Sending MIDI tracks to CW using external synths.

[tcmusic]

I don't use the sound card in the computer. My synths are external.
Other than the obvious way of through the mixer, how can I port the MIDI
OUT to and Audio track IN?


Terry

[elbenj]

Hey Terry!

Thats prety much the way I do it also..
you are going to need a midi interface..

I have 2 of them..one is a usb midisport
made my Midiman..this is a 2in 2out
interface which means you can run
two external synths..price is about $60
the other one i use is called the pocket
express by Motu..this is a parallel port
connection but this has smpte capabilities..
4 in 6 out about $90 for this one
You can get by with just the Midiman I
mentioned above...this is only enabling
you to transfer midi data between cakewalk
and your synths..your still gonna need
a multitracker somewhere if you dont
intend on using cakewalk for your audio
thats only if u want to record audio at all.

as long as u dont record any audio in
Cakewalk..u can get by without a audio
card at all..just like u said.. run the audio
form your external synths to your mixing
board...

are doing vocals or any other sounds
that wont be accomplished by using the
synths??

what synths are using?

hope this helps you out!!

[tcmusic]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I do have a MIDI interface. In fact, it is a USB MIDI Man Two port.
Cakewalk will record to digital audio as long as I use the sound card in the computer.
However, I cannot seem to get it to display Soundscape IN
and MIDI Port Out. Perhaps I can try the settings under "Project Options".
Yes, of course I can do it by using the mixer but I would like to bypass that step if possible.
The other option would be to use the SPDIF options at the mixer and on of the soundcard.
The synthesizers are: Kurzweil K2000, Roland JV1080, Yamaha TX81Z, Yamaha TG33.
I have a few others that I rarely use. I have recently switched from Cubase to Cakewalk
mainly because of the portability of not having a hardware key (Cubase). This enables me to work at home and in the office (studio) without purchasing two copies of Cubase or bothering
about keys.

Thanks.

musically


Terry

[elbenj]

It sounds like you need to set up
your Midi Devices.

Heres what you do

Go to Options then Midi Devices
you should see Midiman 2x2 (twice)
on the Input and twice on the Output
Devices...select them then click on
Move the selected devices to the top
(i think thats what it says..bare with me
because im not physically looking at Cakewalk
at the moment)

Once you do this.. cakewalk will say something
like these changes will not be made until you
exit and reenter cakewalk..You would then
close out and Reopen..

If you didn't see Midiman twice in the Input
Output device...you wil have to reload the
drivers a second time..which is part of the
initial install anyway..

If you are already to this point, let me
know and I will take you to the next
steps for recording and playing back
Midi thru your external synths...

One more thing..make sure on your Usb
interace you have Usb selected and not
Thru...that one has burned me a couple of
times...

[tcmusic]

Yep, already done that...all is well.
MIDI works fine....digital audio works fine.
Actually what I asked can not posibily work now that I think about it....
sound source is external....

Terry