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If you chose Microsoft Sound Mapper in the Audio device type drop-down list in the Preferences dialog, you 
cannot choose a specific device. Choose a device other than the Sound Mapper to specify hardware devices. 
For more information, see Using the Audio tab on page 181.
When recording MIDI, you can choose a device from the 
MIDI Thru drop-down list to provide MIDI playback 
as you record. For more information, see Recording MIDI tracks on page 131.
Attributes and the Change button
The Attributes values display the recording sample rate and bit depth. Sample rate is the number of samples 
per second, measured in Hertz (Hz), used to record audio. You can change the sample rate or bit depth by 
clicking the
 Change button, which displays the Audio tab of the Project Properties dialog. For more 
information, see Using the Audio tab on page 34.
Note: Attributes and the Change button do not apply when 
recording MIDI.
Monitor
Selecting this check box turns on the record meters, which display the incoming audio level for the specified 
recording device.
Setting recording levels
When recording audio, it is important to record with the highest possible signal without clipping. Clipping 
occurs when the incoming signal is too high to be represented as a digital value and is indicated visually by a 
red clip warning at the top of the meters. The aural result of clipping is distortion. Be assured that digital 
clipping distortion is very different from analog clipping distortion. The saturation level of analog tape is 
non-exact and pushing the levels into the red often create a nice overdriven effect. However, the saturation 
point of digital recording is exactly 0 dB and levels surpassing that result in ugly digital distortion that can 
easily ruin a project.
1.Connect the audio source to the sound card’s input and verify that the card is properly configured for the 
audio source (microphone, line level, etc.). 
2.Click the Record button ( ) and set the desired recording properties. For more information, see Setting 
ACID’s recording properties on page 128.
3.Select the Monitor check box. Incoming audio levels appear on the record meters and the peak signal level 
appears (in decibels) at the top of the meters. Keep in mind that a meter reading of 0 dB is the maximum 
for a digital signal and any signal that surpasses that level will distort.
4.Continue adjusting the input level of the source audio until maximum levels are achieved without 
clipping. 
If the meter clips, decrease the source audio level and click the numbers at the top of the meter. The peak 
is reset and a new peak reading is calculated. Continue adjusting the levels and resetting the meter until 
the level is maximized.
Note: Setting digital recording levels can be difficult. If you 
are not familiar with the source audio and have only one 
opportunity to capture the recording, allow yourself plenty of 
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Recording multiple takes
Using the Loop Playback button ( ) in conjunction with the record feature allows you to record multiple 
takes into an ACID project. All takes are recorded into the same track and saved as one WAV file. 
However, ACID delineates each take by creating a region that is saved with the recorded media file. To view 
the regions, open the recorded track’s properties.
1.Create a loop region for the part of the project you want to play while recording your take.
2.Verify that the Loop Playback button ( ) is selected.
3.Begin recording. ACID plays back the specified loop region while recording your takes on a new track.
Reviewing and saving takes
After you have recorded all your takes, you can review them and save only the best take. 
1.Click Cancel to close the Record dialog.
2.Click the Solo button ( ) on the track you just recorded.
3.Click the Play From Start button ( ) and review all takes.
4.Create a time selection containing the take you want to keep.
5.From the Tools menu, choose Render to New Track. The Render to New Track dialog appears.
6.Enter a name for the new file in the File name box and click Save. ACID saves the take to a new file and 
creates a new track for it.
7.Delete the track containing the original takes.
Loop region 
						

