The Reaper Experience

[Knucklesdude]

Common Problems while authoring in Reaper:

Make sure you name your track.


In the midi editor, click View -> Mode: Event List.
With your cursor set at the beginning, right-click -> insert text event.
Text = 'PART GUITAR', 'PART BASS', 'PART DRUMS', or 'PART VOCALS' and Type = Track Name. Click Ok.


Place your notes in the right places.

Place expert notes in midi lanes 96-100. Hard, 84-88. Medium, 72-75. Easy, 60-62.


Well lately I've been rhyming and rhythming my way through charting music in Reaper. I thought I would inform others about what I encountered while the documentation and whatnot is still being worked on.

=Mixing=

Song: Megadeth - Moto Psycho/Coming Home
Those are two Megadeth songs, which I conjoined in Reaper. If you have charted any custom songs in the past (FeedBack anyone?) you probably haven't had the advantage of a digital audio workstation like Reaper. This allowed me to append Coming Home's first cymbal/bass hit to the end of Moto Psycho's last measure before its fadeout, flawlessly.

Count-in: I used a conventional two half-notes, then four quarter notes in the beginning to get the 1---2---1-2-3-4 effect. Reaper seamlessly took my ride sample and with the bpm that I had set, made a satisfying count-in similar to what you find in Rock Band.

=Charting=

Syncing: Much, much, much better. I'll again compare it to FeedBack (dB), since it seems that's still the standard for most charters. In dB, you have a black line with Guitar Hero-style circular frets on top of that. You have to chart the note that starts in the middle of that line and in the center of the frets. However in Reaper, you time the chart by looking at nice, thin lines. And right at the beginning of that line, or midi note, is where the sound originates.

Previewing: For listening to the audio track, and basing notes from what you hear, Reaper lets you input your own playback rate, that can be, get this, less than .5! (girly scream!)

Drums: Since I don't yet have the free Rock Band plugins for Reaper, I am forced to memorize what midi lanes are what colors. This is mad easy though. I got the hang of it about one measure in. And again, the plugins will add the colors (source: creators.rockband.com video (http://creators.rockband.com/))

Events: Adding an event is about as easy as adding a note. Locate where you want to place an event on the midi track, switch to event list view. Presto.

Finished Product: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ1s4RGobEw&fmt=18

[afterstasis]

i've never gotten into charting, but as a longtime user of reaper (along with acid pro and occasionally cubase) i'm glad to see it's useful in more ways than i previously realized.

[AKALink]

Cool so you can see the audio track and place the notes based on that? Is that what you said? Because that would be so much better than Feedback.

[Knucklesdude]

Cool so you can see the audio track and place the notes based on that? Is that what you said? Because that would be so much better than Feedback.

Yes, you can also look directly at the sound waves to determine exactly when the note starts.

[trg007]

I downloaded the trial version and started playing around with it, but I still haven't figured out the MIDI editor. I figured out how to place notes but I can't play them back (there's no sound to represent the notes I made). Anyone have a link to a good beginner's guide on this stuff? :o

EDIT: Well, I can export to a .mid file and play it in Windows Media Player and it works fine, but can't play it from within Reaper.

[afterstasis]

I downloaded the trial version and started playing around with it, but I still haven't figured out the MIDI editor. I figured out how to place notes but I can't play them back (there's no sound to represent the notes I made). Anyone have a link to a good beginner's guide on this stuff? :o

if you're wanting audio to play off of midi notes you'll need a virtual instrument.

http://www.kvraudio.com is a wonderful resource where you can find some pretty decent free VSTi's.

[iruhlman]

yeah many of us ANXIOUSLY await the release of those docs. Its a little frustrating that others are given a head start.

[BillyBlaze314]

yeah many of us ANXIOUSLY await the release of those docs. Its a little frustrating that others are given a head start.

Yeah, I don't understand why it would be a bad thing to let us see them so we can be ready to go when we are able to get the tools and the update patch for Rock Band.

[Knucklesdude]

afterstasis is right. Reaper comes pretty lightweight, so if you need any effects, you should search some up on google.

Though I did not use one in the OP, since I've become accustomed to charting without playback sounds (I know I'll be using them for vocals though).

[davidshek]

Yeah, I don't understand why it would be a bad thing to let us see them so we can be ready to go when we are able to get the tools and the update patch for Rock Band.

Because the docs obviously aren't finished yet. If they were finished, they'd be released.

[HMXEnosity]

correct. They aren't finished yet. We're using the feedback from the Closed Beta period to refine and develop them for everyone.

