Reference Guide

1134 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 1134

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 1134

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 1134

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