How to trigger multiple MIDI notes using a single remote button

pVo · October 7, 2017, 5:46pm

Brian Roland:

pVo:

Brian Roland:

Local InputTransformer

You can have up to four them per track. If it is a MIDI track you can also apply transformers as a MIDI Effect (up to 4 more of them as a MIDI sends, even to alternate plugins/channels).

CuBase also provides a number of arp/chord generating MIDI effects, as well as special ‘chord functions’, ‘chord trigger pads’, and other features that might be of interest.

If I used Input Transformer I would need to set it up for every track… not very handy. Isn’t there a way to do it via a macro?

EDIT: I just tried and I can’t do it via input transformers and chord pads for many reasons, first of all I have 50 push buttons, each one to assign to a different chord, but the input transformers slots are just 4 and chord pads are just 13.

On the transformer.

There is a ‘global’ transformer available.

You could set aside an entire channel and convert all CC events with values greater than 0 into note On events, and all CC values of 0 to note off events. The transformer does allow transforming ‘ranges’ of events.
I.E. Change all CC50-100 events with a value greater than 0 on channel 16 to note-on 50-100 with a velocity of 64. Transform all these same CCs with a value of 0 to note-off events.

Also, check to see if the controller can be programmed to send note on/off events rather than CC events. If these are MPC pads, it’s possible they might even be able to send key velocity based on how fast/hard you tap the buttons…so double check for that potential capability in your controller.

On Chord Pads:
Do you really need access to 50 chords at one time? Seven is quite a stretch for a given key for all but uber dissonant renditions of acid jazz on a key-board based platform, and for most instruments they’ll be pretty hard to play beyond that. Thirty-five or so covers pretty much every playable inversion, suspension, etc on 98% of the human playable instruments out there (Note, there are more than 2000 possible note combinations, and yes, they can be ‘spelled’ all sorts of ways on a lead sheet…but 35 pretty much covers the the range of voicings, inversions, and added notes or leading rules). So 13 gets you half way to the upper-most limits of most instruments’ capabilities. In most forms of music it’s rare that a piece uses more than 7 for a given instrument.

So, do keep in mind that you can map out 13 buttons, and build/call up preset for the chords you’ll be needing for a given track/project as needed.

If you’re needing instant access to more than 13 chords/voicings…then it might be time to look into creating some of your own Chorder/ARP engines…perhaps within the context of a VST/i plugin (I.E. HALion 6 includes the ability to create chord and arp based instruments). You might also find the built in Steinberg MIDI Chorder MIDI effect useful.

You might also check into third party MIDI transformation software like Bome MIDI Translator (pre DAW, fed via Virtual Port) or Bidule (post track input as a VST/i plugin, or over ReWire).

These are the 50 push buttons I want to assign to 2 keyswitches (x/y axes) each. So, for example, the “Staccato” button has to trigger C-1 and C0 (not necessarily at the same time, it can be done in series too).

I’m using TouchOSC, I can assign CCs or Note On/Off data to each button.

Actually Chord Pads would be a viable option, if only it let me assign pads to the remote buttons…