I’ve a midi file that has 1/8 quantization, so when I tap it, it’s just too fast for my fingers. The ideal quantization for finger speed would be 1/4, but then my notes are overquantized. I’ve tried turning off the quantization, but the finger tapping doesn’t work. Any tips on how to solve this problem?
You can only this mechanism with MIDI files that are suitable for clocking manually - that is the whole point of this process as opposed to regular tap tempo
It’s not going to interpolate your finger tapping to play notes “in between”
Hi, in my opinion, the optimal functionality for this feature should involve stepping through the MIDI sequence with no need for any quantization. This means that when there’s a chord in the song and you tap a key, you’ll hear the complete chord, and for a scale run, you’ll step through each note of the scale with each tap. What would be even more impressive is if you could move forward through the sequence with one MIDI key and backward with a different key.
Just trigger midi notes without timing?
And when should be a Note Off Message sent?
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I’m looking for a step sequencer that works like pretty much every other step sequencer out there in terms of programming, features, automation, etc. but that will allow step-by-step playback only when it receives assignable (i.e. I get to pick channel & note) NOTE ON messages. Receive NOTE 60 on Channel 9, play step & STOP, wait for next NOTE 60
How long should it hold the notes in the step before stopping them?
To be clear, I’ll share a hardware device that’s no longer produced but served the function I’m talking about.
There are many step sequencer plugins out there and a google search produces quite a few lists that you might want to review.
The MIDI File Player in GP is not intended to be a step sequencer.
Regrettably, the video showcasing the mentioned device is not accessible. Watching it would provide a clearer grasp of my description. No step sequencer enables you to perform, for instance, a Chopin piano piece seamlessly, where each trigger progresses to the next step in the music, accommodating both two-handed chords and single notes.
Picture a piano roll on vintage player pianos; here, the roll’s(midi file) speed depends on key triggers. If a key isn’t triggered, the midi file won’t advance.
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Couldn’t a note be held until the next step/note is triggered? That wouldn’t work with all sounds, but for certain sounds/instruemnts it would be perfect, for example piano, perc. etc.
I have the same wish! It would be very hand to step through a MIDI file note/chord by note/chord.
How should that work?
Why not use a step sequencer vst?
There are tons of MIDI step sequencers out there if that’s what you need - many free ones too.
The MIDI File Player is a, well, player, it is not intended to be a step sequencer.
That said, if you WANT to single step through a sequence where the note stays on until the next note is triggered, that’s pretty trivial.
Just create the desired MIDI file using your favorite sequencer, set the duration of the each note to be a while beat and then you can trivially step through and as you reach each “next” note, the previous note will stop.
I just created such a sequence using Logic Pro and here’s a video showing it being used in GP by stepping.
Here is the MIDI file and a gig file.
SingleStep.gig (88.6 KB)
Simple.mid (381 Bytes)
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Thanks a lot for your help! I couldn’t find a MIDI step sequencer that would allow to step through a sequence in free time (or rhythm) by triggering each step with a note-on command.
I was trying to trigger a complex pattern in 12/8 (containing quarter and eight notes) that I couldn’t play with one hand, but the MIDI file player didn’t work. But your MIDI file gave me the idea to change all notes in that pattern into even quarter notes - that works very well!
Well, I don’t know about step sequencers but one of the reasons we implemented the ability to step through a regular MIDI file manually was because there wasn’t anything out there that did this already. We had implemented this concept in GP Script years ago. I’m sure others will copy us 
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That’s why I couldn’t find this feature in any of those step sequencers! 
Definitely!
As I wrote in my reply below to @dhj, I couldn’t find a step sequecer plugin that could step through a sequence step by step by being triggered with a MIDI note on command. If you know one please let me know. The solution I found now w/ MIDI file player is almost perfect for my needs.
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When I was music directing musical theatre we used this product for one show. The tech was amazing. I was able “conduct” the show live but ‘tapping” the tempo in a keyboard. I went through the score (which was all expertly midi sequenced) and chose the subdivision I wanted to use at any given point. I was able flow with the performers and even jump back a measure if they missed their cue etc. this the the functionality I wish we had access to but they have patented their solution somehow and I have never been able to find anything like it.
Unfortunately they don’t sell their software. They only let you use it for the run of the production that you license.
This was at least 10 years ago and I’m sure it is even better now than it was back then.