MIDI to Audio

[StacysMom]

I have Home Studios 2004, a Gateway 600 Laptop (PIII?), and a MobilePre USB Audio Interface. I was wondering how one converts a MIDI track in Home Studios to an audio track.
The tutorial said to create an audio track and put my soundcard as an input and so I put the MobilePre there...I muted all the other tracks and solo'd the MIDI track, armed the destination audio track and hit record. Nothing happened.
When I went to adjust the volume for recording like the tutorial said, I noticed that my only recording option on my volume controls was Wave In, and I'm pretty sure that's where my problem is, but I still don't know *what* my problem is.
Can anybody help me make my MIDI an audio?

[Qwerty]

What's generating your MIDI sounds? An internal synth or a DXi softsynth from within Sonar?

In the example you detail below, did you hear anything while it was supposedly recording?

Q.

(I am not sure if HS 2004 uses DXi soft-synths or if you are using them. If you are, you need to select both the MIDI source track AND it's DXi output. Once you have done this, (they don't need to be soloed, just highlighted), you can go EDIT-BOUNCE TO TRACK and it will automagically render the MIDI track into a .WAV file for you.)

[StacysMom]

Thanks! I'll give that a try.

[StacysMom]

Yeah, that didn't work. I can play back the MIDI track so that I can hear it, but I can't record it onto an audio track and I don't know why.

[dachay2tnr]

As Qwerty asked, what are you using to get playback? A DXi. A sound card? An external MIDI sound source (e.g., a keyboard)?

The reason is that the procedure for converting to audio will differ depending on your sound source.

[StacysMom]

I'm using a sound card, to the best of my knowledge. I have no external MIDI equipment, and I have no idea what DXi is...

[Qwerty]

Does your sound card have a mixer type application? Something that controls sound levels like the Windows Mixer - that little yellow speaker icon in the lower right hand side of the taskbar?

Try this -

- Double click on the speaker icon
- Click on OPTIONS-PROPERTIES
- Pick the option for RECORDING
- Look at the display and see which input is selected for recording
- I am guessing you have the MICROPHONE selected, when you need the LINE IN
- Swap over the checkboxes and give it a go

Also - you will need the ability to "loop back" your audio to convert your MIDI tracks to .WAV's using this example above. That would typically mean using a 1/8" inch male - male plug to connect the OUTPUT of your soundcard, (the midi tones which you can hear being played correctly), to the LINE IN of your sound card, (the input that HS 2004 is "listening" to and attempting to record).

Can you also let us know what the OUTPUT of your MIDI track is set to in HS 2004 and what your INPUT is set to on the audio track you are attempting to record.

Nearly there!

Q.

[guttadaj]

Hi, StacysMom.
Did you ever get this to work? If so, can you tell me what you did, since I am trying the same thing here without any luck.

I have my MIDI track soloed and an Audio track armed with the Input set to Stereo Santa Cruz (using Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard - please control your laughter). The Audio track's signal meter wasn't showing anything for a while, but then I switched the Record Source on my Santa Cruz control panel to Stereo Mix and the meter started hopping. So I thought I was in business and hit Record, but when it was done... empty Audio track.

I could see having to do the "loop back" thing that Qwerty mentioned if the sound card didn't have an option to change the Record Source to Stereo Mix, but it seems that I should be able to do this straight through the soundcard... shouldn't I?

Thanks!
-Jeff

I'm using Sonar 3.1.1 on WinXP.

[dachay2tnr]

Stereo Mix is the equivalent of the "What U Hear" setting on the SB Live cards. Essentially it means you should be recording anything that is going through the sound card.

From your description this should be working for you. Particularly if you are getting a signal on the record meter in the audio track.

What is the Output setting on your Midi track? Can you hear the midi track as you are recording?

Also, I assume have you "armed" the audio track and then hit the "record" button on the Transport? (Sorry, have to ask these things just to rule them out. )

[guttadaj]

Thanks, dachay, for the response!

I'm glad to hear that you think it should be working for me, too. At least it seems as though I have the right idea.

Unfortunately, it's just not working, which would really be the icing on the cake. I've double- and triple-checked things, including the stuff you asked, so I'm really dumbfounded. The output setting on my MIDI track is Santa Cruz DLS Synth, and I can hear the MIDI track as I'm recording. And, yes, I have the audio track Armed and have hit Record, and I can see the signal on the record meter on the audio track.

I'll keep at it, but if anyone has any thoughts on where I could be getting tripped up, I would love to hear them.

Thanks!
-Jeff

[guttadaj]

...which is "I'm a moron!"

I find that's the answer to a lot of my problems.

I had Auto Punch on in my recording options and forgot! Duh!

Thanks for your support.
-Jeff