CAKEWALK sonar x3, Справочное руководство

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Instrument definition tutorial
Instrument definitions
Instrument definition tutorial
The following tutorial takes you through the process of setting up an instrument definition for a
Roland keyboard so that the bank and patch names, including any self-created sounds, read the
same in SONAR as they do on the display screen of your keyboard instrument.
Next topic:
“Why use instrument definitions?” on page 1247
Why use instrument definitions?
The main reason to import or create an instrument definition is so you can use patch names that are
specific to the MIDI module you’re using, instead of using generic General MIDI patch names. It’s
much easier to find a particular sound on a MIDI module when the actual names of the patches in
the current bank of sounds pop up on a list, instead of just the numbers 0 to 127, or General MIDI
names like Trumpet. Of course, if you’re only using General MIDI modules, General MIDI patch
names might be all you need. You can also rename each MIDI output with the name of the MIDI
module it’s connected to. For example, it might be more meaningful to name a MIDI output Roland
Sound Canvas instead of MOTU MIDI Express 5. That way, you won’t have to remember that you
connected the Sound Canvas to the MOTU MIDI Express output number 5—the name
Sound
Canvas shows up as an option in the Output field of each MIDI track in SONAR’s Track view. Also if
you have an effects processor or module that’s hard to get to in your studio, you may find it
convenient to control it from SONAR.
Next topic:
“What can they do and not do?” on page 1247
What can they do and not do?
Instrument definitions don’t increase the number of sounds or the capabilities of your modules, they
just make it easier to find and remember the sounds and/or MIDI controllers you want to use, if
they’re not all generic General MIDI items. After you define an instrument, SONAR displays the
names that you choose for the sounds in each of that instrument’s banks, rather than displaying the
same 128 General MIDI names over and over for each bank of sounds.
Next topic:
“Where do instrument definitions come from?” on page 1247
Where do instrument definitions come from?
The patch names and other characteristics of each particular MIDI module are supplied by the
manufacturer, and are contained in an instrument definition file, which is a text file written in a format
SONAR can read. Many of these files come with SONAR, and many more are available at
Cakewalk’s Web site, and also at
www.lilchips.com . Instrument definition files have the extension
.ins and can contain a definition for only one instrument, or definitions for several instruments. For
example, the file
Roland.ins
contains definitions for many Roland modules. The file
Misc.ins
contains miscellaneous definitions that might include your instrument if you don’t see a specific file
for it. You can find these files in your SONAR folder. The file
Master.ins
contains all the