[trg007]

afterstasis is right. Reaper comes pretty lightweight, so if you need any effects, you should search some up on google.

Though I did not use one in the OP, since I've become accustomed to charting without playback sounds (I know I'll be using them for vocals though).

Yeah, it's for vocals, so I want to be able to hear a piano or some kind of tone representing the notes to see if they match up properly with the song's vocals. I glanced at that site but couldn't figure out exactly what I need to download, but it was late and I had to go to sleep. :) I'll take a look at it tonight.

[BillyBlaze314]

correct. They aren't finished yet. We're using the feedback from the Closed Beta period to refine and develop them for everyone.

I guess I'm just a little frustrated because I was able to see what you had for about a day, and there was a lot of interesting and useful information.

[Knucklesdude]

Yeah, it's for vocals, so I want to be able to hear a piano or some kind of tone representing the notes to see if they match up properly with the song's vocals. I glanced at that site but couldn't figure out exactly what I need to download, but it was late and I had to go to sleep. :) I'll take a look at it tonight.

Since you play piano, try one of these: http://www.kvraudio.com/get.php?mode=results&st=adv&soft[]=i&soft[]=e&soft[]=h&soft[]=d&soft[]=w&type[]=8&f[]=0&f[]=au&f[]=dx&f[]=ladspa&f[]=rtas&f[]=vst&linux=1&osx=1&win=1&free=1&sf=0&receptor=&de=0&sort=1&rpp=15

There's many choices. Synth would probably work well too.

[afterstasis]

Since you play piano, try one of these: http://www.kvraudio.com/get.php?mode=results&st=adv&soft[]=i&soft[]=e&soft[]=h&soft[]=d&soft[]=w&type[]=8&f[]=0&f[]=au&f[]=dx&f[]=ladspa&f[]=rtas&f[]=vst&linux=1&osx=1&win=1&free=1&sf=0&receptor=&de=0&sort=1&rpp=15

There's many choices. Synth would probably work well too.

yeah, piano and sometimes organ for long sustains are probably the best "default" sounds to work with in my opinion.

[AKALink]

Do you need a midi keyboard to place in the notes though?

[afterstasis]

Do you need a midi keyboard to place in the notes though?

no, there's a built-in sequencer.

[trg007]

Actually, that brings up an idea. I'm sure there's a way (I just need to find out how) to hook up my keyboard to the PC and "record" what I'm playing as MIDI notes and then edit it in Reaper. That'd be a heck of a lot faster than placing every note one-by-one with a mouse. :) My keyboard isn't one of those super-fancy workstation ones but it definitely supports MIDI.

[davidshek]

Actually, that brings up an idea. I'm sure there's a way (I just need to find out how) to hook up my keyboard to the PC and "record" what I'm playing as MIDI notes and then edit it in Reaper. That'd be a heck of a lot faster than placing every note one-by-one with a mouse. :) My keyboard isn't one of those super-fancy workstation ones but it definitely supports MIDI.

Yep, I had the same idea after watching the video on creators.rockband.com. There's a brief clip in that video that shows one of the HMX Audio Team members apparently authoring a drum track by playing the notes on a small MIDI keyboard.

[afterstasis]

Actually, that brings up an idea. I'm sure there's a way (I just need to find out how) to hook up my keyboard to the PC and "record" what I'm playing as MIDI notes and then edit it in Reaper. That'd be a heck of a lot faster than placing every note one-by-one with a mouse. :) My keyboard isn't one of those super-fancy workstation ones but it definitely supports MIDI.

it's usually just a matter of hooking your keyboard up (either via USB or midi cables) and making sure reaper detects it, and if there is a problem (or you're simply ready for an upgrade) you can get a pretty nice midi controller suited to your preferences really cheap these days.

it took me forever to give midi a fair shake, but now i use both my keyboard controller and electronic drums as midi controllers on a nearly daily basis.

[trg007]

Thanks guys, I've got the MIDI editor somewhat figured out now. :) My next question is, how do you set the proper BPM so that the gridlines match up with the song (as they do on the charts in RB)?

I tried doing it by "trial & error", changing the BPM and playing the song with a click track over it to see if the clicks are in time with the song. While it may start out that way, it gradually gets off-time as the song goes on. I know that some songs intentionally change tempo mid-song, but that's not the case here.

So basically, how do you figure out the exact BPM of a song? Is there an automated way to do that in Reaper?

