MIDI timeline display

bnyrj

I see Stage Traxx primarily as a playback tool in a live setup. So my preference is to come into it with everything already prepared—whether that’s audio or MIDI—ready to play.

This MIDI visualisation idea came from a simple observation: the existing MIDI track option already works well with regions. The only thing missing is the ability to see the MIDI as a track, and the current dependency on an audio track just to set regions.

Features like lyrics and MIDI controls already in Stage Traxx are great additions and show how useful it can be in a live context.

Beyond that, I think it’s best to leave decisions to the developer on what fits the app, and let users decide what they want to use.

If someone wants a feature, they can always make a request. But it’s better not to mix unrelated ideas into a specific request, as that can dilute the original purpose and create confusion.

Midimannz

bnyrj

There is such a program already, it’s similar to your needs

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/StageTraxx-Automatic-Midi-Commands-for-Lyric-Editor-Music-Lighting-set-lists-10609876?utm_campaign=post_purchase_confirmation_test&utm_content=01%2F11%2F2024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid

bnyrj

Midimannz

Thanks I will check it out.

Is this an app build to supplement the original app or it is an independent app?

If you like MIDI timeline display option in stage traxx, please upvote

bnyrj

Midimannz
I just noticed, it an excel file?
To help set things up in midi

My request in stage traxx is to see the midi track, so that regions can be set based on the midi track

MarkGuitar

Midimannz
Just checked it out. It is just entering the same stuff but in an Excel spreadsheet which you then have to copy & paste into ST.
Yet another external app to deal with. Sorry but I fail to see how it helps other than the editor in Excel being more feature rich. Maybe I am missing something.

Lishy

Damir what’s difficult about it? By using midi learn it’s 2 button presses.

MarkGuitar

Damir

This is pretty much how the Helix approach (which I dared to mention earlier in the thread) works.
But in addition I really like your idea of having a library of saved commands that we can re use. BandHelper does this and it is a real time saver.
I kinda simulate this idea t the moment by having commands in a Notes document that I cut and past, but of course when I paste them in the time portion is wrong so its clunky at best.

MarkGuitar

Damir Your example is pointless, you have a full on midi file shown that is so busy it’s got no visual value.

It doesn't happen often 🙂 🙂 🙂 but I agree with @Damir 🙂

Your idea of being able to visualise the midi events against the audio to check what you have entered is a good one, I upvoted and support it. But simply showing a lane of dark blobs on a coloured background doesn't help at all. From that, there is no way to tell what any of those midi events are for.
If you are going to visualise something you have to know what you are looking at.

bnyrj

MarkGuitar

When I say a MIDI track, I’m not talking about a random stream of CC data or a cluttered visual with no meaning. I’m referring to a proper MIDI file — with notes across up to 16 channels, tempo map, bar structure, and musical timing.

The value is not in “reading every note visually” like in a DAW. The value is structural.

How it actually helps:

It allows building and running a song without needing an audio file
Regions can be set based on MIDI bars and timing, not estimated from audio
MIDI files already contain tempo and beat grid, which makes timing accurate
Features like “start from next bar” become reliable because they follow the MIDI clock
It fits perfectly for setups where MIDI is driving external gear (Korg, Yamaha, etc.)

In my workflow, I create both the audio and MIDI myself, so I already know what’s inside — arrangement, sections, tempo. I don’t need detailed visual editing here.

This is exactly why I’m asking for MIDI tracks to be displayed in the timeline like audio stems — not for deep editing, but to use that structure for region control and playback.

So the goal is not “pretty visuals” or inspecting every event — it’s about using MIDI as a timing and arrangement reference inside Stage Traxx, especially when no audio track is present

MarkGuitar

Damir For me there’s no value on stage

Correct, but I spend WAAAAAAY more timing preparing stuff in ST than I do on stage. I did a 2 hour gig with ST on Saturday (It performed flawlessly BTW, thank you @Peter).
But had spent untold hours the week before preparing the songs, lyrics and MIDI for that gig.

For me, every minute I can save in the preparation of a gig is a minute I can spend practicing my performance; a way more interesting and important thing to spend time on. All this bouncing back and forth between apps to do stuff that ST is not good at or doesn't do at all is a huge time suck.

Im not knocking ST at all. It's early days with ST4 and it is very good at what it does do. But gig preparation is the big thief of time and if that can be improved, what's not to like?

So for all those who keep saying 'ST is a playback device'. Well yes, when you get it on stage and actually do a 'playback' . To get to that point there is a shed load of preparation to be done sat in front of the ST screen. The more I can reduce that preparation time, the better my perfroamcne can be on the night.

Damir

MarkGuitar Correct, but I spend WAAAAAAY more timing preparing stuff in ST than I do on stage. I did a 2 hour gig with ST on Saturday (It performed flawlessly BTW, thank you @Peter).
But had spent untold hours the week before preparing the songs, lyrics and MIDI for that gig.

I don't even want to think the wasted prep time Ive spent through the years , i wish i had $1 for every hour , but thats why i am always suggesting things that save TIME so the new generation doesn't fall in to the same trap.
Having efficient prep tools helps a lot.

Damir

MarkGuitar I agree both on stage and off needs to be considered to save our time , when people pay us they usually consider on stage time and don’t realise off stage effort and time.

Kevtyler

Some of us don’t have daws but still have very specific ideas where a midi command to open a fader for say a repeat echo on a voice should be. I have mentioned before with songs like comfortably numb, in the air tonight, you need real accuracy or the effect sounds wrong. I know if you sit down for a few hours that you can get good results in lyric editor on st4 , but having to push on the time and slide your finger over and manually change the digits, it’s a horrible process imho.

