Am 22.08.23 um 09:23 schrieb Lorenzo Sutton:
More on the technical/compositional side, I'd be curious to know what
your workflow with Ardour MIDI is, if you're willing to share.
Sure, though I don't know that I'm doing anything differently than usual.
I mainly work with hardware synths connected via USB MIDI and either USB
audio (e.g the MODX) or an audio interface (MIDAS MR18). The MODX has 10
USB audio channels, so I could record 5 stereo voices directly at the
same time, but I usually record tracks one by one. Also, it only
supports only 44.1 kHz, so I add it as a second audio interface via
zita-a2j/j2a, which handles resampling to the 48 kHz rate my JACK server
runs at.
In Ardour I create a MIDI track for every part played by an external
MIDI instrument or a soft synth and one or more corresponding audio
tracks (sometimes I layer the same part with two or more different
sounds). I label these with the part name and an " M" or " A" suffix to
know what's what. I also usually set each track to send only on one
particular MIDI channel regardless of the channel recorded in the MIDI
events. I often use MIDI processor plugins to adjust the transposition
or velocity on the fly without needing to edit the region (very useful
when doubling parts, for example).
For recording I arm both the audio and MIDI track and usually actually
play things on my MIDI keyboard (or wind controller or guitar with MIDI
converter). I record the audio directly for the rare case where I get
the part right in the first try ;) More often, though, I fix up the MIDI
regions afterwards and then play them back and record the audio.
Sometimes I draw in additional automation of MIDI controllers or pitch
bend, but in my experience that is cumbersome and difficult to get good
results with and it's better to get the performance right, using
additional controllers like foot pedals or a breath controller, if
necessary.
I try not to quantize MIDI parts, unless the style calls for a very
tight or robotic feel, e.g. in EDM. I'd rather fix a few stray notes
manually with the edit tool. I use the key (4) to toggle snap edit mode
*very* often and it annoys me that recent Ardour versions changed it so
that it doesn't work anymore while you are already dragging a note :-(
This is usually an iterative process until I'm happy with the part. I
then label the resulting audio region with the name of the patch, which
was used and mute the MIDI track (or even deactivate it).
For drums I usually use one MIDI track for all instruments and use a
plugin (sfizz or LS Multisampler) with multiple outputs and fan these
out to separate audio tracks, at least for kick, snare, hihats, toms and
cymbals. The then get different eq and compressor plugin and their own
reverb sends. I often draw drums patterns directly in the MIDi region in
Ardour, though I sometimes play & record them using a Launchpad X, to
come up with better, more organic ideas.
Regarding effects, I usually records synths dry, unless a patch has an
effect, which is an essential part of the sounds (e.g. phaser or
compressor) and add effects in Ardour on the recorded audio.
I thinks those were the most important aspects of my MIDI workflow.
Anything else you'd like to know?
Chris
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