MIDI Exporting probability parameters

Cubase
1

Hello,

I’m trying to export MIDI parts that contain random events (in my case notes that are triggered depending on a probability value), but I can’t find how to do it. The probability parameter disappear when I export the project as MIDI file, and dragging the MIDI part outside Cubase does not work as well. The idea is to import these MIDI files to another DAW.

Thanks for your help !

Sébastien

(Cubase 14 Pro / MBP M2)

2

Hi and welcome to the forum,

If you want to “freeze/print/render” the values, use the MIDI > Freeze MIDI Modifier feature, please.

3

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your answer.

I’m not sure I can do what I want with this function : the idea is to be able to export the probability value of an event, not freezing this value. For now the only way I can do that is to drag and drop the MIDI container from one project to another one. Exporting a MIDI File or drag and drop the MIDI Container in the finder makes the probability information disappear.

Furthermore, I think the function you are referring to ( Steinberg ) can be used for the random parameters in the Inspector tab for example, but it does not seem to work for the probability value that can now be determined per note in the MIDI editor (but maybe I’m wrong).

Thanks again !

4

Hi,

Now I understand your use case.

No, you cannot export a MIDI File. The MIDI File (SMF) doesn’t have this functionality.

So you can either copy from project A and paste to project B, or you can use the Import from Project functionality in Cubase.

5

Ok, that is what I noticed. The thing is that I wanted to import these MIDI files into another DAW (Abelton Live) that can also add probability values to a MIDI note (if I’m correct), and I was wondering if it was a MIDI functionality (i.e. that could be pass through different DAWS) or a more internal function that could be different between DAWS.

I guess I will have to manually do the edit before exporting the MIDI files.

Thanks for your help!

6

Probability is a real time modifier and not part of any midi standard. Therefore it cannot be exported in a midi file.

1 Like
7

That is very sad to hear, but it is exactly what I wanted to know :slightly_smiling_face:

Thanks!

8

The current situation is based on the MIDI 1.0 standard.
Your question raises the interesting point if such a parameter will be able to be transmitted with a future standard for midi files that is based on MIDI 2.0.

9

Hi,

MIDI 2.0’s protocol focus:

  • Supports extremely high-resolution velocity and expressive parameters (32-bit resolution).​
  • Controller messages enable a wide variety of new expressive possibilities, but randomness (probability or variance) is not a MIDI 2.0 protocol standard.
10

Thanks for your time helping me out.

Since MIDI 2.0 protocol does not seem to be taking care of this parameter, what I would need is a way to transform the probability of a note to be played into a frozen version of this parameter, with notes that will be present in this export (or not) depending on the probability value of these notes.
Does it make sense to you? Could it be done by recording the output of such a track ? Cubase doesn’t seem to be able to do such a thing (internally route the output of a MIDI track to the input of another MIDI track), but maybe I could route (physically) the output of my MIDI interface into the input, or use a MIDI virtual router ? What do you think ?

11

Hi,

In the Controller lane, right-click on the blank panel below the Play Probability (CC value) drop-down menu and select the Apply Probability option from the drop-down menu.

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12

Amazing! Thanks @Martin.Jirsak !

The topic is only half solved in my case though, since I originally wanted to export the probability parameter, and not applying it, but it’s gonna save me a lot of time !

13

That is really not Cubase’s mistake. The MIDI organization needs to integrate this into a standard. No matter what Cubase would write into the file Ableton Live would not be able to read it.

14

Hi,

As we mentioned already, this is not possible because of the MIDI standard (not related to Cubase at all).

15

Yes I got that, but maybe since Steinberg and Yamaha are corporate members of the MIDI Organization they could get that from them for future updates?

In any cases @Martin.Jirsak ‘s workaround did the job for me!

16

BTW - applying a randomization function repeatedly to the same data does not make the result more random; in fact it can do the opposite depending upon what math operations are being done, e.g., from using different algorithms.