How to record Scaler chords and performances MIDI output with another instrument in a DAW

[Miki]

Since several years, I have been trying to send Scaler chords, performances, groupings, etc. to another instrument and record them as MIDI in the track of a that different instrument. Everything was fine… except that MIDI was never recorded.

I was inspired to write this tutorial by comments I found on different forums.

The question is - why would I try this? The reason is simple - this gives the most accurate reproduction of what I have in my Scaler instances, with performances etc. Once I have tried my patterns and instruments, I can record different instruments at the same time. Something like what InstaComposer does.

Create a new track in Reaper with an instrument you want to use.

In my case, I used Classic Bass. Add another empty track and drag Scaler to it.

Open Scaler and in combo Songs, select genre/style. I selected JAZZ 7

Drag chords from section A to section C. Change Performance, Key-lock, Voice Grouping and Humanize in each individual Scaler track according to your needs.

Create different patterns and change chords as needed.

In Settings, select DAW SYNC to ON.

In Reaper, set a link between the Scaler track and the instrument track. The easiest way is to drag routing button from Scaler track (1) to the instrument track (2):

Turn off Audio in the link (1) but leave MIDI (2).

Arm the instrument track:

The following is critical in order to have MIDI in the instrument track recorded.

Right click on the arm button in the instrument track (1) and set Record Output (2) to Record Output (MIDI) (3).

It is a good idea to have leave (or set) Input: MIDI (1) , All MIDI Inputs (2) and All Channels (3).

You can create as many combinations instrument track + Scaler track as you need to use in your project.

Once all tracks are set, press Play button in Reaper

and let the music begin.

Once satisfied, press the Record button, and save your music.

IMPORTANT: I had problems to record MIDI with some instruments, but the majority of instruments caused no trouble.

I don’t know how all this routing manipulations would work in different DAWs, but this was easy to do in Reaper.

[ed66]

Hi @Miki

Great tutorial I always seem to have a problem doing this in Reaper (must be my fingers )

Just for information; it is very easy to do this in the Arranger View on Ableton Live.

At the risk of teaching people to “suck eggs” just set up Scaler as you describe above, then in the Arranger View

Arm a mid track and an Audio track for recording

Set the inputs on these tracks to the Scaler track

and click the Record button

[Miki]

Thanks Ed.

Well, I don’t know how this works in Ableton because I tried it a long time ago and i dId not like it. I tried also Bitwig, and I did not like it either. I think it is because of the, what’s the name, clip mode. Some DAWs are easier for one thing, some for another.

Concerning Reaper, I tried everything in the past and just did not know one thing: Record Output. to MIDI. This was a game changer.
I used several UJAM instruments, each with its Scaler track and everything produced MIDI except drums. I don’t know why. Even with Jamstix, drums are not better. Occasionally, bass makes the same. I changed grouping, but this was not better.

[ed66]

The real problem with Ableton is the way it consolidates midi into a single channel, so you cannot use multi out without a plugin to separate midi channels.

I actually prefer Reaper for its flexible midi routing.

[Miki]

Do you use Pigments Ed? If so, I can PM you a short Reaper project with only two tracks - Pigments, for MIDI output, and Scaler to drive Pigments. You’ll be able to see the trick and how it works so your fingers will be glad to remove the burden of guilt from their back, euh, knuckles

[ed66]

Thank you for the offer, Miki, but I don’t use Pigments (Vital is my preferred synth), and I have got it sorted now.

[NickC4555]

In Studio One you set Scaler as the input to your instrument track, arm that track for recording and click record. If you are playing live, you can record the Scaler and instrument tracks at the same time.

You can then record melodies and bass lines on other instrument tracks in the same way, but with keys lock on and mute chords in Scaler.

[ClaudioPorcellana]

@Miki

and everything produced MIDI except drums. I don’t know why.

This is strange, because I am using both UJAM Legend or Jamstix driven by Scaler in Bitwig, and I did the same in Ableton Live

With UJAM Legend you just need that Scaler hits some of its key, even in the riff or ending areas, so you need one only chords and zero performances
You can select some key-range instead, to add variability

With Jamstix it’s a lot easier because its capacity to “listen” a MIDI or an audio output is almost perfect

I think I made a mini-tutorial about that

[ClaudioPorcellana]

@Miki

Once satisfied, press the Record button, and save your music.

Well, in Ableton Live you can export the whole audio file (with all tracks) EVEN without hitting the Record button, a feature that is very useful to create quickly a sample of my jamming & tests, and a feature I missed in Bitwig

[ClaudioPorcellana]

@Miki

I think it is because of the, what’s the name, clip mode.

Quite oddly, I’ve never used the “clip mode” feature because I hate it

Nevertheless, I always made the MIDIs of all my tracks as many of my several tutorials show