How to import a MIDI drum loop into DrumPerfect Pro?

theconnactic

Placing the .mid files inside /songs via iFunbox won't work - DPP sees the files and opens then as songs, but the MIDI data itself seems not to be recognised, so nothing is played and/or displayed in the grid.

All the best!

wim

It's touchy about importing MIDI files. If I remember correctly, you may have to be sure the notes are in the right octave, and that the channel in the file is channel 10. I got it right a few times, but don't remember exactly what I did.

Marinus

The midi drum channel as used by DPP for import can be set in the Song view/Load dialog (if "Show midi files" switch is enabled).

fjcblanco

@Marinus said:
The midi drum channel as used by DPP for import can be set in the Song view/Load dialog (if "Show midi files" switch is enabled).

Thanks.

wim

@Marinus said:
The midi drum channel as used by DPP for import can be set in the Song view/Load dialog (if "Show midi files" switch is enabled).

I still have problems with some files. It hasn't been important enough for me to systematically figure out why, but I think it may have to do with the octave not being what DPP is expecting.

Marinus

@wim said:

@Marinus said:
The midi drum channel as used by DPP for import can be set in the Song view/Load dialog (if "Show midi files" switch is enabled).

I still have problems with some files. It hasn't been important enough for me to systematically figure out why, but I think it may have to do with the octave not being what DPP is expecting.

Do the patterns contain data after the midi file has been loaded? Do the midi files use GS mapping for the drum instruments?

DPP has only 16 instruments in a drum kit. By default, the instrument's midi note corresponds to the GS mapping. Midi notes from unknown (unmapped) instruments are ignored during loading of the midi file. The assigned midi notes can be checked in Kit view.

wim

Hi @Marinus

Thanks for the attention to this, and the questions. I need to take some time to look into what happened back when I was doing this. All I remember was I had a bunch of MIDI loops, I think that were included with FL Studio on the PC. I remember I went through some gymnastics and eventually got the files to import, but I honestly don't remember what I did. I think may have been that I needed to transpose everything by an octave or two in another app before I could import them. I do remember that they were standard GM mapped drum kits, and basic instruments like kick, snare, and hats, so probably not un-mapped. I also remember that nothing at all showed up - there was no data at all.

I think I recall another odd thing. When I loaded the files into Auria Pro, then used those to play DPP as an IAA instrument, it worked. So, it may not just have been the transposition, but something else about the files.

As soon as I can find time I'll do some more careful investigation and report back. At the very least, I'll try to upload some of the files that didn't import if I can find them. A lot going on right now, so it might not be right away...

Marinus

Thanks @Wim. Whenever you're ready, send me one or two of those files and I will have a look at it.

wim

@Marinus, my curiosity got the better of me so I went ahead and did a little testing. What I found was the channel setting has no effect. But I retried a couple of times (same file, not changing anything), and for no reason I can find, the files started importing. Four or five tries later, and it stopped working. Then started again. I don't see a pattern. So, it seems that the files themselves can import, but it just takes several retries in some cases.

Here are a few of the test files I used.

Marinus

Thanks @Wim. I am able to consistently load the loops at midi channel 1. Did you do the extra tap at "Ch1" after spinning in order to select it? (Channel turns cyan).

hacked_to_pieces

I import the midi file into Audioshare then use open in DDP Pro and the midi file shows up under song. Then when I import the file DDP lets me know if there are any mapping issue and which drum sounds are at issue.

wim

@Marinus,

Yes, I've made sure the channel selection is cyan each time.

I've discovered how to reproduce it:

• Make sure everything is working - that the files load.
• Go to the load screen and set it to the wrong channel.
• Close the window. It will still work even though the channel is wrong.
• Go back to the load screen and select the file again, but leave it on the wrong channel. Close the screen. It will no longer work.
• Go back and set it the right channel and close the window. It still won't work.
• Go back again and then close the window. It will work.

It seems as though changes to the channel do not take until you return to the screen a second time and then close it. I can reproduce this 100% of the time.

Marinus

Could it be that in the procedure you're describing above, you first tap the midi file of choice, before adjusting the channel that is? The file is loaded at the moment you tap it and changes in the channel have no effect anymore, unless you would re-tap the file.

This can be confusing indeed. DDP would better automatically reload the file on changes of the channel. Have put that on my todo list.

Thanks for reporting this!

wim

Ahh. Yes, that's it. If you change the channel before tapping the file, then it works. Noted!

BTW, it would be really nice to be able to load MIDI files into patterns in addition to songs. I have large collections of midi drum loops of just a few bars each. Loading each as a separate song doesn't work out all that well.

Thanks for your attention and for the great program.

Marinus

What you could do now is load a midi loop in Song view, tap "Save" in Pattern view for each pattern that was created (or longpress Save to save all), repeat this for all loops and then finally load all the saved patterns in one go via multiple file select in Pattern view/Load.

divedivine

Please Marius make a 101 instruction how to import midi files. You talk about:
"Yes, I've made sure the channel selection is cyan each time." what channel is that?

divedivine

@divedivine said:
Please Marius make a 101 instruction how to import midi files. You talk about:
"Yes, I've made sure the channel selection is cyan each time." what channel is that?

I manage to solve midi file in from another app but still my midi files from ez drummer etc won't work?

Marinus

@divedivine said:

@divedivine said:
Please Marius make a 101 instruction how to import midi files. You talk about:
"Yes, I've made sure the channel selection is cyan each time." what channel is that?

I manage to solve midi file in from another app but still my midi files from ez drummer etc won't work?

1. The midi channel as set in DPP (“Song view/Load/show midi files”) should match the midi channel of the drums in the midi file.
2. The note numbers as set in DPP’s Kit view for each instrument () should match the midi note numbers of the drums in the midi file.

Did you check 1 and 2?

BiancaNeve

Ez drummer uses strange midi mapping by all accounts