How to change the pitch bend range on a midi item?

Lophophora · 10-27-2016, 01:59 AM

Hi,

I have recorded a bass line that I played on my keyboard, as a midi item. The pitch wheel on my keyboard has a range of 2 semitones, and I need to be able to bend the pitch up to, say, a fifth up and down. In my midi editor, the range seems to be fixed and though I can manipulate the pitch bend shape, I haven't find any way to increase its range.

I have also tried to change the pitch of the midi item using ReaControlMIDI without any success (either it is not working, or I don't know how to use it but it does very weird things).

Can you help me do this?

DarkStar · 10-27-2016, 02:18 AM

You've recorded the notes (and the Pitch wheel messages) as MIDI. So in your MIDI clip the Pitch wheel messages will have values from -8192 to 8191.

The interpretation of those data values into an actual pitch change is done by the hardware or the software plug-in that is receiving the MIDI. What are you using?

In some software plug-ins you can change the Pitch Bend range. These screenshots form SampleTank 3 show the Pitch Bend range set to +/- 2 semitones and +/- 5 semitones respectively.

Lophophora · 10-27-2016, 03:39 AM

I'm using a Nord Stage 2 keyboard, there is no way I can access these parameters. I also have a small midi keyboard that I could use but unfortunately the pitch bend wheel seems to be faulty. This is why I would like to find a way to manipulate the midi file after it has been recorded.

slipstick · 10-27-2016, 04:42 AM

MIDI is just data so it has to be sent somewhere else to create the sound. If whatever you're using to actually create the sound (back to the Nord ?) only bends pitch by 2 semitones over the full range of the pitch bend control there's not much you can do about it.

If you were using a different synth, either VSTi or external, to create the sound then you could probably change the range of the pitch bend as DarkStar showed, e.g even the simple free Synth1 can be set for ranges up to +/-12 semitones as can Dexed, also free.

Steve

Lophophora · 10-27-2016, 06:14 AM

Yes I'm sending the MIDI back to the Nord, I want to use a Nord sample sound. So there is no way I can do that, too bad. Why the Nord people would only allow 2 semitones of bend on a $5000 keyboard is beyond me...

Thanks anyway.

slipstick · 10-27-2016, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lophophora

Yes I'm sending the MIDI back to the Nord, I want to use a Nord sample sound. So there is no way I can do that, too bad. Why the Nord people would only allow 2 semitones of bend on a $5000 keyboard is beyond me...

It's not exactly a new thing, people have been complaining about it since at least 2009...and Nord still haven't changed it.

Steve