While at least the MIDI can be copied, the problem is when you have, for example, a drum kit with individually assigned audio outputs for the samples, a Group Track for the whole kit, and FX track or tracks for the kit or parts of the kit. So, you can export the midi data, but all of what goes into making the “sound” of the Kit is not imported. As a result, you have either rebuild all that structure again from scratch. If you save the kit (Groove Agent SE) as a preset, sadly, that doesn’t work out so well. As far as I can tell, the Preset does not save the assigned routings and I’ve had issues with the GA Import where VST audio outputs are not created in the project.
The process is something like this.
Export selected tracks including any and all Groups and FX Tracks with Export Selected Tracks, next import from the XLM File into the Target Project. This will bring in your midi tracks, basic routing, plug-in assignments (sends). Next, Load the Instrument’s Preset, activate and rename all the audio outputs and copy the midi data to the correct midi tracks… and I’m not sure this will work exactly depending on the instrument. I’m having trouble with Cubase importing non-Steinberg instruments. I have had other problems with a project that has an imported XML File – the left and right locators stopped working (couldn’t be moved, didn’t get assigned to a selection with the “P” command), the cursor would not move during playback, regardless of setting. Some of those problems went away when the project was closed and re-opened. I have to work with this more to understand what exactly is happening here.
In an ideal world, we’d be able to drag and drop tracks from one project to another. If those tracks included Groups, Sends, Plug-ins and so on, all those would be imported and, if needed, created in the project. That is clearly not happening. There may be an optimum work-flow pattern for this situation. I certainly don’t think I’ve found one.
I discussed this and have some screen shots over at this thread: Exports and archives and Imports, oh my!, or XML Hell
The idea is simple. Take part of a given Project A and bring it into a new or existing Project B. Making this happen is rather full of twists and turns and is far from easy – at least for me, right now. I’m certainly willing to be told there’s a better way or I’m doing something wrong.
I’ll tinker around with this some more and see what I come up with. Take care all.