So many maps! Usually having a map is a good thing: when you are lost it can help you find your way home. But when it comes to drums and midi, things get slightly messy.
There are a lot of different key map standards (the way the sounds are laid out in the keys) out there; meaning that midi files created for Software X often aren't compatible with Software Y.
This is why we created the PowerMap Engine! Here are a few examples of usage:
Mix live performances with library beats
Connect your e-drum kit and select the appropriate Map Preset for it. Here comes the magic: All your AD2 beats will still work, and be remapped to match the key layout of your e-drums! So you can mix’n’match ready-made beats from AD2’s library and your own live performances in the same arrangement.
Use beats from different sources regardless of their mapping
This is very useful if you have MIDI files from various sources. Let’s say you have some MIDI files with AD2 mapping, and you also found this great collection of GM compatible files. And then there are a bunch of files from the great “Software X” that you’d like to use as well. PowerMap can remap all these files on the fly, so you can browse them side by side in AD2’s Beat Browser! All you need to do is
- Open the External MIDI Files folder from the Top Menu. If you have MIDI files that are already AD2-mapped, you can just put them there.
- If you have files with different mapping: create a folder for each type of files, and then save a “translation” Map Preset in each folder. So you’d have a “GM” folder, with all your GM files and a “GM.ADmap” in it. A “Software X” folder, with the MIDI files that came with it and a “Software X.ADmap”.
In the case of GM you can probably use the GM map included in AD2 and just resave it to your new GM folder. In case of other files, you need to create a map yourself. You can remap everything in AD2 in the Map Window.