What is your process for moving from notation to MIDI in [DAW of your choice]?

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Patrick Crosley Posted January 07, 2020 19:56

I am using Finale 25 in macOS Mojave and this post involves questions re exporting Finale files as MIDI to use with VSTs in Logic X 10.4.5

I want to move beyond Garritan instruments and in to "post-producing" orchestral music that I have composed in Finale in Logic using a variety of other VSTs. The Garritan instruments do some nice stuff with keyswitching in situ, but other (larger, more expensive, of course) libraries have more potential for "realism". I am considering and will likely invest in the Babylon Waves "Art Conductor" package - https://www.babylonwaves.com/logic-pro/ - to lessen the pain of the keyswitching learning curve in Logic.

I am interested in more experienced users' protocols/process for moving from our venerable notation app in to a DAW environment. I am sure that I will make every dumb mistake that somebody new to this process can make, so any advice about how you do it and what you have learned will be most welcome. I am interested in both exporting scores that I plan to eventually print for users and scores that can be butt-ugly but might playback better if I do more articulation work, etc. in Finale before exporting MIDI.

I thank you all for all the wonderful answers I have browsed over the years! (It's been a while since I participated: I will try to come around and give some back when I can!)

3 comments

Date Votes

Jeffrey Turner Posted January 07, 2020 21:17

I do this all the time. What works best for me is to export my Finale files as a music xml file. Then open a new blank Logic file. Go to the "import" menu, select music xml, find your xml file, then click ok.

Now you should have a starting point. The key, tempo, notes will be there along with some CC info. Load your instruments, and edit the CC data until you're happy. I also use the Art Conductor along with the Spitfire libraries I have, it works nicely.

Good luck.

MIKE HALLORAN Posted January 08, 2020 02:57

I’m with Jeffery except that I use Digital Performer which does not support MusicXML import (grrrrrr). I still export as MusicXML, import in Logic Pro, then export the audio to Digital Performer for final editing and tweaking.

Patrick Crosley Posted January 08, 2020 16:57

My heartfelt thanks, Jeffrey: XML has been a black box for me up to know so here's a chance for me to learn. Your concise description of your process—and your coincidental use of Art Conductor!—is all very encouraging.

And for your endorsement of Jeffery's comment, Mike, my thanks to you as well!

Cheers, gentleman!

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