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CHP. 10WORKING WITH MIDI
CHAPTER131
Working with MIDI
ACID allows you to record MIDI tracks and, through support for Yamaha’s Open Plug-in Technology 
(OPT), edit MIDI in your projects. ACID provides two native OPT plug-ins: the piano roll editor and the 
list editor. You can also use ACID to render projects with MIDI tracks, play MIDI from an external device, 
and synchronize to MIDI timecode (MTC).
Adding MIDI tracks
You can add MIDI files to your project or create new MIDI files from scratch. MIDI tracks display with the 
MIDI icon ( ) in the track list. You can use MIDI tracks to record and play back data from synthesizers 
and other MIDI-compliant equipment. MIDI tracks can use MID, SMF, and RMI files.
Adding MIDI files
You can add existing MIDI files to your project just as you would add other files. Simply add the file to the 
project and use the 
Draw ( ) tool or Paint ( ) tool to add events to the track that ACID creates for you.
Creating new MIDI files
You can insert a new blank MIDI track into your project by choosing MIDI Track from the Insert menu. Once 
you’ve added the track, you can use an OPT plug-in (such as the piano roll editor or list editor) to create or 
step record MIDI. 
Recording MIDI tracks
The Record dialog allows you to record audio or MIDI tracks. For more information, see Recording in ACID on 
page 127.
1.Click the Record button ( ) on the transport bar. The Record dialog appears.
2.Select the MIDI radio button in the line labeled Record type.
3.In the Record device drop-down list, choose the MIDI device from which you will record. 
Note: If the device from which you want to record does not 
appear in the list, you may need to enable the device in the 
MIDI tab of the Preferences dialog. For more information, see 
Using the MIDI tab on page 182.
4.From the MIDI Thru drop-down list, choose the output device or soft synth control to use for monitoring 
the incoming MIDI. This allows you to hear the MIDI input as you record.
5.In the File name box, enter a name for the recorded file.
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6.If necessary, click Browse and select a location for ACID to save the recorded file.
7.Complete the remainder of the Record dialog as needed. For more information, see Setting ACID’s recording 
properties on page 128.
8.Click Start to begin recording. 
9.When you have finished, click Stop to end recording. 
ACID saves the recorded MIDI file with the name and location you selected and adds a new MIDI track 
to the project. You can paint the recorded MIDI on the new MIDI track.
Tip: You can also record MIDI using the step recording 
feature of the list editor plug-in. For more information, see 
Step recording events on page 145.
Changing MIDI track properties
The General tab of the Track Properties window allows you to pitch-shift or set a root note for a MIDI file in 
the same way you can with a loop or Beatmapped file. In addition, the 
General tab allows you to add, delete, 
and work with the tracks within the MIDI file. You can mute, solo, rename, and change channel, volume or 
pan settings for individual tracks in a MIDI file.
Pitch shifting MIDI tracks
You can change the pitch of all events on a MIDI track.
1.Double-click the MIDI icon ( ) on the track header to open the Track Properties window.
2.On the General tab, enter a value in the Pitch shift box (or use the spinner control) to adjust the pitch of all 
events on the track.
Setting root notes for MIDI tracks
Choose a root note from the Root note drop-down list to set the base note for tracks that you want to conform 
to the project key. Otherwise, choose 
Don’t transpose. 
						

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Working with tracks in a MIDI file
Within the MIDI file, you can add new tracks or delete existing tracks. You can also mute, solo, change 
settings, and rename tracks. If you want, you can save the changes you make in ACID to the original MIDI 
file. For more information, see Saving, reloading, or replacing MIDI files on page 148.
Viewing track and channel information
The General tab of the Track Properties window displays information about the tracks and channels in a 
MIDI file.
In an SMF (standard MIDI file) type 0 file, all MIDI data is saved to a single track. Each channel within 
the single track displays as a separate track in the Track Properties window.
An SMF type 1 file can save MIDI tracks separately, and these tracks are displayed in the Track Properties 
window. If a track sends data to more than one channel, the 
Channel column for that track displays a 
dash (-). You can use the list editor to locate and view channel messages. For more information, see Filtering 
the list on page 141.
Adding and deleting tracks
Click the Add New Track button ( ) to add a new track to the MIDI file. Select a track and click the Delete 
Tr a c k
 button ( ) to remove a track.
Renaming tracks
1.
Double-click a track name and type a new name. 
2.Press   to rename the track.
Editing channel information (channelization)
1.
Double-click the number in the Channel column for a track. 
2.Type a new channel number in the box.
3.Press  . All MIDI messages are sent to the new channel.
Note: After you’ve edited the channel for a multichannel 
track, channel information cannot be edited in the list editor. 
To revert to the previous channelization and enable channel 
editing in the list editor, enter -1 in the 
Channel column. For 
more information, see Using the list editor on page 140.
Muting and soloing tracks
To mute or solo a track within a MIDI file, click the Mute () or Solo ( ) button for the track.
Changing track volume and pan
Drag the volume or pan sliders to adjust volume or panning for a track in a MIDI file. The adjustment you 
make adds a bias to the original volume or pan setting in the MIDI file. For example, if a track has a volume 
setting of 50 and you set the volume slider to 20, the resulting track plays at 70.
Enter
Enter 
						

