MIDI -> audio track loses volume

[Bluesyone]

Hi...
I just learned how to save MIDI drum tracks as audio (so I can mix it all down as a wav file)..but when I do, the volume of the drums decreases markedly, to the point that I can barely hear them over my guitar tracks... I tried adjusting the levels of the guitar/bass tracks, but that doesn't seem like the best method...

any ideas?


Thanks

[acidrock]

Are you watching your meters?Keeping the levels on the recording track high?
Sometimes because of the transients in drums the meters will clip sooner,I'd try increasing either the midi volume or input vloume till you hear distortion and the back off.
Also make sure you have trim set at zero or better.
You should get some idea visually if the tracks are loud or not when they are recorded,if the wave forms are not close to the track edges the track will not be loud.
Another thing it could be is your master or submixes.
Check your virtual mains for proper settings,if your running aux sends check if you are pre or post fader,also check the main send levels.
GOOD LUCK!

[AlChuck]

If your levels are all OK and this is still happening, here's another possibility -- are you playing back your WAV track of the MIDI files AND the original MIDI track? Because of minute timing differences, this could cause destructive interference between the two sound sources, which can make the part seem low in volume and washed out. Try muting the MIDI track.

[Bluesyone]

Thanks for your suggestions... I seemed to notice a bit of improvement... though I am not sure what "trim" control is or where it is. My thinking was that since this is all digital, the audio track of midi drums should be exactly the same as the midi track..but I am still getting lower volume on the audio.

[Torpid-x]

If your using older cakewalk you might not have a trim control.

Make sure the midi velocity is all the way up before recording, and, like acid rock said, watch the meters. Personally I can record midi with all the midi volumes maxed out. That might not be true in your case, worth trying to see though.

As far as it being the same level, no, you control the level through the windows mixer, midi track volume and midi track velocity. The audio track records at the level the meters read.

If you have Sonar, the trim control is right next to the volume in track view. It looks/acts like a volume control. 0 out your volume and bring up the trim untill the levels are around mixing levels, then use the volume (or envelope) to mix.

If your using old cakewalk, it really is time to upgrade. The added features are worth the money.

[ElSilva]

Torpid,

I must comment on your advice to crank up the Volume/Velocity. You were somewhat ambiguous regarding the difference between the two, and there certainly is a difference. If you crank velocity, you are obliterating any nuance in the velocity of all the notes in your source material. Some wavetables or soundfont files play different tones if you hit the note soft or hard. If you crank everything way up, every note is going to play with the same velocity, and your music will sound lifeless and lacking in dynamics.

There is a difference between velocity and volume. It's ok (and in fact desired for better S/N ratio) to increase the volume to try to get a stronger signal recorded. However, cranking velocity might result in unwanted changes in your music.

I've been using the Cakewalk Midi FX Volume to good effect to scale volumes to louder levels where desired, in order to get a stronger signal recorded. The Volume control on the track view can only buy you +27 additional volume points if you're used to hearing a track playing at MIDI volume 100.

Best wishes,

ElSilva

[Bluesyone]

When I try to increase the volume (from the default of -1) on the MIDI track, it seems to mute the track...no sound...

thanks