Troubleshooting Audio Recording Problem

[GaryR49]

I have an Ensoniq ASR-10 keyboard. on which I have a number of tunes I've composed and mixed with effects, etc. and I am ready to record digital audio (NOT MIDI) to my computer. While I have PowerTracks Pro Audio and Cakewalk Home Studio, I'm not interested in using either for this (unless there is no other alternative) because (a) each is a pain in the @ss to work with and (b) I don't need to do any sequencing - it's already done in the ASR-10. All I want to do is to record digital audio straight from the ASR-10, using the ASR-10's own sounds and effects, just as I've mixed them. I prefer to either record to WAV or MP3 format, or to record to WAV and then convert to MP3. Once I have my MP3 files ready, I'll burn them to a CD.

Now, the problem I'm having is that no matter which application I've used (Music Match Jukebox 4, Soundforge XP, Anvil Studio, PowerTracks Pro Audio, or Cakewalk Home Studio), either nothing is being recorded at all or, if something is recorded, there is no sound at all during playback.

I have checked and rechecked all my connections. The ASR-10 has stereo audio outputs, as well as MIDI. I have a Midiman Biport 2x4 MIDI interface between the ASR-10 and my computer. I KNOW this should work, as I have successfully recorded digital audio with this same setup before. However, I've moved since then and may not have everything set up exactly as before. The problem is, I don't remember what I did before.

All drivers are installed, the SB Live! soundcard is working fine, the Midiman is plugged into the soundcard, and the input and output ports are set as they should be. I have (in the Windows volume control) recording set to Line In, as it should be, and Playback is set to Play Control, CD Audio, WAV/Direct Sound and MIDI, as it should be. I have played back an MP3 in Music Match Jukebox, to verify that my speakers, etc. are on and working properly. However, the WAV I recorded from the ASR-10 doesn't produce any sound at all when played back, and neither does the MP3 I made from that file. I suspect that an "empty" file (no data) has been created, although the WAV file was 24Mb. Any ideas, suggestions?

Gary

[Dolemite]

Some ideas:

1. If you're sequencing from the ASR-10 and only want to record the audio, you don't need to hook it up to your MIDI interface. This may be causing some local/global MIDI control issues.

2. Check the output of the keyboard with headphones.

[TexRoadkill]

Open the file in soundforge and you will see if it is empty or not. Most audio programs require you to set the inputs/outputs in the specific program so make sure you are doing that.

[NYMorningstar]

Sounds like your mixer settings for the SB may be causing your problem. Check your surround mixer and make sure it is set correctly for recording and playback. Also check over the volume button to the right on the surround mixer. There is a little red + sign. Click it and make sure the digital only isn't chosen.

[GaryR49]

Thanks, guys.

Morningstar, you're right; the red + was there and the volume control for playback was set to digital only. However, unchecking it hasn't helped playback at all.

Roadkill: I opened the file in Soundforge and it still looks the same as ever: solid white all the way across; no waveforms. Is this normal for an audio source? Still no sound on playback. I'm thinking maybe I should record to my Tascam Portastudio (cassette), then record the Tascam's signal to my computer's soundcard. This would be a good idea, anyway, as it would give me a little warmer analog tone.

Dolemite: I thought about that and tried recording direct from the ASR-10's audio outputs, without the Midiman interface. No success there, either. Still nothing being recorded. Hmmmm....just checked my connections again and found I have cables from my stereo outputs on the ASR-10 going to an adapter that then runs a single line into my sound card's line input. This is in addition to having my Midiman hooked up to the computer's game port (which it should be for this particular model). So, I'm set up for both MIDI and audio recording; just have to specify which in my program. However, I've done so, and without success. I was unable to check my audio outputs with my headphones, as I have a male end on the adapter that the stereo outputs are connected to and, of course, a male end on the headphones, as well. I'll need another "Y" adapter in order to hook up the headphones, then.

Gary