A good (free) Midi sequencer software package?

[Trisk]

Hey all! I've been trying to find a decent midi sequencer software package so I can play with my sound modules. I used to have Midisoft Forte, but they've gone out of business and I (gulp) didn't back up my copy of the program, so now I'm SOL. Can anybody recommend some good programs, preferably on the free side of things, or at least on the cheap?

The reason for wanting free is Reason. I use Reason 5.0/Record 1.5 for all my "serious" music composition, so this sequencer software would be pretty much PURELY for playing around with the old synths, not for serious composition. Because of that, I don't want to sink much money into the idea.

I've mucked around the internet, but I never seem to find anything decent, or even functional, that can interface with Roland sound modules. I really miss my Forte... sigh.

Thanks in advance for any help!
Ben

[RichNagel]

I *HIGHLY* recommend Twelve Tone Systems' old "Cakewalk Professional v3.01". You can find it right here at Quest Studios on this page -> http://www.queststudios.com/roland/utilities.html ( http://www.queststudios.com/roland/utilities/cakewalk3.zip ).

My own blurb about how great it is <grin> (and how it beats the newer versions of CWP hands-down) -> http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel/#cakewalk

Been using the old CWP301 for ALL of my MIDI sequencing, editing, and own MIDI music (de)composing since I first bought it back in 1995.

Even as old as it is, I've ran it without problems through the decades under Windows 3.0, Windows 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98SE, Windows XP Pro, and even under a copy of Windows 3.11 running under DOSBox I've heard reports that it also runs fine under Windows Vista (although I haven't personally tried it myself), but I'm not sure about Windows 7.

[RichNagel]

and even under a copy of Windows 3.11 running under DOSBox

I prolly should have mentioned that DOSBox doesn't support MIDI IN at all, so's any DOS sequencers run under it would have the same problem... no funtioning MIDI IN.

[Cloudschatze]

I *HIGHLY* recommend Twelve Tone Systems' old "Cakewalk Professional v3.01"...
My own blurb about how great it is <grin> (and how it beats the newer versions of CWP hands-down) -> http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel/#cakewalk

So, I use CWPA8.0... I'm a bit lost on your bit about the faders. What is it, exactly, that can't be done in the Console View of the later versions?

[RichNagel]

So, I use CWPA8.0... I'm a bit lost on your bit about the faders. What is it, exactly, that can't be done in the Console View of the later versions?

It's been a while since I tried any of the newer versions (which I didn't like), so my memory is hazy; but in the faders view in CWP301 you can assign *any* MIDI controller to *any* slider/knob/button.

[Cloudschatze]

... in CWP301 you can assign *any* MIDI controller to *any* slider/knob/button.

Ah... Functionality otherwise referred to as StudioWare in the later versions.

There may be a bit of work involved if a particular StudioWare panel doesn't already exist, and I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the stuff besides, but it does allow for a greater degree of flexibility and gear integration than the earlier Faders view can provide. For example, I have a Roland MCR-8 that operates as a hardware "remote-control" for the software sliders, knobs, MMC transport controls, etc., when used in conjunction with a StudioWare panel. It's exceptionally slick.

Not that I'm trying to influence your opinion or anything - just felt like CWPA8.0 needed some love too. 

[RichNagel]

The faders view of CWP301 not only supports all MIDI controllers, but MCI events as well. If one has hardware that responds to MCI events, IIRC the faders' sliders and knobs can also be set up to control the hardware.

Like you said, AFAIK the faders view is similar to the newer versions' "Studio Ware" panels... but is a LOT easier to setup and configure for simply using MIDI controllers.

Like my "rant" on my web page <grin>, all I wanna do is MIDI sequence

Another thing that I never liked about the newer versions of CWP (and CWP Audio) is how the right pane of the main sequencer window looks (see this pic here -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/Cakewalk_Professional_v3.01.jpg )... where the measures pane is on the right side of the image.

THAT makes a bit more sense (to me at least), as far as visualizing where in the MIDI file that MIDI data actually is.

P.S. In my little plugging-pic above, I prolly should have included a screenie of the faders view

[Trisk]

Wait... so... old versions of Cakewalk are free and legal to use? It's a professional, commercial program, right? I don't want to be stealing software just to save a buck.

Wow. If only Adobe would do that with Photoshop. >_<

Second question: What sound modules does it support?

I have:
Roland MT-32
Roland CM-32L
Sound Canvas SC55 MKII
Sound Canvas SC88ST
Sound Canvas SC8850
Studio Canvas SD-20
Studio Canvas SD-90


And while I'd like to be able to work with all of them, the most important two for me are the CM-32L and the SD-90... the CM-32L for nostalgia, and the SD-90 because it is far and away better sounding than any of the other modules. Trouble is, I can't see an ancient, 16bit version of Cakewalk being able to run the SD-90 as anything other than a straight General Midi device... but I'd like access to its boatloads of sounds and effects.

