KRONOS Patch Lists for OSX: midnam and middev files for DP8

[lbartram]

I'm hoping someone with more knowledge than me can help.

One of the new features in the Kronos Editor 2.0 is its ability to export Mac OS X ".midnam" files. These are XML files that allow Digital Performer (I just received DP8, but I think it is the same for DP7, as well) to display Kronos Programs right in the tracks window, etc. Very handy.

The instructions for creating this file and where to put it are found on page 31 of the Kronos Editor .pdf. They are explicit but they don't work. I'm connected to my Mac with a USB cable, and the Kronos Editor 2.0 seems to work perfectly.

The new editor allows the export of the midnam file, but nowhere do I find instructions for editing the .middev file so that the Kronos is recognized. The middev file contains information about general features of various Korg instruments. The Kronos is not included, so I don't think it will work (see Dan Phillips's page http://danphillips.com/music_tools_patchlists.htm regarding the importance of editing the middev file). While I do see patches appear they appear generically (e.g., Patch 1, Patch 2, etc.); I'm not seeing patch names. My hypothesis is that it is because this middev file isn't edited properly, but I don't know what to copy, paste, and then edit to include the Kronos.

Can someone help me out? Thanks!

[lbartram]

Dan, if you could chime in on this one, I'd be immensely grateful (as would all DP-using Kronos owners!).

I'm hoping someone with more knowledge than me can help.

One of the new features in the Kronos Editor 2.0 is its ability to export Mac OS X ".midnam" files. These are XML files that allow Digital Performer (I just received DP8, but I think it is the same for DP7, as well) to display Kronos Programs right in the tracks window, etc. Very handy.

The instructions for creating this file and where to put it are found on page 31 of the Kronos Editor .pdf. They are explicit but they don't work. I'm connected to my Mac with a USB cable, and the Kronos Editor 2.0 seems to work perfectly.

The new editor allows the export of the midnam file, but nowhere do I find instructions for editing the .middev file so that the Kronos is recognized. The middev file contains information about general features of various Korg instruments. The Kronos is not included, so I don't think it will work (see Dan Phillips's page http://danphillips.com/music_tools_patchlists.htm regarding the importance of editing the middev file). While I do see patches appear they appear generically (e.g., Patch 1, Patch 2, etc.); I'm not seeing patch names. My hypothesis is that it is because this middev file isn't edited properly, but I don't know what to copy, paste, and then edit to include the Kronos.

Can someone help me out? Thanks!

[danatkorg]

Dan, if you could chime in on this one, I'd be immensely grateful (as would all DP-using Kronos owners!).

Editing the midddv file should not be necessary. When connected via USB you don't even need to do anything in Audio MIDI Setup. Make sure that the KRONOS device selected in DP is the USB device, and not a MIDI device created in Audio MIDI Setup. For various reasons I keep both on my system; perhaps that's the case in your setup as well? If so, make sure that the KRONOS device in Audio MIDI Setup is configured exactly as described in the manual.

[lbartram]

Thanks, Dan! I'll have a look at this today. I followed the instructions to the letter and all I got was Patch 1, Patch 2, etc., but I'll have another look. Great news that the middev file doesn't need editing.

Editing the midddv file should not be necessary. When connected via USB you don't even need to do anything in Audio MIDI Setup. Make sure that the KRONOS device selected in DP is the USB device, and not a MIDI device created in Audio MIDI Setup. For various reasons I keep both on my system; perhaps that's the case in your setup as well? If so, make sure that the KRONOS device in Audio MIDI Setup is configured exactly as described in the manual.

[lbartram]

This isn't working. I can confirm that I have only one icon in the Audio/MIDI setup MIDI window for the Kronos, and it is a USB icon.

Here's what I'm doing, as per the KRONOS Editor manual (Page 31).

To save the midnam file and move it to the appropriate folder:
1. Press the XML midnam... button
2. In the File Selector dialog, name the file KRONOS.midnam, and save the file. For use with Digital Performer, save to:
[Disk Name]/Library/Audio/MIDI Devices/MOTU

During the process of saving the file, a dialogue box appears onscreen that says the following:

MESSAGE

MOTU users should change the file name to be just the name of the instrument.
Folder: MIDI Patch Names/MOTU
FileName: Korg Kronos

This is ambiguous. Do I follow the instructions provided in the .pdf file that instruct me to place the file in the MIDI Devices folder, or do I place the file as per the instructions in this onscreen message? Moreover, what does "just the name of the instrument" mean? Is the name of the instrument "Kronos" or "Korg Kronos?" When naming files, this matters a lot! This isn't mentioned in the .pdf file, only on screen.

I placed the file generated by the Editor (named Korg Kronos.midnam) in the MOTU folder (after authenticating as the admin user), as instructed. However, on my Mac (and, I suspect, on all Macs) there is an additional folder called KORG. I have placed the file in the instructed location, and it doesn't work. I moved it from there to the KORG folder, and still, no joy. It is currently in the MOTU folder. The file is called Korg Kronos.midnam.

I am still just seeing generic patch names, and no bank structure at all.

