MIDI input signal issue; UA-25/Cubase

[MrMcEnglish]

Hi all:

-I'm new to this discussion board and would like to give my greetings and salutations to my fellow forum chimps.

My first question for the forum will be regarding my MIDI setup. I recently got my hands on a good ol' Yamaha PSR 270, and am having a few issues getting it to respond in my tracking software.

I'm going from the;

270 via MIDI OUT> 'EDIROL UA-25' MIDI IN> CUBASE 3.1.1 (XP)

The problem is that cubase is not registering a MIDI input signal, i have checked all my manuals, searched the forums but alas i have turned up nothing.

In Cubase i have set the inputs to the 'UA-25 MIDI IN', and have chosen the MIDI device as a GM Device (Even though for this it only lets me configure it as an output)

I have tried using virtual instruments, and various configurations but im not sure how i give the bastard a kick start. I have no reason to believe that my keyboard is broken (It has been stored away safely for many years, in a dry environment without much use) And i have tried a couple of MIDI wires.

One thing that maybe hindering my process is that i am only using one wire from the MIDI out > MIDI In. I havn't hooked up the other side, as i don't plan to use the Keyboard in that manner, would this result in issues?

Is there any MIDI test software i can use to verify my signal authenticity?

Any help is greatly appreciated ,

Stevo.-


*Update*

I have tried linking the outport on the ua-25 to the keyboard midi in, and then proceeded to play a midi song in windows media player. Resulting in the sound coming from my keyboard perfectly. I guess thats some progress.

P.s The UA-25 is a USB Audio Interface Device, it is basically an external soundcard for those who may not know what it is.

[Synkrotron]

Welcome

One thing that maybe hindering my process is that i am only using one wire from the MIDI out > MIDI In. I havn't hooked up the other side, as i don't plan to use the Keyboard in that manner, would this result in issues?

Basically no. If you are only using your MIDI keyboard as a controller then you only need to connect as you suggested.

We really need someone to pop in who uses Cubase... I'm a Sonar user and in that software I just need to make sure that all my MIDI devices are selected for both input and output. You should be able to record MIDI messages to that track. Even though you can't hear anything, arm your track for recording and play some notes on your keyboard... if everything is OK on the MIDI side of things then something should appear on your MIDI track. If that works, and you still can't hear anything then I'm certain it must be something you are doing wrong within Cubase... or perhaps your sound card if you are using that for GM sounds or for your VST instruments.



hold on a minute... I've just checked out the specs for the 'EDIROL UA-25' and as far as I can make out it's an audio/MIDI interface and not a sound card... so you certainly won't get any GM sounds out of it... and I'm not even sure if VST's will play through it...

could somebody please confirm whether or not this is the case... cheers

[ssscientist]

To answer your last question first:

Originally Posted by MrMcEnglish

Is there any MIDI test software i can use to verify my signal authenticity?

Yes. Here's a LINK to a shareware utility called Midiox which no user of midi on a computer should be without.

As far as your lack of midi activity in Cubase goes, you don't say if you're using a Mac or a PC, but either way you'll need to go to the Edirol website and download the latest driver set for the interface. They supply a CD with the Edirol but depending on how long it was in stock where you bought it there may be newer ones out there.

After you get the latest drivers installed you will be looking for an ASIO driver because those provide the lowest latency --- which is the time between keypress and the actual sound being heard.

[MrMcEnglish]

-Ahoy there...

I've installed sonar LE, and i'm having the same problem...I set my MIDI IN to the UA-25 MIDI IN and select the omni channel, hit arm, hit record and away i go...right?

Nope, as the tracker records, nothing shows up on the screen, meaning that when i press stop the midi data disapears.

So that you know, i'm not interested in using the GM sounds from either keyboard or soundcard. I soely want to use the keyboard so that i can program drums. I only wish to use it as a controller.

The UA-25 by theory should work fine. I have come to believe that there must be a setting on my keyboard that needs ajusting, i've installed the midiox software (Thanks ssscientist) Yet, it does not find any incoming signal.

I have installed all the latest drivers, am using ASIO and my laptop is a P4 1.6, 512mb Ram, XP Sp2.

I'm ever so desperate to get this working, so anymore advice is appreciated,

Stevo.-

[ssscientist]

Set up MidiOx by dropping the 'options' menu, clicking on midi devices and selecting the Edirol UA-25. Then you should be able to see what your Yamaha keyboard is transmitting over midi.

As far as trying two software packages and not being able to get midi into either one, try uninstalling the Edirol UA-25 then reinstalling it again. That shouldn't take too long and may well solve your problem. And omni mode is something you should not get into the habit of using. Pick a midi channel and set the keyboard to transmit on that channel --- if it is sophisticated enough to have that for an option. If not, as long as you have the midi channels set in your software you should be ok.