(Note: I'm just experimenting using an MP3 I have on my computer. I don't have master tracks or anything. I realize that may be part of the problem as I'm assuming it's easier when you have an isolated drum track.)

[davidshek]

I tried doing it by "trial & error", changing the BPM and playing the song with a click track over it to see if the clicks are in time with the song. While it may start out that way, it gradually gets off-time as the song goes on. I know that some songs intentionally change tempo mid-song, but that's not the case here.

So basically, how do you figure out the exact BPM of a song? Is there an automated way to do that in Reaper?

The problem you're seeing is not that you don't have the exact BPM of the song figured out. The problem is that the drummer did not record it to a click track, so the tempo drifts throughout the song. You're not going to be able to set one BPM for the whole track in cases like that.

[trg007]

The problem you're seeing is not that you don't have the exact BPM of the song figured out. The problem is that the drummer did not record it to a click track, so the tempo drifts throughout the song. You're not going to be able to set one BPM for the whole track in cases like that.

That makes sense. I guess there are some lazy drummers out there. :) Is this a common thing that HMX has to deal with, and now people charting for RBN will have to deal with? I've heard people complain of BPM changes in the RTTH cover from RB1, for example.

On a related note, when a band decides what tempo to record a song at, do they usually stick with "standard" numbers or is it common to have tempos such as 172.3 BPM?

Thanks. :)

[HMXEnosity]

Part of the authoring process is making sure the Tempo is properly Tracked. we have to do this on every DLC song and anyone authoring for RBN will have to do this before they start laying down notes.

[Knucklesdude]

That makes sense. I guess there are some lazy drummers out there. :) Is this a common thing that HMX has to deal with, and now people charting for RBN will have to deal with? I've heard people complain of BPM changes in the RTTH cover from RB1, for example.

Very common! Take a live track for example, or Megadeth. The tempos are rarely consistent.

To change the tempo, simply right-click (or shift+c) on the location in the track where you want to 'insert a time signature marker'.


On a related note, when a band decides what tempo to record a song at, do they usually stick with "standard" numbers or is it common to have tempos such as 172.3 BPM?

They can if they want to. The technology is totally there. ;)

Don't know why though. Not really necessary, but you have bands like Protest the Hero going with all these technical time signatures, and tech death metal bands going at 300-400 bpm, so I don't know. :rolleyes:


Part of the authoring process is making sure the Tempo is properly Tracked. we have to do this on every DLC song and anyone authoring for RBN will have to do this before they start laying down notes.

Is the beat track generally the first that is created?

[HMXEnosity]

Is the beat track generally the first that is created?

The Tempo Track is usually the first created by the user in the Midi file.

[SHPhr34k]

Once the BPMing has been finished it can be difficult to go back and make changes without screwing up something else. Best recommendation is to test test test test... really give the metronome a good listen with the music playing... make sure it's all in the right spot before you lay a single note down :)

[dragonflyr]

look foreward to seeing the vid, knucklesdude.

being a keyboardist, i have used daws/sequencers for years, but charting will be new to me...although i kinda think i already have a pretty good feel for the process.

i've only messed with reaper for a few minutes, but .. is there not some sort of "tempo sync/ tempo match" tool? acidpro had this; you could plug in a audio clip/loop/ etc, and it would analyse the audio and present a tempo map that you could manipulate further if needed. i was really hoping there would be something like that in reaper?

i'll look into it . . .

[dragonflyr]

http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/reaper/2008/reaper-tempo-map/

didn't look at it too much ... but the above link deals with tempo mapping. i was just hoping for an automated process, even if it is one that requires manual "tweaking".

guess i should read on more . . .

btw ... tempo mapping will be much easier when you've got individual tracks or "stems" and you can point to the timekeeper track (drums be easiest to either manually or automatically latch on to).

[trg007]

Now I need to figure out how to create this Tempo Track...I know about the tempo change markers of course, but didn't know there was a way to create a separate track with this info. I wish there was a "For Dummies" guide on all of this. :)

[Knucklesdude]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but fixing the tempo map is the hardest part of the process. I've charted guitar, drums, bass, and vocals all before, but as I can tell by playing Harmonix charts, the timing is absolutely essential (even critical) to the quality of the product.

[Knucklesdude]

Well I ended up making a video myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ1s4RGobEw&fmt=18

What I really want to do is use that channel for tutorials and such when the RBN (open beta) finally hits. Hopefully I have the time.

