(Windows)
Beatnik has verified compatibility with Cakewalk Pro version 8.03 through 9.03, as well as Sonar
1.0.1.
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- Note for Windows 2000 and NT Users: You should be prepared for a certain amount of
irregularity in live MIDI event timing, as these operating systems are optimized for
server processes, not real-time media presentation.
Setting Up
- Install some form of MIDI linking software on your PC, following the supplied installation instructions.
- We support two different freeware linking utilities: MIDI Yoke and HUBI.
- MIDI Yoke can be downloaded off the net. As of May, 2001, the most reliable
place to get it is:
http://www.midiox.com/myoke.htm
- If this site is inaccessible, do a search for MIDI Yoke and something will turn up.
- The HUBI Loopback Device is also available for download off the net at:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/2872/hmidilb/hmdlpbk.html
- Install Cakewalk Professional on your PC, following the supplied installation instructions.
- Restart your computer.
- This will enable the MIDI linking software, so that Cakewalk and the Beatnik Editor can
detect it.
- Launch the Beatnik Editor.
- Always launch the Beatnik Editor before Cakewalk. Otherwise Cakewalk won't detect the
Beatnik Editor at the other end of the linking utility.
- In the Beatnik Editor, select the linking utility as your MIDI input source.
- Go to the File menu and select the Preferences... command, then in the Preferences dialog
box select your linking utility as your MIDI input source:
- If you're using MIDI Yoke, choose one of the three junctions.
- If you're using HUBI, choose LB1.
- In the Beatnik Editor, make sure you have one or more Session windows open.
- If you want visual linking, click on the Instruments tab in a Session window.
- Launch Cakewalk.
- The first time you open Cakewalk, it will prompt you to set your MIDI ports. If Cakewalk
was already installed on your computer, go to the Tools menu and select the MIDI Devices
command. The Port Selection dialog box will appear.
- In the Port Selection dialog box, choose whatever inputs you have in your MIDI setup, and select a MIDI Yoke junction for output.
- When you've finished your selections, the dialog box should look something like this:
- Click the OK button and exit Cakewalk.
Working with Cakewalk and the Beatnik Editor
Remember: Always launch the Beatnik Editor first.
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- Launch the Beatnik Editor.
- Launching the Beatnik Editor first ensures that Cakewalk will be able to find it when Cakewalk
starts up.
- At this point playing any attached hardware MIDI input devices (MIDI keyboards, MIDI
drum pads, etc.) should produce sound.
- If not, try closing both applications and reopening. If you still do not have sound, it's possible
that Cakewalk detected MIDI feedback and disabled the port you selected. Recheck all
MIDI device settings, then restart your computer.
- In Cakewalk, open your sequence.
- Set up your Tracks to play back on the Beatnik Editor MIDI synthesizer.
- You can set all playback selections in Cakewalk's Track Properties window: MIDI channels,
banks, and patches.
- Double-click in the Track area, under any of these labels: Source, Port, Chn, Bank, or Patch
The Track Properties window will appear.
- To drive the Beatnik Editor, your Track Properties must be set as follows:
- Source - None
- Port - Depends on the MIDI routing utility you're using. Select 1-MIDI Yoke
Junction: if you're using MIDI Yoke, or LB1 if you're using HUBI.
- Channel - Any channel 1 through 16.
- Notes:
- - Visual linking between Cakewalk and the Beatnik Editor only exists on channel 1.
- - Channel 10 is always going to be the Percussion (General MIDI `Drum Channel').
So, if you choose Bank 1 and Channel 10, you will be playing Bank 1, Beatnik Special
Percussion Instruments in the Beatnik Editor. Any other channel on the same Bank
will play Beatnik Special Melodic Instruments.
- Bank Select Method - Controller 0
- Bank - The Beatnik Editor includes banks 0, 1, and 2, each having both a
Melodic set and a Percussion set.
- Note: You have to manually type the bank number.
- Bank 0: General MIDI Melodic Instruments (on channel 10: General MIDI Percussion
Instruments)
- Bank 1: Beatnik Special Melodic Instruments (on channel 10: Beatnik Special Percussion)
- Bank 2: Custom Melodic Instruments (on channel 10: Custom Percussion Instruments
- Patch - Whatever Instrument you want. Unfortunately, Cakewalk doesn't list
patch numbers in the playback patch choices. Instead, it lists General MIDI
Instrument names. So, if you're in either Bank 1 or 2, you have to count to get the
right Instrument. Or, if you're on channel 1, you can surf through the Beatnik
Editor's patches and find the one you want.
- Tip: See the Goodies folder for an Instrument Profile for the Beatnik Editor. With this profile,
you won't have to count Instrument numbers to find patches.
When completed, the Track Properties settings should look like this:
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Inserting MIDI Bank Select and Program Change (Patch Change) Events Into Your Sequence
In order for you to be able to export a MIDI file from Cakewalk, import it into the Beatnik Editor,
and convert it to an RMF file that plays the same MIDI instruments every time, it is necessary to
place the Bank Select and Program (patch) Change events in the MIDI event list. Some sequencers
will insert the ones you set in the playback area, but not Cakewalk.
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- Open a Track in the Event List window.
- Select a Track that contains notes that you want to drive the Beatnik Editor, then go to the
View menu and select the Event List command. An Event List window will appear:
- Indicate the time for the Bank Select and/or Program Change, and open the Bank/Patch change dialog box.
- In the Event List, select the spot where you want the Program Change and/or Bank Select
event to go, then go to the Insert menu and select the Bank/Patch change... command.
- To set a single Instrument for the whole Track, select the very first event and insert the
change there.
- The Bank/Patch change dialog box will appear:
- In the Bank/Patch change dialog box, indicate what Bank and/or Program you want to use.
- Set the Bank Select Method to Controller 0, then manually enter the Bank number.
Use 0, 1, or 2:
- Bank 0: General MIDI Melodic Instruments (on channel 10: General MIDI Percussion
Instruments)
- Bank 1: Beatnik Special Melodic Instruments (on channel 10: Beatnik Special Percussion)
- Bank 2: Custom Melodic Instruments (on channel 10: Custom Percussion Instruments
- Next, click on Patch and select your desired Instrument from the pop-up menu.
- Note: Cakewalk lists Instruments by General MIDI instrument names, not MIDI program
numbers. This works fine for Bank 0, but in Bank 1 (Beatnik Special Instruments) and 2
(Beatnik Custom Instruments), you'll have to count items to get the right Instrument number.
- Tip: If you're on channel 1, you can surf through the Beatnik Editor patches to find the one
you want. Just look in the Beatnik Editor's JavaScript window to find the instrument number,
then type that number into the Event List, replacing the Instrument name. Or, if you've
already recorded notes in the Track, just choose the instrument name you set in the Track
Properties dialog box.
- Tip: See the Goodies folder for an Instrument Profile for the Beatnik Editor. With this profile,
you won't have to count instrument numbers to find patches.
- When you're finished, the dialog box should look something like this:
- Tips:
- Save your work often
- Remember that to ensure consistency of sound, your playback settings should
match the Event List.
Moving Your Sequence Into the Beatnik Editor and the RMF Format
When you're finished inserting all your Bank and Patch changes, and your notes are all sounding
the way you want them, save your sequence as a Standard MIDI File. Then, in the Beatnik Editor,
Import that MIDI file into a Session window (or just drag it into the Songs tab of a Session window
), Play the song as a check, and finally export it as an RMF file.
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