I’m currently using Cubase for my music production and I’ve encountered a bit of a conundrum. I’m aware that the standard range for program numbers (tones) in MIDI is usually from 0 to 127. However, I’m in a situation where I need to select tones that are numbered greater than 127.
I was wondering if there is a way to achieve this through the use of CC (Control Change) controllers in Cubase? I’ve tried some basic settings and manipulations but haven’t been successful so far. For example, I’ve experimented with Bank Select MSB and LSB settings along with Program Change messages, but I’m still not sure how to accurately target and select those tones beyond the 127 limit.
Could anyone with more experience or knowledge in this area please share some insights or detailed steps on how to go about this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
In the MIDI specification the highest value for a Program Change is 127 (if the count starts at 0).
In order to go beyond this value there are the Bank Select controller (BankSelect MSB = CC#0, BankSelect LSB = CC#32), which allow you to address 16384 banks, where each bank can hold 128 different patches, accessible via program change.
You show a screenshot of Halion (Sonic). As far as I know Halion does not react to Program Change messages. Therefore you cannot even select the 128 sounds of the GM specification this way. You’d have to load the presets or programs manually.
Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that I had Halion Sonic react to Program Changes already before. I just forgot about this setting.
However, if one uses the GM Mode then the drumkit will be “Stereo GM Kit” as all other drum kits are non-GM. I don’t know why they gave the other drumkits [GM xxx] names.
Multi Mode also allows only 128 different slots, so no need to go above 128.
The original GM standard from around 35 years ago (!) only specified a minimum number of 128 instruments with specific program change numbers from 0 to 127.
A later extension of the standard (“GM2”) allowed for one patch number to also have several bank numbers, so essentially you would send a bank (implemented as specific CC# combinations) before sending the program change number.
Whether or not a device (instrument or VSTi) responds to this method depends on the device itself. If I select a device that does respond as the MIDI output of a track, then I see both bank select and a program change dropdowns:
… but if I select a device that does not respond to bank changes, then I see only the program selector (in this example, HALion Sonic):
So, to answer your question “if there is a way to achieve this through the use of CC (Control Change) controllers in Cubase?”, then yes, it is possible to send these (GM2) bank and program changes from Cubase, but no, HALion Sonic has not implemented this.
What I need is to set the timbre from the CC controller of MIDI notes, specifically the timbres with a response exceeding 127, such as gm130. However, these settings don’t seem to be effective.
I have asked the question on the Halion forum, why they allow GM sound values to be outside the 1-128 range. I think it is rather an issue of Halion. I don’t think there is another instrument that offers GM above 128.
Feel free to join the discussion there.
Thank you for your reply. I really hope to have a conversation with you. However, I’m Chinese and unable to communicate with you directly. Right now, I’m also using translation tools to communicate with you. Could you please reply to me with the method in the form of pictures and text? Thank you.
I think the issue that you raised here is not a problem of Cubase. It is a problem of Halion (Sonic).
There is a forum for Halion and I have asked your question to the Product Manager and anybody else over there. Please kindly use the link that I have posted before.
Note: Your translator software writes English really well.