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Be aware of the following as you change track volume and panning:
The volume slider settings are added to the track volume and any volume information in the MIDI file. 
This allows you to manipulate the volume of the track and still maintain volume controller information 
that may be present in the file. The overall volume of the MIDI track, however, is bound at 0 and 127.
Volume and panning settings are not saved in the MIDI file, but are saved in the ACID project file. When 
you click the 
Reload button ( ) to reload the MIDI file, the volume and panning settings do not 
reset but are retained. For more information, see Saving, reloading, or replacing MIDI files on page 148.
Previewing MIDI files
You can play your MIDI file to test out your changes before leaving the General tab. Use the buttons on the 
transport bar at the bottom of the window to control MIDI playback.
Tip: To control volume during playback in the General tab, 
drag the Preview fader in the Mixer window.
Chasing MIDI events during playback
When playback loops or begins at a point other than the beginning of the MIDI file, ACID can 
automatically chase (update) controller, SysEx, and patch changes to ensure correct playback.
1.Click the Chase Filter button ( ) to display the Chase Event Filter dialog.
2.Select the check box for each event type that you do not want to chase during playback. Clear a check 
box to chase events of that type.
3.Click OK to close the Chase Event Filter dialog.
 Filtering MIDI events during playback
You can choose to filter out certain event types when you play MIDI from the General tab.
1.Click the Playback Filter button ( ) to display the MIDI Event Filter dialog.
2.Select the check box for each event type that you want to exclude during playback. Clear a check box to 
include events of that type.
3.Click OK to close the MIDI Event Filter dialog.
Using the piano roll editor
The Piano Roll Editor tab on the Track Properties window allows you to view and edit a MIDI file. 
The top pane of the piano roll editor displays MIDI information in the manner of a piano roll for a player 
piano. Each note is represented by a rectangular note event of a certain length and pitch. The piano keys 
along the left side of the window indicate the pitch of a note event. The beat ruler across the top of the 
window shows the length and location of a note event. 
The lower pane of the piano roll editor displays velocity information for each note event. A transport bar for 
previewing MIDI appears at the bottom of the window. 
						

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Viewing the piano roll editor
1.Double-click the MIDI icon ( ) on the track header to open the Track Properties window.
2.Click the Piano Roll Editor tab. The piano roll editor appears.
Previewing MIDI
You can preview the entire MIDI file, a loop selection, or single notes using the piano roll editor.
Tip: To control volume during playback in the piano roll 
editor, drag the Preview fader in the Mixer window.
Previewing the MIDI file
Use the transport bar buttons at the bottom of the piano roll editor to play your MIDI. 
Tip: You can use the Solo button ( ) to solo a particular 
MIDI track during preview playback. 
Previewing a selection in looped playback
You can preview a selection in looped playback just as you would in the main ACID window.
1.Drag the handles of the loop bar in the piano roll editor to create the desired loop region.
2.Click the Loop Playback button ( ) to turn on looped playback.
3.Click the transport bar’s Play button ( ) or press  . The piano roll editor loops the playback of the 
selected area. To stop playback, click the transport bar’s 
Stop button ( ) or press  .
Pitch and length
Velocity
Transport bar Middle C
Space
Space 
						

