Importing MIDI files into Ardour track names

#1

When importing a MIDI file into ardour using the Session menu → Import (CTRL-I), the track names of the imported MIDI channels stay the same no matter what is selected in the MIDI track name. I have the Mapping option set to ‘One Track Per Channel’. I would assume the tracks would then be named after the patch if I have MIDI Track Names set to “Instrument Names”.

No matter what option I pick, the track names are like ‘ch1-1-1’ or something similar, depending on how many imports were done.

Is this the intended behavior ? This affects 9.2 and 8.12. I thought I had seen this work properly in the past.

#2

Are you sure the MIDI files contain instrument names? Or are you interpreting “instrument name” to mean something else?

#3

I am interpreting instrument name to be a GM MIDI patch name. There are patch names associated with the MIDI Channel.

#4

I tried a couple of other MIDI files, and they import properly, if the MIDI file contains the ‘Instrument Name’. No issue with Ardour.

#5

Well, you might say it’s an implementation issue for us that you can’t get the imported regions to use the name of the current patch for the synth … but does that actually make sense?

#6

Yes. Should that be a feature request ?

#7

I don’t know that it makes sense. Equating a patch name to an instrument name is … debatable, I think.

#8

Add an ‘First Patch Name’ as the track name option for importing.

#9

Problem is that for a bunch of synths, we don’t even know what the current patch is (it is internal to the plugin) …