[dragonflyr]

very cool, knucklesdude. btw ... what happens when you miss or stop playing .. does ALL audio drop out? cuz you just made this from a generic (stereo) mp3/wav, right?

but ... from a quick viewing ... nice chart.

can't wait to get into this. although, i'm on a ps3 .. so i won't even be able to audition. maybe, once i get going, someone wouldn't mind auditioning stuff for me locally on their xbox..

[trg007]

Well I ended up making a video myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ1s4RGobEw&fmt=18

What I really want to do is use that channel for tutorials and such when the RBN (open beta) finally hits. Hopefully I have the time.

Very nice, now do a vocals chart. ;)

Videos demonstrating how to do stuff in Reaper would be VERY helpful, as would the HMX documentation (come on HMX, get with it! :)).

[Knucklesdude]

very cool, knucklesdude. btw ... what happens when you miss or stop playing .. does ALL audio drop out? cuz you just made this from a generic (stereo) mp3/wav, right?

Yeah, I used mp3s (converted to ogg for FretsonFire), so I can choose to have all the audio drop out, or keep it in (my preference).


Very nice, now do a vocals chart. ;)

I'll do vocals for a song that isn't so agonizing to my eardrums. :o

[dragonflyr]

.....so I can choose to have all the audio drop out, or keep it in (my preference).



ahh...i see. (an option to drop out audio or keep it in when notes missed)

cool chart.

[Roflcopterrr]

How did you chart for frets on fire with reaper? I'm trying to do so... I'm starting at C8, charting each MIDI note, exporting as midi, but FoFiX crashes when I load the song.. any tips?

[Knucklesdude]

Make sure you name the track "PART GUITAR" "PART DRUMS" or "PART BASS" and expert is located on midi note numbers (the values in parentheses on the piano roll) 96-100.

Hard 84-88
Medium 72-75
Easy 60-62

FretsOnFire midis are based on the Guitar Hero/Rock Band midis. Check out this thread for more info on the midi format: http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1711

[Roflcopterrr]

:( FoF still opens the song as guitar.. halp

[Knucklesdude]

So are you charting drums? I might be able to take a look at it if you PM me the midi.

Also, do you know to 'export project midi' and make sure 'embed tempo map' is checked?

[Roflcopterrr]

Here's some pictures:

http://img35.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=drum1b.jpg

[Roflcopterrr]

Do you have an AIM screenname? It would be much easier to talk over that :p

[Knucklesdude]

Eh I'm never on AIM :o But I'll post everything here so anyone can learn from your problem.

I quickly just created a working test midi in Reaper, and here are my steps:

1) Track -> Insert new track
2) Rename track to 'PART GUITAR' (or whatever)
3) Insert -> New MIDI item
4) Click grayness, hit Ctrl+Alt+E (hope you're using Windows, haha)
5) View -> Mode: event list
6) Right-click -> Insert text event
7) 'PART GUITAR' or whatever you put in step 2. Make sure type is 'Track Name'
8) Right-click "All notes off" event -> Event properties
9) Set the end to something (there's probably a better way to do this)
10) Drag out the MIDI item (again, pro'lly an easier way)
11) In midi editor, View -> Mode: piano roll
12) Throw in some notes!
13) File -> Export midi
14) Name it as notes.mid and place it in your song folder. Embed tempo map is checked.
15) Create the necessary song.ini and and guitar.ogg files and place them in the song folder.

Hopefully your mistake is explained somewhere in there =)

[Roflcopterrr]

nevermind, my fault lol

[Knucklesdude]

S'alright brah.

Definitely would love to post up tutorials on Youtube (Camtasia + mic). Just gotta wait for the official plugins + documentation to be finished.

[Roflcopterrr]

SORRY for bugging you so much - one last question :p

How do you chart 8th notes correctly? For example, listen to the intro of AC/DC's TNT - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCX8gDW4YS0 0:07 to 0:11. It's proven frustrating to chart notes like this because the MIDI notes always snap to a certain location, even with snap to grid off. I can't chart it directly in the middle of the beat. If you put the way I charted this into a sound, it would sound like a gallop.

[Knucklesdude]

If you have your tempo map set up correct (Insert Time Signature/Tempo Change Marker) you should be able to chart the notes without having to disable snap (I never disable snap). Try zooming in by pressing the plus next to the horizontal scroll bar to see better.

And your notes look a little long from that pic (albeit hard to tell being zoomed out), so if they come out as sustains, chart it like this: insert the first eighth note. Right-click the note, Note Properties. Make Length anything less than 1/16th, like 1/32. Options -> Use last note length when inserting notes.

Hope this helps. :) Let me know.

