Having trouble configuring a generic controller?
What about MIDI latency?
Normally an ASIO/WDM driver (like ASIO4ALL) is the best to use.
Then set the latency slider as low as possible for the least delay.
Enabling Use System Timestamp will many times fix this by helping your clocks keep in sync.
This is under Devices>DeviceSetup>MIDI Port Setup; see a little check box at the bottom below your ports.
Long sessions can also screw up MIDI timing as your system’s clocks separate. Try restarting your computer.
Using a different interface might also be worth a try.
MIDI issues on Windows
Snap on/off key command:
Next to the Step Input button there is the “Snap Grid” On/Off button. This button can also be toggled by pressing “J” on your keyboard.
Difference between MIDI velocity, MIDI volume and the VSTi output channels:
MIDI Velocity
The MIDI velocity is transmitted with every MIDI “Note On” command. Basically your MIDI keyboard can electronically measure how hard/fast you press a key and translate this into the velocity control signal. So MIDI velocity is just a control signal and it’s up to the VST instrument which parameter is controlled by it. MIDI velocity can also just trigger a different sound by addressing a different velocity layer or can control any other parameter like for instance a cutoff. MIDI velocity does not necessarily control solely note volume, as in many instruments addressing a separate velocity layer alters the timbre as well.
Cubase offers an unprecedented level of velocity control. Much of this is accessible with the MIDI Modifiers tab in the Inspector. You have a velocity shift slider to adjust all your track’s velocities proportionally. You also have Velocity compression.
Now take notice of the “Random” and “Range” sections below Length Compression. These are powerful editors. Under Random you can select the Velocity parameter. There you have minimum and maximum values which specify the amount of velocity variation that is permitted (operating within the MIDI velocity standard of 0-127). Using the Range>Velocity Limit, you are allowed to set the minimum/maximum velocities that are allowed to play. Any velocities performed outside this range will be snapped to one of the values specified (depending upon whether it is too low or too high).
Here are some ways to actually edit MIDI velocity:
Drag with “Control+Shift” over a note. This also works when you have multiple notes selected.
In the Info line you can enter a value or you can also turn the mouse wheel on the velocity entry field.
If you hold control and turn the mouse wheel on the velocity value in the info line, you will set all selected notes to the same value but you can also choose MIDI>Functions>Fixed Velocity to do this.
You can also select multiple notes and change the values in the velocity lane.
You can also choose “Velocity…” from the MIDI functions menu.
Attached is a GIF that shows some velocity changes.
But there are even more ways to manipulate velocity. For instance, the MIDI inserts on a MIDI or Instrument track provide direct manipulation functionality where you do not have to edit.
There are more MIDI inserts that can have impact on the velocity but here I demonstrate the MIDI insert compressor. I then use the function Merge MIDI in loop to write the insert into the MIDI data stream to make the changes overtake and visible in the editor. The MIDI compressor is quite powerful because it can take away alot of editing work. Here is the attachment:
MIDI volume
MIDI volume (CC7) is just a control signal and it’s up to the VSTi what it does with it. Often MIDI Volume is equal to Channel Volume. Mostly MIDI volume controls a volume parameter in the VSTi and directly relates to the audio level. If you move a MIDI fader form a MIDI Channel MIDI Volume will be sent. Be aware that the fader does not constantly send a signal but only if you move it. MIDI Volume is mostly used for fade-ins and fade-outs.
The VSTi Output channel in the mixer
As this channel is already outside the VSTi and is the bus for the audio output of the VSTi it directly controls the audio level. If you are using a multitimbral VSTi be aware that you can activate the output busses in the Cubase mixer in the VST Instrument reack by clicking on the “[->” symbol next to the VSTi slot.
Key Commands
There are five Key Commands that let you set five different Velocity values.
Set the KCs in the dialog under:
MIDI > Insert Velocity 1
Then in e.g. the Key Editor there is a menu button called “Insert Velocity”.
In the dropdown list there is a setup option at the bottom.
That’s where you can set your values and set and load setups.
To get to the info line, use the tab key.
Creating drum patterns in the MIDI editor using the mouse:
You can also draw in the first note with the pen tool and then hold down Control+D for a certain period of time to dublicate the note. For long repeats I like to hold Control+D for shorter repeats I like to just click it a couple of times.
When you hold down Control and turn your mouse wheel on a value in the info line, all the selected notes will get the same value instead of relatively changing there value. I do that in the gif to change the note length of all selected notes.
Logical Editor and Velocity:
There are already several factory presets that impact velocity or that use velocity attributes for conditions. If you go to MIDI>Logical Presets you can go through the respective presets.
One can fulfill many use-cases with the Logical Editor and there are several ways to edit velocities with the logical editor.
Here is one basic example:
In the following gif two Logical Presets are created. They take the velocity of notes and multiply them by either 1.1 or 0.9. I then handily assign these logical presets to key commands.