About Patch Banks

Depending on the selected device, you may find that the Patch Banks list is divided in two or more main banks. Typically, these are called Patches, Performances, Drums, etc. The reason for having several patch banks is that different “types” of patches are handled differently in the instruments. For example, while “patches” typically are “regular” programs that you play one at the time, “performances” may be combinations of programs, which could be split across the keyboard, layered, or used for multi-timbral playback, and so on.

Cubase Pro only: For devices with several banks, you will find an additional item labeled “Bank Assignment” in the pop-up menu at the top of the window. Selecting this opens a window in which you can specify for each MIDI channel which bank it should use.



Cubase Artist only: Devices with several banks have an additional tab “Bank Assignment”. Select this tab to specify for each MIDI channel which bank it should use.



The selection here will affect which bank is displayed when you select programs by name for the device in the track list or Inspector. For example, many instruments use MIDI channel 10 as an exclusive drum channel, in which case you would want to select the “Drums” (or “Rhythm Set”, “Percussion”, etc.) bank for channel 10 in this list. This would then let you choose between different drum kits in the track list or Inspector.

Limitations

There is no easy way to import a patch name script into an existing MIDI device. For a complex workaround based on XML editing, see the separate PDF document “MIDI Devices”.