I just wish with respect to the time stamps whether for lyric or midi that we could push on them and highlight them, and then drag them left or right to slowly increase or decrease the time. I did request this I think, and it sort of fell on deaf ears.

bnyrj

Kevtyler

I think this is exactly where our setups and workflows differ.

I understand what you’re describing—you’re using MIDI more for triggering effects, automation, lighting, or specific moments, where timing has to be extremely precise (like in songs such as Comfortably Numb or In the Air Tonight). In that case, editing timestamps quickly and intuitively makes total sense, and I agree the current method can feel tedious.

But what I’m referring to here is a different use of MIDI.

In my case, MIDI means musical performance data—notes, velocity, program changes, tempo, etc. I don’t manually type values or timestamps. I simply play the parts on a keyboard, record them, and the MIDI track is created naturally with all the data in place.

So my request is not about editing MIDI commands numerically.
It’s just about being able to see that MIDI track visually inside Stage Traxx, similar to an audio stem, so I can set regions more accurately based on the actual musical content.

I feel like in this thread, a few different MIDI use-cases are getting mixed together—
• MIDI as performance (what I’m referring to)
• MIDI as control/automation (what you’re referring to)

Both are valid, just different needs.

My request is only focused on the first one—visualizing a recorded MIDI track for better navigation and region setting, not replacing detailed MIDI editing or automation workflows.

Damir

bnyrj In my case, MIDI means musical performance data—notes, velocity, program changes, tempo, etc. I don’t manually type values or timestamps. I simply play the parts on a keyboard, record them, and the MIDI track is created naturally with all the data in place.

You are describing a midi player or an accompaniment arranger keyboard, that’s not what ST was originally intended for, midi was introduced in to ST4 for midi control.

bnyrj

Damir

I fully agree that Stage Traxx is primarily an audio-first playback tool, and I already use a DAW (FL Studio) for all MIDI creation, editing, and preparation. I’m not trying to turn ST into a DAW or an arranger.

For me, ST remains a backing track player.

What I’m suggesting is more about expanding its playback capability, not changing its core purpose.

My workflow is:

Prepare everything (audio + MIDI) in FL Studio
Export clean, ready-to-play stems and MIDI
Use Stage Traxx only for live playback and control

Now the idea is:

If Stage Traxx allows a visual MIDI track (similar to audio stems), then I can:

Align MIDI with audio visually
Set regions more accurately based on MIDI timing
Send MIDI (especially chords) to my arranger keyboard

This opens up a different level of flexibility:

Instead of only playing pre-rendered audio, I can:

Run audio stems + live MIDI output together
Drive my arranger keyboard with chord data
Switch styles dynamically on the keyboard while ST handles structure via regions

So the setup becomes:
Audio stems + MIDI (chord/performance data) → Arranger keyboard → Live generated backing

That’s not replacing ST’s purpose—it’s extending it into a hybrid playback + live generation system.

I’m not asking for MIDI editing inside ST.
Just a visual reference layer for MIDI, similar to audio tracks, to make this workflow practical.

For users like me, that would be a real game changer

peter

You can't align midi files with audio. And you also can't align audio tracks to each other. This is moving very quickly into DAW territory.

This topic is getting out of hand. Please refrain from discussing whether this feature might be useful or not. If you think it is useful, upvote it and if not, just ignore it. I will decide based on the number of upvotes and an effort estimate whether this feature should be implemented or not and if yes, when.

bnyrj

peter

Hi Peter,
I also feel the discussion is drifting away from the actual request.

To keep it clear — I am not asking for MIDI/audio alignment, and not suggesting moving into DAW territory like Ableton Live.

My request is very simple:
An option to load a MIDI track and visually see it, so regions can be set based on the MIDI itself when no audio file is present.
That’s all.

The reason I keep replying is because the request is getting mixed with other ideas. New readers often see only the latest comments and misunderstand what was originally asked, which shifts the discussion further away.

So just to restate clearly:

The request is to have the option to load a MIDI track, see it and set regions based on that.

I’ll leave it here—thanks for considering it based on demand and effort.

Damir

bnyrj The reason I keep replying is because the request is getting mixed with other ideas. New readers often see only the latest comments and misunderstand what was originally asked, which shifts the discussion further away.

I think the problem is i don’t see exactly to why this is so important or useful,
Perhaps try give us a real focused explanation to why and how this is so useful or needed.
Sorry if I misunderstood your need.
I ask myself, why would you need to see a bunch of midi data on screen, are you only using midi?
If you are not using control midi data , what are you using the midi track for?
Perhaps this will help me to understand and possibly help.

Damir

bnyrj The request is to have the option to load a MIDI track, see it and set regions based on that.

I have just read again the original request.
I was in your shoes before ST was born, my last arranger keyboard was a Yamaha Tyros 2 , it had full midi multitrack recording and audio replay function , synced lyrics and chords with an external monitor capability for audience or other musicians , it did it all , but was very difficult to program , I persevered and it did the job for years , I always wished I could have a remote to control it like an iPad but iPads weren’t around, I wanted not to be behind a keyboard but more exposed to the audience.
it sounds like what you are after software that controls the keyboard using midi .
Am I warm ?
The requests you mention are pointing to a control surface that gives you lyrics but rely on external midi device to play sound , yes you can create the midi in a daw simply load it to ST and sync up the text but the sound is out of a keyboard.
Am I getting hot?

Lishy

Damir did you not read Peter’s reply? The OP has also explained on a number of occasions. If you don’t understand it/need it then you don’t need to worry about it.

Damir

Lishy did you not read Peter’s reply? The OP has also explained on a number of occasions. If you don’t understand it/need it then you don’t need to worry about it.

Sorry I missed it ,

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