This request isn't in the FR (Feature Request) Tracker yet. Now that v4.5 is out, I think having a 'General Discussion Forum' brainstorm about multi-drawing MIDI Notes/Events across multiple Items at the same time is a good idea. Especially considering that as of v4.5, you can draw CC data to multiple Items in this way.
Surely people using multi-Item CC drawing will find multi-Item Note drawing just as practical (if not more so.) Also, being able to write a 'Bank/Program Change Entry' to multiple MIDI Items would be great! Here are my current ideas on how to multi-draw MIDI Events:
FR:
MIDI Editor: Draw MIDI Notes/Events to multiple Items concurrently
(Expanded functionality for the Track List's [Active/Inactive Item] button):
The [Active/Inactive Item] button currently has 2 possible states:
State 1.) [Active Item]_[Draw-enabled]_[Edit-enabled]
(MIDI Events can be drawn & edited. Active Item is always on top.)
State 2.) [Inactive Item]_[Edit-enabled]
(MIDI Events can be edited if Item is visible & unlocked.)
I'm requesting a 3rd state:
State 3.) [Inactive Item]_[Draw-enabled]_[Edit-enabled]
(MIDI Events can be drawn & edited if Item is visible & unlocked.)
- This 3rd state would allow drawing MIDI Events to 2 or more Items, across multiple Tracks (TCPs.)
- Since there is always exactly 1 [Active] Item, on top in the Z-ordering, you would see Events drawn to the [Active] Item, then REAPER would automatically clone those Events to any Item set to "State 3" ([Inactive Item]_[Draw-enabled]_[Edit-enabled].)
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New Icon:
The 3rd state should have its own icon to differentiate it from the other 2 possible states for that column:
State 1.) [Active Item_Draw-enabled_Edit-enabled_top of z-ordering]
State 2.) [Inactive Item_Edit-enabled] (assuming it is visible & unlocked)
State 3.) [Inactive Item_Draw-enabled_Edit-enabled]
(mockup image)
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Benefits of multi-drawing MIDI Notes/Events across Items:
- Allows drawing MIDI Notes to unlimited MIDI Items in 1 mouse gesture/Action (like multi-drawing CC data as of v4.5.)
- Notes drawn to multiple Items starting & ending at the exact same time ensures a tight musical performance (which can be "loosened" later if desired.)
- Orchestral MIDI arrangement context: Write a staccato passage to the double basses (set as Active Item) while writing those same MIDI Notes to the cellos, violas & violins (all set to Inactive_Draw-enabled_Edit-enabled].) Transpose the latter 3 instruments upward for octave-doubling & harmonizing.
- Multi-drawing MIDI Events is only possible if the user configures the Track List to allow for it (see below for how.)
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Track List condition required to set an Inactive Item as [Draw-enabled]:
- The Item must be Inactive (Conversely, the Active Item is always draw-enabled by definition.)
User input required to set an Inactive Item as [Draw-enabled]
(assuming the above Track List condition is satisfied):
- Ctrl+LeftClick over the [Inactive] icon to set it as [Inactive_Draw-enabled]. <=== Doing this is the key component.
LeftClicking over the [Active/Inactive] icon simply sets that Item as Active (current behavior.) But since multi-drawing Notes is a special case workflow, requiring a Ctrl+LeftClick on the [Inactive] icon helps ensure multi-drawing Notes is only possible when the user wants it to be possible.
- For setting a contiguous range of Items to [Draw-enabled]:
1.) Ctrl+LeftClick over 1st Item's [Active/Inactive] icon in desired range
2.) Shift+Ctrl+LeftClick over last Item's [Active/Inactive] icon in desired range
- For setting a non-contiguous range of Items to [Draw-enabled]:
1.) Ctrl+LeftClick over 1st Item's [Active/Inactive] icon in desired range (continue to hold Ctrl)
2.) While Ctrl is still held down, LeftClick over any other Item's [Active/Inactive] icon
User input required to set an [Inactive_Draw-enabled] Item as [Draw-DISabled]:
- LeftClick on the Item's [Active/Inactive] icon. That's it. This brings it back to the regular [Inactive_Edit-enabled] state.
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Customizing which MIDI Event types can be multi-drawn:
In the Track List, right-click in the [Active/Inactive] column along any listed Track or Item. This opens the customization menu shown below. The menu opens regardless of the [Active/Inactive] state of the Item. This menu lets you define exactly which MIDI Event types can be multi-drawn to all Items set to [Inactive Item_Draw-enabled_Edit-enabled] ("State 3.")
This is the right-click customization menu (with my recommended defaults):
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Multi-draw the following MIDI Event types:
[X] Notes
[X] Continuous Controllers [click to filter]***
[ ] Program
[ ] Bank/Program Select
[ ] Pitch
[ ] Channel Pressure
[ ] Text Events
[ ] Sysex
Menu Options:
Enable all CC types [button]
Disable all CC types [button]
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- ***Clicking on the CC "[click to filter]" box opens a sub-list of all CC types.
- This CC sub-list lets you further filter exactly which CCs you can multi-draw across editable Items (example: You want to multi-draw [CC-001 Modwheel] but *not* [CC-007 Volume]).
- All CC types default to [multi-draw: ON].
- Unchecking the "[ ] Continuous Controllers" box disallows multi-drawing CCs, regardless of the CC "[click to filter]" conditions.
- An unchecked "[ ] Continuous Controllers" box retains multi-draw states for CCs listed under its "[click to filter]" box.
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Additional Track List logic:
If an Item in question is already set as [Inactive_Draw-enabled]...
- (Double)LeftClicking the [Track/Item Name Area] does not affect the [Inactive Item_Draw-enabled_Edit-enabled] state.
- Locking the Track/Item disables [Draw-enabled] capability. Sets it to [Inactive].
- Unlocking the Track/Item sets it to [Inactive_Editable].
- Hiding the Track/Item disables [Draw-enabled] capability. Sets it to [Inactive].
- Unhiding the Track/Item sets it to [Inactive_Editable].
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Swiping:
To swipe: Ctrl+LeftClick+Drag across multiple [Inactive] icons to set them as [Inactive_Draw-enabled] or [Inactive_Draw-DISabled].
(This works similar to swiping on the Track List's [padlock], [eye], [rec-arm], [mute] & [solo] buttons. The exception is that Ctrl must be held down for the entirety of the sweep)
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I haven't come up with any drawbacks to this so far. Requiring a Ctrl+LeftClick to enable multi-Item Note drawing seems like a good precaution. How's this sound to everyone? What are the disadvantages to this system? Any other ideas on how to handle multi-drawing MIDI Events?
Thanks,
Mike