[Roflcopterrr]

low quality video is low quality, but here it is... a part of brighton rock by queen, authored in reaper. SO. MANY. TEMPO CHANGES.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQtKHx2bk-g

I saw in another video that I can use tab to automatically set the tempo for each measure? Pressing tab just takes me to the end of the song. Is that part of the rock band plugin or something?

[Knucklesdude]

What she was referring to were these awesome things called transients. By using the master tracks (preferably drums) you can tab through to find the peaks in the audio. At these peaks you use tempo signature markers to match up the tempo map to the audio waveform.

It's totally awesome. :)

[wartedkiller]

Sorry to botter you guy but I try to make a song and i'm totaly lost... can you tell me the best way and how to make it

[Knucklesdude]

Ah alright. What's your experience? Have you charted custom songs before?

[Roflcopterrr]

Reaper seems to hate me.. I did tempo mapping, put a marker on each 1st beat, and used some keyboard shortcut from the cockos forum. Look what happens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aky1yz1uOCA

It seems to skip every 1 measure every few measures, and this is making it impossible to chart properly. Anyone come across this before?

[Knucklesdude]

Would the keyboard shortcut happen to be Alt+Shift+C?

What is happening there is that Reaper thinks the last beat of the measure is also the first beat of the next measure. It is snugging those two lines right next to each other (although they show up as gaps).

[Roflcopterrr]

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=14737


I followed the instructions in that thread to make the tempo map, and I get the problems shown in my previous video. I tried alt+shift+c but it seems to make the tempo 120 for every measure...

[Knucklesdude]

The answer to your problem should be in the tempo map. I can't see it in the video you posted, but check the properties of each tempo marker. At those hiccups you should notice something very strange about the values in the time signature marker. And then you should be able to go from there to troubleshoot the problem.

I haven't used that method of tempo mapping yet (still a little old-fashioned), however it's definitely looks like an efficient way to do it, especially if one has the masters to the song.

Check back if you find anything.

[DavyinaToga]

Hey, quick question: I plan on downloading the Reaper trial to play around with, and want to double-check: the plug-ins will work with the Mac version of Reaper, yes?[/threadjacking]

[Knucklesdude]

Here you go ;)


Reaper is available for Mac. The RBN plugin for Reaper will be available for Mac as well.

Magma is PC only. You could run Magma on a mac via VMWare or something similar though.

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158179

[Roflcopterrr]

I've finally charted an entire song! Jump, by Van Halen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCsqxIiQkM

I figured out what was causing the skips in the midi file - time signature changes. The method shown on the cocks forum seems to sometimes put a 4/4 time signature in random spots, so I just removed them and all is well. Now.. charting songs with multiple time signatures. I can't seem to do this right because reaper just "skips" over the measure that has the T/S change. Any tips?

[Knucklesdude]

I've finally charted an entire song! Jump, by Van Halen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCsqxIiQkM

Cool. :)


I figured out what was causing the skips in the midi file - time signature changes. The method shown on the cockos forum seems to sometimes put a 4/4 time signature in random spots, so I just removed them and all is well. Now.. charting songs with multiple time signatures. I can't seem to do this right because reaper just "skips" over the measure that has the T/S change. Any tips?

That would do it!

Hmm, varying time signatures seems to work pretty well over here (Protest the Hero), but I think the answer will again be in your tempo/time signature map. If you can't figure it out post some pics or files or somethin'.

[DavyinaToga]

Here you go ;)



http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158179

Yay, the search functions works for someone! I kept getting nothing every time I tried. Thanks, Knuxdude.


I've finally charted an entire song! Jump, by Van Halen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCsqxIiQkM

Needs more blue and green. I noticed open highhats drive into a lot of sections, and it feels like there needs to be some distinction between some of the HH rides, either in dropping out some of the yellows (so it's in a half-tempo feel no the HH) or by turning some of the beats into green rides. There's probably a good balance to be found with adding more to the chart without making it harder; it's a pretty simple song for drums, so there's no need to do a lot with it. It's a good start.

[Roflcopterrr]

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tzjvmndo4k1

I don't know if it's just FoF's engine, or if I'm charting it wrong. Oh yeah, cockos :p

[Knucklesdude]

Would be more useful if you uploaded the folder with the FoF format (song.ini, guitar.ogg, notes.mid). Also please be more descriptive with what your problem was.

