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-   -   Instrument Definition files (http://www.notation.com/vb-forum/showthread.php?t=3891)

Sherry C 11-06-2011 07:11 PM

Instrument Definition files
 
10 Attachment(s)
Hi friends,

If you use a MIDI device that is different than the GM standard instrument set, you probably want to use an "instrument definition" file (.INS) to give you the right instrument names for the right patch numbers. In other words, when you select "Horn" from the Instrument patch grid, you probably don't want to hear temple bells :)

You can hand-enter the different instrument names into the grid to create a "MIDI device description" (.mdd) for your device, but that takes a while. Notation Musician and Notation Composer both can import an "instrument definition" file, the format which was developed and defined by Cakewalk. It then saves that information as your device description when using Notation software. Cakewalk used to have an ftp page that contained a lot of these .ins files, but have since taken it down. Fortunately I had downloaded all of the ones they had at one time, and since they don't seem to be generally available, I'm going to post them here just to keep them available for our and other users.

There is a website at http://www.crestonhall.com/music/insdef1.php which contains a boatload of INS files for Yamaha keyboard synths. You can pick those up at that site.
Yamaha also has a single self-extracting file (it's a .exe) that contains the INS files for a lot of older units (pre-2004, from the look of the web page). You can find that at http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/...di_instruments.

Tyros users can find INS files at "Heiko's page".

If you happen to have another .ins file that is not included here, please feel free to post it in this thread.

ttfn,
Sherry

Sherry C 11-06-2011 07:13 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
10 Attachment(s)
and more...

Sherry C 11-06-2011 07:16 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
10 Attachment(s)
and even more....

Sherry C 11-06-2011 07:16 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
2 Attachment(s)
...and the rest.

Enjoy!
Sherry

jhwater 03-14-2014 04:37 AM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
So INS files allow Composer to recognize more than the 128 GM instruments that are a specific keyboard. Is there anyway to create one that is not available?

Sherry C 03-14-2014 11:08 AM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhwater (Post 65260)
So INS files allow Composer to recognize more than the 128 GM instruments that are a specific keyboard. Is there anyway to create one that is not available?

Sort of :)

You can always enter the specific bank and patch numbers for your device in the Staff/Setup of any staff in order to get the special sounds from any MIDI playback device that you have.

An INS is a file that is set up with all the bank numbers, instrument patch numbers, and names for all the special sounds of the particular MIDI playback device (eg. a Yamaha PSR-8000). By having an INS file, you don't have to manually enter the bank and patch numbers (or manually modify the device description yourself by typing in all the information in Setup/MIDI Device Configuration/Properties). If you import the INS file and then select that device as the playback device, you will see all the "cool instruments" listed in the instrument grid (rather than just the General MIDI list) and when you select one, the bank numbers will be for the particular instrument you select.

If you cannot find your MIDI device among the files we already have here, or at the sites in the links of this thread, or by using a search engine to look for it, you can create your own. The following are some links to information and tutorials (and a few more INS downloads, too):

There is another site for Yamaha INS files at http://www.jososoft.dk/yamaha/ins_files.htm


ttfn,
Sherry

jhwater 03-14-2014 09:12 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi Sherry and thanks for your reply. Okay, I was able to get an INS file that has all the information that I need. It is a legitimate ins file created by Mike Martin from Casio. However, it really does not work. No matter what bank I select, all the patches that play are always GM 1-128. I have looked at the resources that you have provided and the ins file looks good to my eyes. Should I assume that this is the fault of the ins file and nothing to do with Composer?
Cheers,
--Jerry

Sherry C 03-15-2014 01:35 AM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi Jerry,

Did you import the INS using Setup/MIDI Device Configuration/Device/Import device description (or alternatively, Setup/Quick MIDI Device Configuration/Import sound names)?

If so, did you then select the new device (Casio) as the default playback device? That should replace the GM instrument patch names with the "special" Casio names for a given bank. Keep in mind that the Casio may have a set of GM MIDI instruments for the default bank, so you'll want to check all the available banks for the device to see all the extra instruments.

It may also be necessary to turn off the GS Wavetable to get the sound to work properly and avoid any latency issues. If you need to do that, you can go to Setup/MIDI Device Configuration/Port/Select Ports and UNCHECK it from the right-hand panel.

Hopefully something above helps :)

ttfn,
Sherry

jhwater 03-18-2014 04:38 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi Sherry and thanks for your suggestions. I have experimental at length with this keyboard and cannot get it to behave like my other one (different brand). So I have concluded that the simplest solution is the best and it seems likely that the Casio synth is the source of this problem. What I am going to do is make the 1st measure empty in my Composer piece. After pressing play, I have plenty of time to choose the patch that I want played on the synth. I have tested this out and it appears that control characters are sent when pressing play, but none are sent while the piece is playing. This will allow me to record without issues.

Thanks,
--Jerry

dj 03-19-2014 12:08 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi, Jerry, Sherry:

Jerry, if you can post one of the files you are trying to work with, I'll have a look at it. I have a couple of Casio keyboards (not likely the exact same, though). I've had no problems with bank changing on them.

David

jhwater 03-19-2014 08:16 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
1 Attachment(s)
Hi David,
That's very nice of you to offer, but at this point it is a low priority because I have a work around. If this is something that you are really curious about, it would be interesting to see if you can make sense of it. The keyboard is a Casio XW-P1 (synth) and I am attaching an ins file. I have not attached a .not file because I was using very basic music and fooling around with MIDI setup in Notation seems straight-forward to me (after trying lots of combinations).

