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Quick Start for Prism and Prism Drums

Prism titlePrism drums title

Welcome to Prism!​

Prism and Prism Drums are audio-to-MIDI analysis plugins. Both turn recorded audio into editable MIDI that you can drag into your DAW or save as a MIDI file.

  • Prism converts pitched instruments into MIDI notes, analyzing pitch, timing, duration, and dynamics. It is designed for solo instrumental recordings and supports both monophonic and polyphonic material.
  • Prism Drums converts drum audio into MIDI hits, detecting drum types, timing, and velocity. It provides a drum editor and export mappings for your drum instrument.

This quick start covers the shared workflow for both plugins. Choose Prism or Prism Drums in your DAW's plugin list to match the audio you want to convert. In the steps below, “the plugin” means whichever one you are using.

Screenshots and videos

The examples on this page show Prism. The same steps for adding the plugin, capturing audio, and exporting MIDI apply to Prism Drums. For editing controls and features specific to each plugin, see Using Prism or Using Prism Drums.

Three Simple Steps to Use​

There are three basic steps to using either plugin:

  1. Add Prism or Prism Drums to an audio track.
  2. Analyze and convert the audio to MIDI
  3. Drag the generated MIDI to an instrument or MIDI track in your DAW.

How you load the audio depends on whether you use the plugin in ARA mode or as a non-ARA insert effect.

First, What Is ARA?​

ARA (Audio Random Access) is a plugin extension that lets compatible plugins access audio directly from the DAW, without first capturing it during real-time playback. ARA also gives plugins access to the DAW's tempo map, time signatures, bars, and other information for tighter integration.

If Your DAW Supports ARA Plugins​

See Using ARA in DAWs for supported DAWs, setup instructions, and host-specific requirements. ARA support varies between DAWs so, a DAW that supports ARA does not guarantee compatibility with every ARA plugin.

Add the Plugin to an Audio Track (ARA Mode)​

Most DAWs load ARA plugins through a dedicated command rather than a normal insert slot. Follow your DAW's instructions in the Using ARA in DAWs. Depending on the DAW, you apply the plugin to a track or to individual audio clips.

The following video shows Prism being added in Cubase using its Extensions dropdown. Note that Prism immeidately analyzes the audio and converts it to midi. Follow the same process with Prism Drums on your drum audio. Some hosts, such as Logic Pro, require you to press Play before supplying audio to the plugin; see the ARA guide for details.

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Cubase embeds the plugin in the panel used for its built-in audio and MIDI editors. Other DAWs may display the plugin in a separate window.

In non-ARA mode, use as an Insert effect​

If your DAW does not support ARA plugins, you must first capture the audio during DAW playback so Prism can get access to the audio to analyze it.

Start by adding Prism or Prism Drums as a normal audio effect insert on the audio track you want to convert.

Capturing Audio (Non-ARA)​

To capture audio:

  1. Position the playhead in the DAW at the start of the audio you want to convert to MIDI.
  2. In the plugin, click Capture Audio.
  3. In the DAW, press Play.
  4. Let the desired audio play, then stop playback in the DAW.
  5. In the plugin, click Stop Capture.
  6. The plugin converts the captured audio to MIDI.

The following video shows Prism added as an insert effect in Ableton Live, followed by audio capture. The capture steps are the same in Prism Drums.

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You can repeat the capture process to different sections of a long audio track. You can also delete a captured clip by right-clicking it and select delete.

Drag Generated MIDI into Your DAW​

Once analysis is complete, the export workflow is the same in ARA and non-ARA modes. Review and edit the detected notes or drum hits, then use Drag MIDI to drag the results into an instrument or MIDI track in your DAW. You can also use Save MIDI to save a MIDI file and import it into your DAW.

If you haven't already loaded a VSTi, load one now for the the destination MIDI track: for example, a piano for pitched notes or a drum instrument for drum hits.

Prism Drums: choose your drum mapping

Before exporting from Prism Drums, click Mapping... and choose the mapping for your destination drum instrument. Both Drag MIDI and Save MIDI use the active mapping. See Drum Mapping Dialog for presets and custom mappings.

In the following video, a virtual instrument track has already been added, and the MIDI from Prism is dragged into that track.

You can now play the generated MIDI through your chosen instrument and continue editing or arranging in your DAW.

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After dragging the MIDI into your DAW, you can remove Prism from the track to free up resources.

Next Steps​

  • Prism: learn about algorithms, the note editor, and other features in Using Prism.
  • Prism Drums: learn about editing drum hits, compact drum lanes, and export mappings in Using Prism Drums.
  • Using ARA in your DAW see Using ARA in DAWs.