Please help?

Dan, if you could chime in on this one, I'd be immensely grateful (as would all DP-using Kronos owners!).

Editing the midddv file should not be necessary. When connected via USB you don't even need to do anything in Audio MIDI Setup. Make sure that the KRONOS device selected in DP is the USB device, and not a MIDI device created in Audio MIDI Setup. For various reasons I keep both on my system; perhaps that's the case in your setup as well? If so, make sure that the KRONOS device in Audio MIDI Setup is configured exactly as described in the manual.

[danatkorg]

It sounds like something may have changed between the last time I tested this and the released version. I'll look into this now.

[lbartram]

It sounds like something may have changed between the last time I tested this and the released version. I'll look into this now.

Thanks, Dan!

[danatkorg]

I placed the file generated by the Editor (named Korg Kronos.midnam) in the MOTU folder (after authenticating as the admin user), as instructed.

However, on my Mac (and, I suspect, on all Macs) there is an additional folder called KORG. I have placed the file in the instructed location, and it doesn't work. I moved it from there to the KORG folder, and still, no joy. It is currently in the MOTU folder. The file is called Korg Kronos.midnam.

I'm sorry for the ambiguity in the editor's onscreen text. Hopefully we can fix that in a future version.

The midnam file doesn't need to be in a particular folder within Library/Audio/MIDI Devices. However, the name needs to be exactly as specified in the instructions in the manual:

1. Press the XML midnam... button
2. In the File Selector dialog, name the file KRONOS.midnam, and save the file.

I think that this will do the trick for you; let me know!

[lbartram]

I placed the file generated by the Editor (named Korg Kronos.midnam) in the MOTU folder (after authenticating as the admin user), as instructed.

I'm sorry for the ambiguity in the editor's onscreen text. Hopefully we can fix that in a future version.

The midnam file doesn't need to be in a particular folder within Library/Audio/MIDI Devices. However, the name needs to be exactly as specified in the instructions in the manual:

1. Press the XML midnam... button
2. In the File Selector dialog, name the file KRONOS.midnam, and save the file.

I think that this will do the trick for you; let me know!

Hi Dan:

Tried it, still no luck. Just generic patch names. Any other ideas?

Thanks.

[Francois]

I've had the same difficulties trying to make midnam work for Pro Tools on PC. Something is wrong, but I do not have enough knowledge of the midnam/middev files to understand what.

[jduesenb]

I'm having exactly the same problems, except that I'm using the filename KRONOS.midnam. I've tried locating this in my Library/Audio/MIDI Devices folder, also Library/Audio/MIDI Devices/MOTU, also Library/Audio/MIDI Devices/MOTU/Korg. (I did this one at a time, not all at once!) In all cases, Digital Performer does not show any patch names, other than the generic "Patch 1" - thru "Patch 128" choices.

I'm running DP7 incidentally.

Here's a related question: does the information in the .midnam file include the appropriate Bank Select info? As documented (and I've tried it out) it is necc. on KRONOS to preface a program change by two Controller messages that specify the high and low-order bytes of the Bank ID. - (At least, AFAIK), which is especially important if you're using KRONOS as a multi-timbral device (e.g. in Sequencer mode).

Getting all this to work would be very convenient, so thanks for looking into it.

John D

I placed the file generated by the Editor (named Korg Kronos.midnam) in the MOTU folder (after authenticating as the admin user), as instructed.

However, on my Mac (and, I suspect, on all Macs) there is an additional folder called KORG. I have placed the file in the instructed location, and it doesn't work. I moved it from there to the KORG folder, and still, no joy. It is currently in the MOTU folder. The file is called Korg Kronos.midnam.

I'm sorry for the ambiguity in the editor's onscreen text. Hopefully we can fix that in a future version.

The midnam file doesn't need to be in a particular folder within Library/Audio/MIDI Devices. However, the name needs to be exactly as specified in the instructions in the manual:

1. Press the XML midnam... button
2. In the File Selector dialog, name the file KRONOS.midnam, and save the file.

I think that this will do the trick for you; let me know!

[danmusician]

Has anyone gotten the MIDNAM file to work? I've tried it as well with no results.

[danmusician]

I went to the midnam file that the Editor created, tried to open it with Cherry Picker and got the following message:

<<<>>>

KRONOS.midnam contains XML errors

Last element parsed before error: PatchNameList: ({
Name = "I-A";
})

Use a text editor to fix this file

<<<>>>

I've never had great success using Cherry Picker or creating midnam files. Anyone with experience, is this why it's not working with DP?

[danatkorg]

Unfortunately there appear to be several formatting problems with the current midnam export. I've discussed this with the developer and hopefully a fix will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the problems can be solved with search-and-replace in a text editor; if that's something you're comfortable with, I can tell you what to do.

[danmusician]

Unfortunately there appear to be several formatting problems with the current midnam export. I've discussed this with the developer and hopefully a fix will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the problems can be solved with search-and-replace in a text editor; if that's something you're comfortable with, I can tell you what to do.

Yes, please.

And thanks for looking into it, Dan.