But here is the problem I had: by exporting the midi, renaming the ogg and creating a song.ini, the chart played, but then began skipping and jumping around. Then I looked at the actual midi chart and saw something awkward. You have Y/O sustain when it should be, well, not. This may be just an error that was generated in exporting, I'm not sure if you see it. And it bleeds over into where the time signature changes to 4/4.

However... I deleted that out and the chart still jumped around and ended abruptly (You Rock!). I might recommend redoing that section, something went awry there.

Also, you better be using FoFiX. ;)

[Roflcopterrr]

Would be more useful if you uploaded the folder with the FoF format (song.ini, guitar.ogg, notes.mid). Also please be more descriptive with what your problem was.

But here is the problem I had: by exporting the midi, renaming the ogg and creating a song.ini, the chart played, but then began skipping and jumping around. Then I looked at the actual midi chart and saw something awkward. You have Y/O sustain when it should be, well, not. This may be just an error that was generated in exporting, I'm not sure if you see it. And it bleeds over into where the time signature changes to 4/4.

However... I deleted that out and the chart still jumped around and ended abruptly (You Rock!). I might recommend redoing that section, something went awry there.

Also, you better be using FoFiX. ;)

I can't seem to find anything wrong with my charting... FoFix for life also

[Knucklesdude]

Okay, what is your specific problem then?

[Roflcopterrr]

But here is the problem I had: by exporting the midi, renaming the ogg and creating a song.ini, the chart played, but then began skipping and jumping around. Then I looked at the actual midi chart and saw something awkward. You have Y/O sustain when it should be, well, not. This may be just an error that was generated in exporting, I'm not sure if you see it. And it bleeds over into where the time signature changes to 4/4.


That's my problem. I just opened up the midi file that REAPER exported, and it puts a sustain where the TS changes. When the song is playing in FoFiX, the intro goes along smoothly, followed by a large gap then the O+Y quarter notes come in really late, then the song suddenly ends. I don't know what I can change in my charting.

[Knucklesdude]

Wow, duh. Okay it's not your chart, but when I made the OGG, the audio turns out to be shy of 6.5 seconds. FretsOnFire will determine the end of a song by the end of the audio stream, and because it ends at that point so does the song.

[xxRaen]

I've been trying to make some songs for FoFix with Reaper, but I have a problem and I really have no idea what to do. As far as I can tell, it's the .midi file that's the problem, but I'm almost completely certain I'm doing it right. I have notes in the.midi file, I embed the tempo map, ect. Anyone have any idea what's up?

[Knucklesdude]

Post the midi or PM it to me, and I can see if I can figure out your problem.

What's common though is forgetting to set the track name or an awry event, or something similarly minuscule.

[xxRaen]

Ok, here's the midi. It's incomplete, but I'm just checking trying to get it to work, not be a complete playable track right now.

http://www.box.net/shared/kq9rsljim4

I probably did just leave out something small, but I can't for the life of me figure out what.

[Knucklesdude]

Fixed: http://www.4shared.com/file/131265481/a6e70edf/notes.html

Here's what went wrong:
A.) The track name was not set to PART GUITAR, PART BASS, etc. To do this...

In the midi editor, click View -> Mode: Event List.
With your cursor set at the beginning, right-click -> insert text event.
Text = 'PART GUITAR', 'PART BASS', 'PART DRUMS', or 'PART VOCALS' and Type = Track Name. Click Ok.

B.) The notes were in the wrong place. Expert notes go from 96-100. Hard, 84-88. Medium, 72-75. Easy, 60-62.

[xxRaen]

Awesome, that helped a lot, thanks!

I have a few new problems, however:

For some reason, a lot of the beginning notes are showing up as hammer-ons. Any specific reason for that, and how do I change that?

The bigger and more pressing problem is that when I go make the changes you told me to make to my original midi file, it play in-game, but I'm not seeing any notes at all. When I use yours it works fine (although the first note isn't there, for some odd reason, and the above problem is there), but when I do the changes manually it isn't actually showing notes in-game, but the song is, in fact, running.

Here's the new notes file that I can't get to show notes. I'm sure I overlooked something small again:
http://www.box.net/shared/kq9rsljim4

[Knucklesdude]

I got it working by renaming 'PART_GUITAR' to 'PART GUITAR' And the first note is there, but to see it, you should offset (add in a silence and empty midi track) the song by at least one measure.

The ho/pos are due to your tempo. FoF automatically makes every note less than 1/8th (1/12th, 1/16th...) ho/pos. To fix that you can double your tempo and make those 1/6th (1/4T) notes.

[xxRaen]

Ah, ok, I've got it now. Thank you!