Thanks,
--Jerry

dj 03-20-2014 01:07 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi, Jerry:

I had a quick look at the .ins file you uploaded.

While it loads and imports into Composer, I suspect there are weird things happening in it.

For instance, the GM Bank shows a voice list that includes about 25 GMPiano followed by 25 GM Guitar, then GMString etc.

Some of the other banks only show GMPiano and other oddities.

So, I think there may some problems with the .ins file itself.

Perhaps downloading it again (if it was a download) or even creating your own device description, which can be done in Composer.

Good luck.

David

rrayner 03-20-2014 02:02 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Sherry and I have been having an offline discussion about this topic relative to my Yamaha Clavinova, and I am (I hope) becoming more knowledgeable about the INS file and how to use it. With Sherry's support and guidance, I have imported a Yamaha INS file for an earlier model, which appears to have most, if not all, that I need. I have found that I can modify any of my starting templates one time to match the Clavinova, and every time I use that starting template, my instrument definitions are all set for when I transport the exported midi file to the Clavinova to create a WAV file (which I can convert to MP3) to share with my friends on and off the Forum.

It seems though that I have created a problem. The Composer file with its Clavinova-compatible Instrument Definition Patches plays okay on my PC and its native sound card and of course, on my Clavinova, but David reports that the Baritone Sax sounded scratchy when he played it on his PC with his sound card through Composer. So, the inference to me is that when I want to share the Composer file with Forum readers, I should post the file with General Midi Instrument definitions, so that no one will experience listening distortions based on the Clavinova Patches I am using.

Ralph

addseo1119 04-04-2015 08:28 AM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi, Sharry.
Thank you that you share lots of useful things. I am a new one here. i am looking forward to read your post more and more. thank you;);)

martin 11-13-2015 01:20 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
1 Attachment(s)
Hi Sherry
I just tried windows 10 but my midi interface drivers don't work so I rolled back to windows 7. Unfortunately Composer (3.03) seems to have lost my device description on an external midi port. I have been in this position before and ran up against a problem which I have forgotten how to solve ( in the screenshot). Perhaps you can help out. I have been struggling for an hour to install an .ins file which I have used many times before and whatever I do I get this message.

Thanks

Martin

Sherry C 11-14-2015 04:56 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi Martin,

A couple of thoughts here:

  1. Is this perhaps saved in a Configuration that you have saved? You can check in Setup/MIDI Devices Configuration, then click "Config" and "Select configuration..." to bring up a list of saved configurations.
  2. Switching the Windows OS may have changed the device's port. If it's plugged in, then you should see the device in Setup/MIDI Devices Configuration. You should also then check "Port/Select Port" and see if an extra Port is listed that is not checked (this may be the old port/device). If so, check it, then click "Ok". When the old port and device then come up in the dialog, you can select it and delete it. At that point you should then be able to import the description into the new device listing.
  3. Alternatively, if removing the device in (2) doesn't work, you can rename it to something else (per the error message) and then import the ins into the new device listing.
  4. Alternative alternatively ;) you can rename the current device that you trying to import the INS into (eg. if the original was "Casio 56" you could name the new one "New Casio device" or such, and proceed with the import of the INS.
Hope the above helps. If not, please include a screenshot of your (1) MIDI Devices Configuration, and (2) the Port/Select Ports dialog.


ttfn,
Sherry

martin 11-15-2015 12:46 AM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
1 Attachment(s)
:)Hello Sherry

I am still not having any success. There is only one configuration as far as I can see and if I try deleting this to make a fresh start Composer crashes. The screenshot shows my setup. I am using a sound canvas sound module linked to my pc with an external midi interface (ROLAND UM2EX) with the two ports shown in the screenshot. I just cannot seem to import my sc88pro.ins definition file anymore. I just keep getting the same message every time which says "unable to import device as one exists with the same name". I don't understand what this message means to be honest.

Sherry C 11-17-2015 01:49 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi Martin,

Given the switching back and forth between OS's, it may be just as easy to start fresh here.

You can delete the existing configuration file by navigating to C:\Users\Public\Documents\Notation_3\Composer_3\ and deleting the existing MidiDev.cf3 file.

Now start up the devices that you want detected (eg. turn on the external stuff) and then start up Composer 3. It will start "clean" for device detection, and you should then be able to import your device description as usual.

Let me know if that does not work for you (it just did in a test I did here).

ttfn,
Sherry

martin 11-17-2015 03:09 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
That has worked. Thank you very much Sherry.
Martin

Sherry C 03-10-2019 03:37 AM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi friends,


For those who are looking for Cakewalk Instrument Definition Files (.INS), there are a lot available for Yamaha keyboards at http://www.jososoft.dk/yamaha/ins_files.htm


Enjoy!
Sherry

Sherry C 08-04-2022 04:11 PM

Re: Instrument Definition files
 
Hi friends,


I found another excellent source for Cakewalk INS files for a variety of devices over at Reaper's resource area at https://stash.reaper.fm/tag/Bank-Patches


As an aside, I can highly recommend Reaper if you want a flexible and powerful desktop DAW (digital audio workstation). I've used it myself for a number of projects. Caveat - haven't used it in a while, but have friends who do and say it keeps getting better.


Enjoy!
Sherry


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