Midi help - can't save date

[VGreen]

Hi

[Pro Tools 6.4 LE, Mbox, Yamaha DGX-505]

When I record say a strings (or any other patch) track in midi it saves ok, but when I turn the computer off then on again the next day I've lost the strings and it's now piano. One thing I've noticed is if I turn on pro tools before I turn on my keyboard the following error message appears:

"An error (-1) occured while initializing OMS. You may continue without OMS functionality."

I think OMS stands for "open music system". This seems to disenable the midi recording function altogether, so that if I try to record something I get nothing. This is because the channel input/output has been disenabled. But if I exit out of pro tools and then go back in again, the midi function is enabled again. From this I assume it's necessary to first have the keyboard on to enable initialization between the hardware and software.

Also, if I record say strings in midi, save it, turn off the keyboard then on again and play what I just recorded, I get piano again instead of strings.

Anybody here know what's happening?

One more thing, can I burn a midi track onto a disc as with audio? If so, how?

Thanks.

V

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by VGreen

but when I turn the computer off then on again the next day I've lost the strings and it's now piano.

You'll need to include a midi program change command for the sound you want to play. In other words, check your keyboards manual for the corresponding program change, then after you have played the part and have the sound you choose the last thing you do before you save the file should be enter the appropriate program change number.

can I burn a midi track onto a disc as with audio? If so, how?

If you weren't using protools it would be easy. Most, if not all, other sequencer that support midi use VSTi or DXi softsynth plugins. But Digidesign are WAY smarter than the rest of us and insist on using their own proprietary format called RTAS. This is changing but not fast enough.

The best way to do it in protools is the 25 years ago way --- patch the outputs of the keyboard into your interface and record the keyboard part to an audio track.


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[VGreen]

Thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by ssscientist

...then after you have played the part and have the sound you choose the last thing you do before you save the file should be enter the appropriate program change number.

That's interesting. I found that if I entered the program change first the track was very quiet. Do you know why this is?

The best way to do it in protools is the 25 years ago way --- patch the outputs of the keyboard into your interface and record the keyboard part to an audio track.

Is this the same as mic-ing the keyboard, playing back the recorded midi, then recording it through audio in protools?

V.

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by VGreen

I found that if I entered the program change first the track was very quiet. Do you know why this is?

Nope.

Is this the same as mic-ing the keyboard

Yes, but since keyboards are already putting out a line-level signal there's no need to mic an amp except as an effect.


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[VGreen]

Ok, I've worked out how to record the midi onto audio through protools. I did this by running a line from the keyboard output into my mbox source jack, with "inst" highlighted on the mbox, then recording it onto an audio track.

I have another question for you:

I have a line running from the mbox line output jack to a speaker. When I record the midi onto an audio track, the sound comes out of the speaker while I'm recording and also when I play it back, but when I play the midi recordings alone no sound comes out of the speaker. In order to hear the midi recordings, I have to unplug the line from the keyboard so I can hear it through the keyboard speakers.

As I understand it, midi data travels from the keyboard to the computer to protools where it is sequenced. Then when I play it back, the sequenced midi data travels back to the keyboard and is interpreted as sound through the keyboard speakers. If I run a line from the keyboard to a speaker, the sound is simply channeled through the speaker. Why doesn't this work when I run a line from the keyboard to the mbox and then another line from the mbox to a speaker?

V

[ssscientist]

When I record the midi onto an audio track...midi data travels from the keyboard to the computer to protools where it is sequenced.

I seems like you are confusing midi and audio in kind of a unique way.

You say when you record 'the midi', by which I assume you mean your keyboard sound, it plays back in a different way than you expect. That's probably because the sound is not coming from the keyboard as it would be if you really were using midi, but rather from the audio recording of your keyboard stored in protools. The two big advantages to having your keyboard parts recorded as midi data are that you can edit the part without having to rerecord it and you can change the sound, again without rerecording.

Here are links to three good articles on midi basics - part one, part two and part three.


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[VGreen]

Originally Posted by ssscientist

It seems like you are confusing midi and audio in kind of a unique way.

No, I understand the difference, and I am able to record midi and edit it, no problem there. Also, once I've recorded a midi track, I can record it onto an audio track in the same file and then onto a cd, no problem there. What I was trying to explain in my previous post was a curious interplay between the keyboard, the mbox and the speaker. But it's ok, I was just curious as to what was going on. Thanks for your help.

V