C16: No way to convert existing Instrument tracks structure to new Instrument stack – Cubase

OK, I don’t have 16 yet, so I cannot test it. I’m not arguing either. I quickly browsed the thread and felt it worth pointing out.

I do know that even without the ‘stacks’, if I want to move a MIDI part to a multi-timbral instrument track, I need to set the output on the instrument track to ANY, and make sure the parts are hard coded to the proper channels first.

See, if I record using my MIDI controller set to channel 1, that’s how it goes onto the MIDI track. I can redirect to a different channel through the modifiers in the track inspector, the transformation happens in real time, but in the part itself, it’s still channel 1 data.

So, I must freeze the track/part to the channel I want it to be first (so every event living in the part is hard coded to the proper channel). Then I can move it to the instrument track…otherwise it’s going to play over channel 1 (or whatever the output of the instrument track is set for) every time.

I.E.

Say I use my midi controller and record 16 different channels of MIDI diverted to an instance of HALion Sonic in GM Mode. I’ve had my MIDI controller set to broadcast over channel 1 for every track…but simply diverted it to the 16 different Sonic instrument slots by changing the track’s channel output settings.

First thing I must do is set the Channel output in the Sonic Instrument track to ‘ANY’.

Next, I need to freeze the modifiers of each of those MIDI tracks.

At that point, I can drag them one by one onto the Sonic Instrument Track, or I could merge the tracks first, and then drag the new merged part onto the instrument track.

If I didn’t take these steps…

The parts I drag onto the instrument track will all have channel 1 data. So, the instrument is either going to play over channel 1, or whatever channel the output of the Sonic track is set for.

Remembering to set the output on the instrument track to ANY is imperative, otherwise it’s going to one slot/channel in Sonic, and nothing else. Once this is set to ANY, it’s up to the plugins at the end points to manage and play, or ignore given channels.

Sorry if taking these steps still leads to broken results or justified calls for improvements/fixes to Cubase. It’s just a heads up in case it’s useful…