Help with MIDI controller

[tsg2003]

where to start....?

I'm trying to use (play with) a cheap lil' midi keyboard that I picked up at my local music store for $35.00. (Kaysound MK4902)

I'm using Pro Audio9, with a *cough!* soundblasterLive audio card (I know, once I get a bit more figured out with this stuff I will invest the $200.00 for an M Audio card).

Aside from the keyboard, ProAudio, and my pc itself, do I need anything else to make this work? I mean, the midi sounds themselves are in Cakewalk (?), I have the keyboard to controll them, the soundcard/pc to do the rest. (Is there something I'm missing?)

I have gone thru the help files (many times now), I've looked and read as much as I could find on the forums and the net.

I guess my issue is I'm not *positive* when it comes to the ports/instrument assignments. I'm pretty sure that I'm assigning the right devices/chan's and such. Even then, I think I've tried every combination available to me on my pc.

If anyone has any idea's as to why I'm not getting sounds (aside from the obvious 'I don't have a clue what I'm doing') I'd very much appreciate it.

All idea's welcome!

Thanks to all in advance.

[AlChuck]

The sounds are not in Cakewalk, they are on board the SB Live.

To record and route the MIDI data, the inputs would be the SB Live MIDI Interface In (I forget the exact wording that they use) and the destination is the SB Live MIDI Synth A or B, or Sound Font Device.

Maybe you can describe the way you have it hooked up and what exactly you have selected on your tracks.

[Jeyan]

First connect the midi cables properly. keyboard midi out to sound card midi in. Then go to. Midi Devices in cakewalk and select the sblive midi input and output. Go to Instruments and map the channels to your soundfont or GM. Then it should work.

[tsg2003]

Hey guys,
thanks for replying.

I thought the sounds were in CWPA9- as when I go into configure the midi-stuff, there are literally hundreds of different instruments/voices and many, many Yamaha drumkits.

But then, I am pretty new to this so I'm going to attempt your suggestions' and see if I can't get some sounds (of one sort or another) out of this.

How I have it setup;

Well, the keyboard only has a midiOUT, a 1/4in HOLD, and the power supply for connectors (no midiIN).

I have the proper (new) midi to gameport cable.

I connect the keyboard directly to my soundcard (via gameport/midi adapter- brand new) Then I'd *try* to configure CWPA9.

When CW is running, there is a midi-activity monitor on my taskbar- the only time that I see any sort of 'traffic' is when I'm trying different combinations of config's in attempts to get it working (i.e. pressing OK on the config window).

I'm sure that the hardware is working ok (I have to warnings/conflicts or otherwise)-

thanks again for the tips so far guys!

I'll let you know how it turns out.

tsg.

[AlChuck]

I thought the sounds were in CWPA9- as when I go into configure the midi-stuff, there are literally hundreds of different instruments/voices and many, many Yamaha drumkits.

Those are what are called instrument definitions. There're instrument definition files for many popular synths that get installed along with Cakewalk. They map the MIDI patch numbers from the Cakewalk end to the patch names on the destination device. For example, if you had a Roland Juno synth, you would use a instrument defintion for the Juno so in the patch selection list you would see the names of the patches on the Juno; likewiae if you had a Korg Triton.

I have the proper (new) midi to gameport cable.

I connect the keyboard directly to my soundcard (via gameport/midi adapter- brand new) Then I'd *try* to configure CWPA9.

Connected how? There is a MIDI In and a MIDI Out on the gameport adapter. Sorry if it seems like an obvious question, I don't mean to offend, just trying to help you get to the bottom of this.

I'm sure that the hardware is working ok (I have to warnings/conflicts or otherwise).

Well, it probably is, but there's no guarantee.

What else can you try?

Did you use the Windows mixer and make sure that the MIDI Synth device is enabled for playback and that its volume is not too low?

Can you hear anything if you try playing notes in any of the SoundBlaster applications?

If you don't see any activity in the taskbar MIDI Activity meter, then Caekwalk is not receiving the messages. Either the cable is not connected properly, or you are trying to read from the wrong port, or the driver is messed up somehow (despite all indications that it's installed and working properly with no conflicts, as you suggest), or the card itself is funky.

[tsg2003]

Ahh yes, definitions. Makes perfect sense. Thanks for clarifying that for me.

Just to clear things up about how I have this all connected...

The cable itself; it's a midi to gameport cable. It has 2 midi-connectors, IN and OUT. As well, it has 2 15pin connectors, male and female.

The keyboard (controller I'd guess is more accurate) only has a midiOUT, a 1/4 inch HOLD (not sure what that does) and the power supply connectors.

I have the 15 pin plugged into the gameport (obviously only the male fits) and the midiOUT end of the cable plugged into the midiOUT (only midi connector) on the controller.

When I go into 'Auido HQ' (soundblasters control panel applet) I can mess around with the software synths via the on-screen keyboard (I can't figure how to get the controller to work on that any easier). So I do in fact hear synth sounds... albeit not the ones I'd like to

As well, I dbl checked to see if the midiSynth on the wondows mixer was muted or otherwise, it is not.

Some thoughts....

-I have many options for inputs/outputs (MPU-401, SBLive midiport DC00 for INputs, SBLive midi port (DC00), SBLive synthA (DC00), SBLive software synth (DC00), SBLive synthB, MS midi mapper, MPU-401, MS GS Wavetable SW synth for OUTputs. These are somewhat confusing to me.

-Maybe I should simpy scrap the SBLive and get an actual pro-audio card.

-Possibly I'm missing something (Gee, ya think? I mean, am I missing a piece of equipment or software? All I have is the soundcard, the keyboard (no sounds at all) and CWPA9 which I assume can 'do' these sorts of things as it has midi configuration and such...

I do apologize for the rambling of the message, as well Thank you for breaking this down for me in a manner I can understand easily and your patience.

Cheers!

[AlChuck]

midiOUT end of the cable plugged into the midiOUT (only midi connector) on the controller.

I think that's your problem. Outs go to ins. The MIDI messages generated by the keyboard go out its MIDI Out port; they need to enter the computer's MIDI interface via its MIDI In port.

Maybe I should simpy scrap the SBLive and get an actual pro-audio card.

Nope, not yet! (Changing the brand of device won't make thisproblem go away.)

Possibly I'm missing something...

Yep... just that simple idea of routing signals (outs go to ins).

[tsg2003]

Success!

Thank you So much AlChuck!

At one point in the past, I had actually tried the midiIn(cable) to the midiOUT(keyboard), but didn't select the right devices. Thinking to myself that it was a silly idea to try it in the first place I didn't really follow-up with it. Hrmmm....

Obviously, there is still VERY much for me to learn- but you've got me over my first hurdle.

I'll play with this for a little while, then I'll start the quest for better sounds and how to actually record them nicely (I think I seen a post about just that around here somewhere).

Again AlChuck, thanks so much. You've saved me countless hours of un-needed frustration.

Cheers!

[AlChuck]

[philoso4]

hey im using the same keyboard with the sblive card. i was woundering if you could please help me get my midi effects working.. i want to add reverb and chorus to a track with out the effect being on all the tracks.. please reply if you read this.. do you have a chat screen name ?

[AlChuck]

I'm pretty sure that if the reverb and chorus are on on the SB Live they are on, period -- for all tracks.

You can always add them after you render them to audio tracks like you would any other audio tack -- probably better that way, anyway.