MIDI Output

[Newbie dude]

I can't get my midi drums to play on my monitors. They'll only come through my computer speakers. In my choices of the output in the midi tracks' inspectors, i have three options: two of them are microsoft things, and one of them is the Midi out on my firebox. If I select either of the microsoft options, the midi will play back but only on my computer speakers. If I choose the Firebox option, I don't hear it at all because I'm not using the MIDI out on my firebox to connct to my monitors. I'm using the two main Outs. Somebody help!

[noisewreck]

You cannot use the MIDI outs on your Firebox to connect to your monitors because MIDI doesn't carry audio signals. This is a common mistake. MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is just a control language that tells a MIDI device (such as a synthesizer) what notes to play, how loud to play them, how long to play them, etc. In other words MIDI sort of automatically plays a synthesizer as if you were playing it by pressing the keys, tweaking the knobs, modwheel, etc. The actual sounds that come out of the synth when responding to MIDI depend on what program/patch is selected.

What you're not stating is where your MIDI drums are located, i.e. are they loaded on some soft sampler or an external device such as a keyboard or a drum sampler/drum machine?

What you need to do is route the MIDI output for the MIDI track to the device that's supposed to be making the sounds. If this is an external device, then you'll need to connect the MIDI out of your Firebox to the MIDI device that's playing the drums, and the audio outs of the MIDI device to the audio in on the Firebox.

[altitude909]

Sounds like your running through the wrong soundcard

[Newbie dude]

Well, I'm importing the MIDI track from Audacity into Cubase LE. So...what should my output be?

[altitude909]

Well if its coming out of your computer speakers, my guess is that you are routing through the computers soundcard. Make sure that you are using the ASIO driver for the firebox

[Newbie dude]

How do I do this?

[noisewreck]

Go to Devices->VST Multitrack. In that window you'll see a drop-down menu towards the top. That allows you to select the various drivers. Select the ASIO driver for Firebox.

[scrubs]

Your MIDI output for the drum tracks should be pointed at a VST instrument drum machine. You could use the cubase drum machine (lm-7), Fruity Loops, etc.

[Newbie dude]

I just checked. I am using the presonus driver, and I do have the lm-7 loaded.

[hueseph]

Right click the speaker icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen/adjust audio properties/ audio tab/ make sure that the firebox is selected both as the default record and playback device. YOu may want to select "use only preferred devices" however, you will not be able to use your normal pc speakers to listen anymore. You will have to use your monitors as your main listening device. This should work. Post again if not.

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by Newbie dude

I just checked. I am using the presonus driver, and I do have the lm-7 loaded.

Ok, you have LM-7 loaded. Is the MIDI track's output set to LM-7?

[Newbie dude]

No. I've try'd that. When I put the LM-7 as the output, it doesn't play. I have the Lm-7 as input, but I'm guessing that's wrong? What should be my input, since the MIDI is imported?

[Newbie dude]

Hueseph, i'm confused. Where do I go to do this?

[hueseph]

Look at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. You should see a speaker icon there. If not go to Start menu/settings/control panel/double click sounds and multimedia.

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by Newbie dude

No. I've try'd that. When I put the LM-7 as the output, it doesn't play. I have the Lm-7 as input, but I'm guessing that's wrong? What should be my input, since the MIDI is imported?

This is where I'm gonna ask for screenshots of your project and mixer windows.

The MIDI track's output needs to be set to whatever instrument it's controlling (think about it), so if it's supposed to control LM-7, then it needs to output to LM7. Now, in the Mixer, look at LM-7's audio output. What is it routed to?

Come to think of it, how about screenshots of the VSTMultitrack and VST Connections tabs?

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by Newbie dude

Hueseph, i'm confused. Where do I go to do this?

I think he means the Windows Taskbar, not Cubase. Right-clicking on that and selecting "Adjust Audio Properties" will bring up the Windows audio properties dialog where you can select the default drivers and audio devices. Worth a try, although I still think that there is something goofy going on inside Cubase.

[Newbie dude]

Praise the lord! I've finally gotten the tracks to play on my monitors. Thanks to everyone who helped.

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by noisewreck

This is where I'm gonna ask for screenshots

It's funny how that "threat" always works

Glad you got it sorted, dude.