Where do I find the documentation for Smart MIDI import? Under File import and export I do not find any documentation for MIDI import at all…
Please see pages 15 to 23 of the Dorico 4 Version History PDF, where it is explained in great detail.
Yes I’m afraid the changes to MIDI import haven’t yet been documented, alongside Play mode, the Key editor, the Mixer, and a number of other things. Daniel’s brilliant Version History will be your friend!
Thanks for the info.
What I was really most curious about is the identification of articulations / playing techniques. I see in both the video and the version history that these can be identified if you have different tracks for different techniques, but I can not see that there is support if you only have one track per instrument/ player. For example if you use expression maps in Cubase or Nuendo.
In Cubase/ Nuendo you can export the midi files with expression map changes as text events and Dorico could identify these as well as track names. But since I do not see anything about this, I guess it is not implemented i Dorico yet?
At the moment there’s no way for Dorico to find out any of this information because it is not exported via MIDI, at least not in a form that allows Dorico to understand it. We would definitely like to be able to map between Cubase’s expression maps and Dorico’s when sending data back and forth between the two programs, but that will require something more detailed than MIDI to acheive.
Hello Daniel and all,
Having dipped my toe in Dorico for a while via Dorico 4 SE and very likely to upgrade - it’s a really excellent product - I’m a bit confused about importing MIDI files. I’m mainly a pianist and generate a MIDI file for new compositions via my digital piano. When I attempt to import these into Dorico 4 SE, only the treble clef is shown and I can’t find a way to view the MIDI import options dialogue. Is the ability to generate both treble and bass clefs on import only available in Elements or Pro versions?
Many thanks,
Chris
Welcome to the forum, @ChrisClayt. To get Dorico to recognise your MIDI files as being written for piano, there are a few things you can do.
The optimal solution would be for Dorico to recognise your MIDI files as containing music for piano automatically. It will do this if the track name in the MIDI file is “Piano” (or something similar), or if it uses MIDI program number 0 and you have the Use GM program changes to identify instruments option activated in the MIDI Import Options dialog.
Given that your MIDI files are coming from your digital piano directly, I don’t know whether or not you can easily influence the way the MIDI files it generates are set up – you would need to consult the documentation for the digital piano to find out.
The other way is simply to tell Dorico that the track in your MIDI file are for piano. When you open the MIDI file in either Dorico Elements or Dorico Pro, you’ll see the MIDI Import Options dialog, in which you can specify which instrument Dorico should use for each track in the MIDI file. Simply telling Dorico that the track in your MIDI file is for piano should be sufficient. (The MIDI Import Options dialog is not included in Dorico SE.)
Thank you very much Daniel, that’s both clear and extremely helpful. I can control the MIDI files from my DP to some extent but I think I’ll upgrade to Elements to access the MIDI Import Options as you describe as this will give me more options in future as I start to use MIDI more.
Much appreciated!
Chris
Hi Daniel,
Old post, but seems right on point for me. Bought a digital piano (Kawai ES920), and realized I can record MIDI to USB, and translate into Dorico.
This is over my head, but MIDI goes from 1 to 128, and (I think) the MIDI program number is set to “1”. Manual says that is piano.
But Dorico seems to be interrpreting it as a single staff instrument. (see attached)
I’m going to have to spend some alone-time figuring this stuff out, but getting closer!
Thanks much for any advice!
John Chester
The meaning of ‘MIDI program 1’ depends entirely on your device. On a GM device it’s an acoustic piano, but on a different device it could be Space Castanets. The MIDI file you record on your device doesn’t appear to include a MIDI program number or have any name set so Dorico doesn’t know that it’s a piano. However, that shouldn’t be a problem. In the Destingation Instrument column, change this to a Piano and then it should import correctly.
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Thanks Paul. Great!
Since Sibelius, have always input via QWERTY keyboard. Now, must learn quantization, etc., which is normal process.
Not a tech guy, so started using flash drive to transfer to computer. Little down the road, but looks like I may be able to transfer the MIDI to my computer, and Dorico software, via Bluetooth. See a software suggestion in A.I. response from Google. (attached)
Thanks again for the help!
John
Hi,
Dropped this issue, but getting back to it.
Thank you Daniel, as I now see how to have Dorico recognize my piano MIDI file, and produce the grand staff.
But the program is writing all in the treble clef, though many notes are well below the split point.
Imagine I’m missing something obvious, but if someone has a suggestion, would be greatly appreciated.
Upgraded to Dorico 6. Arduous learning curve, but good product!
Thanks,
John Chester
Provided you have assigned the track in your MIDI file to the piano instrument, Dorico will use a flexible split point and assign the material across both staves. If you find that isn’t the case, please attach an example MIDI file here so I can take a closer look.
Piano Midi (Khachaturian).MID (7.8 KB)
Thanks Daniel.
My first shot at this. I think a number of notes should be in the bass clef. Maybe I need to do a test with low bass.
I used “piano” in the filename (your suggestion), and the program seemed to take the hint. (see screenshot)
Thanks so much!
John Chester
When I open this MIDI file, the first thing I have to do is tell Dorico in the MIDI Import Options dialog that the instrument is a piano. I do this by double-clicking the column labeled Instrument(s) in track and making sure that it shows Piano for the single track in the MIDI file. Then when I click OK, the MIDI file is imported, and music does indeed appear on the left-hand staff.
For example, from bar 15:
Thank you.
I saw piano listed in the “Instrument(s) in Track”, and assumed the software identified a piano.
I tried your method, and it works.
I discarded the change, and reopened the original, unchanged file. Seems to now split. I wonder if it somehow memorized what I had done, even though I didn’t save the change?
Anyway, doesn’t matter, as now works.
Now I need to learn something about quantization.
Thanks again!
John