Copy/Paste Automation from One MIDI Region to Another

That’s the question in the search that led me to this board. Hmmm, why do I recognize that name? . . . Oh yeah! The book! I do think this board might be a more satisfying alternative to "Googling" which seems to yield the same results every time--usually the OPPOSITE of what I'm asking--no matter how I reword, rephrase, simplify, specify, etc.

 

I was originally trying to copy note velocities and paste them into other regions (instruments) that are playing soli. I figured I could then tweak a few velocities in each instrument so they’re not all identical, and not have to repeat the whole process for each instrument. I have since surmised that velocities are married to their own MIDI note (?), and have abandoned the hope of copying and pasting velocities.

 

However, here’s my most recent challenge with the idea:

I have also tried copying and pasting other types of automation (such as modulation and expression), again so that I could make small adjustments to the curve in each instrument, without having to recreate it multiple times.

 

And the “problem”:

I exported a MIDI file from Sibelius, and imported that into Logic. Each track, and each MIDI note on its respective track, is in its own MIDI channel—I can see that in the List Editor, where I have deleted all but note events. I suspect Sibelius assigns the channel in the export, but maybe Logic does it in the import?

 

So when I copy automation from one region to another, the paste is in the MIDI channel of the original instrument, and the automation is ignored in the destination track.

 

I have tried a variety of experiments using “Any” for the track (in the Inspector), “Omni” for the plugins, and switching to “”Any” for MIDI channel in my automation parameters (in the editor), but I’m afraid I’m in over my head here, and don’t want to REALLY mess something up. Can I (and/or SHOULD I) adjust all the note events in the List Editor en masse, to be on the "All" channel? Is there a reason(s) each instrument needs to be on a different MIDI channel? (There will be no audio or live tracks--it is all MIDI.)

 

I have several passages in this piece where some kind of a copy/paste or a “mass adding/editing” capability for automation would be very helpful. Does anyone have any advice?

 

This is my first post on this board. I hope I have not abused the privilege by too long a post, or bringing up too many different issues in one post. (I tried searching the topic “MIDI channels” but the search results “ignored: midi” in the 18533 matches.) For anyone who has reached the end of this post, thanks for sticking with it, and for any expertise you might share.

 

Thank you!

Terissa True

That’s the question in the search that led me to this board. Hmmm, why do I recognize that name? . . . Oh yeah! The book! I do think this board might be a more satisfying alternative to "Googling" which seems to yield the same results every time--usually the OPPOSITE of what I'm asking--no matter how I reword, rephrase, simplify, specify, etc.

One way to prevent Google to present targeted search results could be by using a web browser in private mode (preventing Google to identify you).

 

I was originally trying to copy note velocities and paste them into other regions (instruments) that are playing soli. I figured I could then tweak a few velocities in each instrument so they’re not all identical, and not have to repeat the whole process for each instrument. I have since surmised that velocities are married to their own MIDI note (?), and have abandoned the hope of copying and pasting velocities.

Have you considered using Groove template and use the regions parameters to modify same as explained here?

 

However, here’s my most recent challenge with the idea:

I have also tried copying and pasting other types of automation (such as modulation and expression), again so that I could make small adjustments to the curve in each instrument, without having to recreate it multiple times.

There are many ways to copy automation in Logic. To copy all the automation from one region to another (providing that it is on the same track or onto another region using the same plugins (instrument, Fx ) setup, could be by selecting the source region, copy it over the destination and delete all the note events from within the copied region. Then you could join the overlapping regions or set them on different tracks (both assigned to the same plugins channelstrip).

 

And the “problem”:

I exported a MIDI file from Sibelius, and imported that into Logic. Each track, and each MIDI note on its respective track, is in its own MIDI channel—I can see that in the List Editor, where I have deleted all but note events. I suspect Sibelius assigns the channel in the export, but maybe Logic does it in the import?

Logic could assign different MIDI channels to the different imported tracks, depending on the method you used to import the MIDI file(s).

 

So when I copy automation from one region to another, the paste is in the MIDI channel of the original instrument, and the automation is ignored in the destination track.

That could depend of the plugin instrument in use on each track. If using native Logic instrument plugin, (generally speaking) it shouldn't matter. Therefore setting the track's MIDI Channel parameter to All should trigger the Logic's native instrument plugin.

OTOH, if you are using 3rd party plugins, then you have to set the 3rd party plugin's MIDI channel to the same MIDI Channel than the one set in the Logic's track parameters.

 

I have tried a variety of experiments using “Any” for the track (in the Inspector), “Omni” for the plugins, and switching to “”Any” for MIDI channel in my automation parameters (in the editor), but I’m afraid I’m in over my head here, and don’t want to REALLY mess something up. Can I (and/or SHOULD I) adjust all the note events in the List Editor en masse, to be on the "All" channel?

I would try the above suggestions first as they are non destructive; meaning those adjustments won't affect irremediably the original MIDI data at stake. Usually, the Event List editor is used for surgical edition purpose. However if you wish to perform "en masse" edition, you will find the Transform function quite powerful and convenient, although it requires some learning... Nevertheless, MIDI edition in Logic is reversible (AFAIK) in pretty much all cases, with the use of the Undo command.

 

Is there a reason(s) each instrument needs to be on a different MIDI channel? (There will be no audio or live tracks--it is all MIDI.)

MIDI is a way to ensure that each instrument is playing its dedicated part. In Logic the content of a region is channeled via its track to a given (assigned) channelstrip instrument. As mentioned above, Logic's native instrument plugins are set to respond MIDI wise in Omni mode., but that is not always the case (i.e the Vintage B3 or the plugin's multichannel instruments version). 3rd party plugins requires some specific MIDI channel setting. Another important factor to consider regarding automation (MIDI CC events): not only their MIDI channel is of crucial consideration but also their denomination. For instance a MIDI CC#22 event could affect a parameter in a plugin which will affect a different one in the other plugin (instance).

 

I have several passages in this piece where some kind of a copy/paste or a “mass adding/editing” capability for automation would be very helpful. Does anyone have any advice?

The above suggestions are worth trying.

In Logic, most of the time, there are different ways to achieve the same result.

Therefore some other members will probably chime in to suggest their workflow.

 

This is my first post on this board. I hope I have not abused the privilege by too long a post, or bringing up too many different issues in one post. (I tried searching the topic “MIDI channels” but the search results “ignored: midi” in the 18533 matches.) For anyone who has reached the end of this post, thanks for sticking with it, and for any expertise you might share.

As you intuitively hinted, submitting shorter help requests could yield more results...

 

Thank you!

Terissa True

Anytime!

Thank you, Atlas007! LOTS of helpful information here.