You build a mockup with lightweight patches, then swap in your premium libraries later and suddenly all your expression-map data’s wrong.
Copying MIDI doesn’t help because those articulations are tied to the original tracks and keyswitch layout.
If you could translate that expression-map performance automatically to the new setup, would you actually use a tool for it? Or remap it by manually?
Or is this such an edge case that its not worth worrying about
Copying MIDI does help. The expression maps system is generally designed so you’re working with the score symbols and text (ex. “con sord.” for muted). As long as you are working with the score symbols and text in your expression maps for all libraries, when you copy and paste MIDI data you will get those articulations triggered in the new library and therefore retain most of this.
The only time this doesn’t help is when people start changing the text/symbol setting from the default, giving it a custom name like “HS Vlns Fast Leg”. Unlike more generic things like a staccato dot or “con sord.”, that won’t match a tecnique in a different library and won’t be retained when copying and pasting MIDI. The articulation name/symbol has to be an exact match between maps for different libraries in order for this to automatically transfer - any slight capitalization or punctuation difference may prevent it.
I’ve gone down the custom name route. All my expression maps use the same custom name scheme for every comparable expression. I can copy a midi clip from one Instrument track to another and the expressions work the same for different instruments.
The time saving of this is minimal though, wouldn’t recommend it. The truth is the expressions are only a small piece of the pie. Every sample library reacts differently to CC curves (even if the use the same CCs for the same things), has different Volume levels and different timings on attack/release and legato transitions.
Most of the time it’s easier to just press record on the new track and play it in from scratch rather than manually editing the entire midi clip to fit a different library.
At this point I’m advocating for steinberg to completely rework the entire expression map system and give us something where we don’t have to manually (or with user made scripts) define the entire cross product of any combination of expressions. And ideally something where we can customize a delay (positive and negative) for each individual expression slot…
If we could get such a thing then maybe it’s worth having comparable expression maps.
seems Cubase Santa was listening 