Reference Guide

800
Instrument Definitions
Instrument Definition Tutorial
UsesNotesAsControllers=1
Control=Mackie OTTO-1604
Patch[*]=Mackie OTTO-1604
Key[*,*]=Mackie OTTO-1604
NoControllerReset=n
Any port/channel using an instrument definition that has a NoControllerReset flag set to 1 does not
receive a "zero controller" message upon stop. You can enter this variable in any instrument
definition by using a text editor, such as Windows Notepad. The variable should be entered directly
below an instrument definition. For example:
[Yamaha Promix 01 Control Chan]
NoControllerReset=1
Control=Yamaha Promix 01 Control Chan
Patch[*]=Yamaha Pro Mix 01
This parameter should be used when it is undesirable to zero/reset controllers when playback stop,
such as when using an external effects processor that uses MIDI controllers for real-time parameter
control, or when using a digital mixer as a MIDI control surface (and not using the generic control
surface plug-in).
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?
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.