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Previewing notes
Before you paint a note, you can click a key on the keyboard to preview its sound. You can also preview notes 
as you draw, paint, or select them.
1.Select the Enable Real-Time MIDI button ( ) at the top of the Track Properties window.
2.In the piano roll editor, click the Monitor button ( ) to turn on the note monitor.
3.Click any key in the keyboard. The note plays back. 
The piano roll editor also plays notes when you add them using the Draw ( ) or Paint ( ) tools or 
select them using the Draw tool. For more information, see Adding note events on page 136 and Selecting note 
events on page 138.
Selecting MIDI tracks
As you view, add, or edit MIDI note events, you must first select a track within the MIDI file to work with. 
Choose a track from the 
Tr a c k drop-down list to work with that track.
Adding note events
You can add note events using the Draw tool ( ) or the Paint tool ( ) in the same way you do in the 
main ACID window. 
Tip: As you drag to create new events, the event edge snaps 
to the divisions on the beat ruler. To snap to smaller divisions, 
click the 
Zoom In Time button ( ) at the bottom of the 
window to zoom in more tightly. Or, to turn off snapping 
altogether, click the 
Enable Snapping button ( ) to toggle it 
off.
You can choose to hear the notes as you add them. For more information, see Previewing notes on page 136.
Drawing note events
The Draw tool limits you to drawing one pitch at a time. In other words, you cannot drag up and down with 
the Draw tool to draw note events across several pitches at once.
1.Click the Draw Tool button ( ). The Draw tool is selected.
2.Drag in the row for the pitch you wish to create. A new note event appears as you drag.
Painting note events
Unlike the Draw tool, the Paint tool allows you to create note events across multiple pitches with a single 
drag of the mouse. The Paint tool also allows you to select the note length you want to paint.
1.Click the arrow adjacent to the Paint Tool button ( ) and choose a note length to paint from the menu.
2.Click the Paint Tool button ( ). The Paint tool is selected.
3.Drag to create new note events. The new events appear as you drag. 
						

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Editing note events
You can change the length or pitch of a note event using the Draw tool. You can also cut, copy, and paste 
events in the same way you do in the main ACID window.
Changing pitch
With the Draw tool ( ) selected, drag a note event to a new row. 
Changing length
With the Draw tool ( ) selected, drag the edge of a note event to a new location. 
Tip: As you drag the edge of a note event, the event edge 
snaps to the divisions on the beat ruler. To snap to smaller 
divisions, click the 
Zoom In Time button ( ) at the bottom of 
the window to zoom in more tightly. Or, to turn off snapping 
altogether, click the 
Enable Snapping button ( ) to toggle it 
off.
Specifying a velocity value for notes
To enter a specific velocity value, right-click a note event in the piano roll, choose Ve l o c i t y from the 
shortcut menu, and choose the appropriate command from the submenu.
Changing velocity data
1.
In the lower-left corner of the Piano Roll Editor tab, click the drop-down arrow and choose Ve l o c i t y from 
the menu.
2.In the area at the bottom of the Piano Roll Editor tab, drag the top of a velocity bar up or down to change 
the velocity value. You can also drag across multiple bars to change their values at the same time.
Command Description
Set to Maximum Sets the velocity to 127.
Set to Default Sets the velocity to 64.
Set to Minimum Sets the velocity to 0.
Set to... Allows you to enter a custom velocity 
value. 
						

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Setting pitch bend
1.
In the lower-left corner of the Piano Roll Editor tab, click the drop-down arrow and choose Pitch Bend from 
the menu.
2.In the area at the bottom of the Piano Roll Editor tab, drag to draw your pitch bend curve. To erase a curve, 
right-click and drag.
Changing continuous controller information
1.
In the lower-left corner of the Piano Roll Editor tab, click the drop-down arrow, choose All Continuous 
Controllers
 from the menu, and choose a controller from the submenu.
2.In the area at the bottom of the Piano Roll Editor tab, drag to draw your controller information.
Selecting note events
With the Draw tool selected, you can select individual note events by clicking them. You can also use one of 
several methods to select multiple events:
With the Draw tool selected, press   or   while clicking note events. Pressing   allows you to 
select the first and last note events of a range in order to select all notes in between, while pressing   
allows you to select non-contiguous note events.
Click the 
Selection Tool button ( ) and drag across note events you wish to select. 
Press   to select all note events on a track.
Moving note events
After you select note events, you can drag them to new positions. 
Tip: Press   while dragging note events to restrict your 
movement to vertical (change pitch) or horizontal (change 
location in time).
Using cut, copy, and paste
After you select note events, you can click the Cut () or Copy ( ) buttons to cut or copy the events. You 
can then position the cursor in a new location and click the 
Paste button ( ) to paste the events. Note 
events are always pasted at the same pitch as the original note event.
CtrlShiftShift
Ctrl
Ctrl+A
Alt