Batch edit/dump for lyric files

DuskDave

Hi,
As the number of songs I have on ST3 grows, certain things become more difficult and time-consuming.

The first line in all my lyrics files has a command like [midi: PCx@y, CC69.0@z ... ] etc. I use this to set the required guitar effect or keyboard program so that I can just get on with performing the music.

What I would like to be able to do is find which songs use a given guitar effect, or send a particular CC to the DMX lights. If the lyrics could all be dumped into a CSV something like

song_name , line_no , lyric_file_text

then it would be easy to 'grep' out or 'find' what I need by searching for "PCx@y" or "CCaa.bb@c" in the results. I understand that lyrics are held in a ST3 database rather than as plain text, otherwise it would be easy enough to search the lyric files in that directory.

My guitar effects can only store 128 patches so I'm already passed being able to give each song its own patch, but if I need to tweak the sound for song A, I need to be aware that song B will also be affected.

Can this be done?

Beejaywh

DuskDave if you have one setup used more than any other then put the midi code to set that into the load or play midi strings in the main playback setup. Then you only have to insert the different guitar setups into those specific tracks which use them.

For instance, I use a pod xt live and a variax 700. My set up for 70% of my repertoire is an acoustic guitar with an acoustic amp patch e.g program 1 on my pod on channel 1.

So in my load string I put in a PC1@1. So at the load of every song my guitar goes to acoustic. Instantly 70% of songs are correct. Say 10% of songs don’t have me play at all, well again setting the guitar really doesn’t matter. So that’s. 80% of songs catered for leaving only 20% of your catalogue to put special midi commands within the lyrics.

I actually take it a bit further in order to stop feedback or erroneous sounds from the guitar when between tracks because on my load line after the PC1@1 I send out a CC to put the pod into tuner mode which mutes the sound. In my PLAY midi line in the settings I switch it out of tuner mode and the guitar is unmuted. Then I only have to go into the lyrics of that 10% of songs where I don’t play and mute it again.

Sounds awkward but a huge amount less work than manipulating every song, and I have over 2000 songs on my ST3 library.

peter

What you could do: create a database only backup. Rename the backup file ending to .zip and open it. It contains a single json file with all lyrics and metadata. You can open it in a text editor and edit the lyrics in there. Just make sure you don't change the file structure.

DuskDave

peter
Oh, OK.

I'll give it a look next time I'm feeling 'techy'.

Thanks, Peter.