wand. But programming a drum editor is not exactly diving into the great unknown, so I hope that's coming down the pike, too.

[nigelpry]

I've never used DP, was it ever just a midi sequencer? That's what we called our software before DAWs came along ;-)

Steinberg's drum editor was introduced when Pro24 version 3 was released on the Atari, I remember the revelation well, must have been ’87 or 88', from memory. That upgrade and the release of Cubase V1, still a midi sequencer only, was a massive leap forward, as big in its day as PT11 is ATM ;-)

BTW, I was, yes I was, a beta tester for Cubase on the Atari ST prior to its release, back in the days when Evenlode Soundworks distributed it in the UK, before those idiots at Arbiter to over distribution (dark days for Steinberg).

Although visually things have improved, Atari ST hi-res was 600x400 or thereabouts, and extra bells and whistles have been added, I can still see elements of the Atari's drum editor in current Cubase 7‘s drum editor functionality. I still love it for drum programming.

DP's drum editor origins ... well a history lesson on sweetwater.com says it was introduced in DP Version 2.7, and electronic musician has an article in October 2000 saying that the new DP 2.7 release is a major upgrade and includes a new drum editor.

So it appears that Steinberg preceded MOTU by some 12/13 years. BTW I just had a quick look at DP's drum editor ... some interesting variations on a theme there, but it looks a little vague to my eyes compared to Cubase's take on it.

Interesting though, I didn't realise anyone else had done one.

[ChuckS]

DP was preceded by Performer (sans Digital) that was introduced in 1985 on the Mac as MIDI only. Whether or not there was a drum editor, I do not remember, though I did own the product. Performer survived through the first iterations of DP until it was totally integrated - I think around DP3.x.

[ChuckS]

Back to the topic - I've watched and read several things on PT11 and have not seen any mention of MIDI. I would assume it's business as usual.