Thanks for the input so far!
Ben

[RichNagel]

Wait... so... old versions of Cakewalk are free and legal to use?

Quite a while back Twelve Tone Systems (or rather, now-a-days called Cakewalk Music Software) gave their blessing to distribute the install for their old Cakewalk Professional v3.01

It's a professional, commercial program, right? I don't want to be stealing software just to save a buck.

Yep yep, 'tis a mirror image of the original install floppy

Wow. If only Adobe would do that with Photoshop. >_<

Or Microsoft... what with all of the garbage that they've released over the decades <grin>.

Second question: What sound modules does it support?

CWP301 can utilize most any MIDI device attached to your PC (example pic here -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/BASSMIDI_Driver_Cakewalk_Professional_MIDI_Device_Configuration.gif ). You can download (or create new) custom patch lists so's that the instrument (and MIDI controller) names display properly within the program (e.g. a Roland MT-32), and it supports full sysex editing (e.g. like what would be sent to a Yamaha XG compatible device, Roland SC-88, Roland MT-32,  etc...).

Trouble is, I can't see an ancient, 16bit version of Cakewalk being able to run the SD-90 as anything other than a straight General Midi device... but I'd like access to its boatloads of sounds and effects.

I don't know anything about the SD-90; but if everything on the unit is accessed via the usual plethera of MIDI controllers, RPN/NRPN controllers, and/or system exclusive messages, CWP301 will do that just fine


P.S. Screenie type things here:

http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/Cakewalk_Professional_v3.01_Advertisement.jpg

http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/Cakewalk_Professional_v3.01.jpg

P.P.S. I really should have included a pic of the Faders view in the second pic <grin>, it's minimized in that screenie.

[RichNagel]

P.P.S. I really should have included a pic of the Faders view in the second pic <grin>, it's minimized in that screenie.

Upped a screenie here of CWP301's "Faders" view -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/Cakewalk_Professional_v3.01_Faders_View.jpg .

Hehe, Note: I just quickly setup that faders view configuration for the screenshot... that specific controller configuration *definitely* won't make ANY "MIDI sense" at all <LOL>, but will give you an idea of the things that you can do with it

Also note that for the screenie I forgot to enable "ClearType" fonts in Windows (under WinDoZe XPee and higher, the fonts used for the "Faders" view look rather jagged unless that is enabled... it looks fine under Windows 3.x though, and IIRC under Windows 9x as well).

[Trisk]

Awesome. Thanks so much for the answers!

Did they release any other versions of Cakewalk, or was this just a special one, I wonder?

Since I can't get my Midisoft Forte program anymore, I will check this one out. Unfortunately, I've never been much of a tech head, so I've never delved into Sysex and probably won't be able to figure out how to make it do anything more than basic General Midi patches, but It looks like it'll still enable me to play around with the sound modules more than just in games. Heck, maybe I'll even find some usable sounds on them! Reason's guitar selection is poor...

(While I'm checking this out, if anyone else has any suggestions, feel free to voice them. Getting Cakewalk to run on a 64bit OS might not be easy.) :p

Thanks!
Ben

[RichNagel]

Awesome. Thanks so much for the answers!

Yer welcome Hehe, I plug the old CWP301 every chance that I get <grin>

Did they release any other versions of Cakewalk, or was this just a special one, I wonder?

AFAIK, that's the only one (version) that they released.

Getting Cakewalk to run on a 64bit OS might not be easy.) :p

I'm not sure about the 64-bit OS's, but I have heard reports from folks that said that it worked fine under Windows Vista, as well as Windows XP Pro SP3 which is what I'm currently running (dunno about Windows 7 though, but I don't see why there would be any problems under that OS as well).


BTW, I forgot to mention: The download for the zipped install linked previously:

You'll need to create a temporary directory on your hard drive "DISK1", unzip the files to that directory, and run the installer from there. Seems that CWP301 "wants" to be installed from within a "DISK1" directory, or you'll get error messages about "files not found".

That's how it was on the original install floppy... all of the installer's files were located within a "DISK1" directory on the floppy.

[andrew603]

I'd recommend checking out QWS.  It's also free.  It doesn't have much in the way of an interface, as it was designed for and by visually impaired people.  But it does have some really cool tools and utility functions that I have not seen anywhere else, such as controller renumbering.  It can also split apart those midi files where everything is in one track.

You can download it from http://www.andrelouis.com/qws/