Why doesn't my MIDI track export to wave?

[drathbun]

I'm using Cakewalk 9.03. I've recorded a number of tracks, both audio and midi. The mix sounds great when played in Cakewalk but when I export to a wave or an MP3 file, my midi tracks are left behind. Do I have to make the midi tracks into audio tracks somehow first?

[Blue Bear Sound]

Originally posted by drathbun
Do I have to make the midi tracks into audio tracks somehow first?

Yes........... midi is not sound, it is instructions on what sound to play when.....

[Aaron Cheney]

A MIDI file (or a MIDI track) contains no acutal audio data. All it is is a list of instructions, and the instructions are simply numbers. For example: every note on the piano keyboard is assingned a number (0-88). How hard you hit the key is expressed as a number ( 0-127). How long you hold the key down is expressed as a number. When you hit the key is expressed as a number. Etc...etc....etc......
The MIDI track feeds thos numbers to some piece of hardware and relys on it interperet those instructions and generate the audio on its own. That piece of hardware might be a keyboard, sound module, or a sound-card with an on-baord synth on it, like a Soundblaster.
To convert the audio that that seperate piece of hardware is generating based on the MIDI track, you have to connect its audio outputs to the audio inputs of your soundcard and record it.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com

[synthwave100]

If you are using your computer (Sound Blaster) soundcard for a MIDI synthesizer, then you can do everything internally. Go to the volume control panel, then click properties, then options, and go to select recording. Now you can choose where to record from. Select mixed output, as that will have everything in it. Then in Cakewalk, click record (turn the metronome off), and wait until the piece is over. Then you should have one track with everything on it, which can be exported as a WAV., MP3 etc.
If you're using an external synthesizer then just plug a cord from the headphones slot on the synth to the line-in on the back of your computer.

[drathbun]

Originally posted by synthwave100
If you are using your computer (Sound Blaster) soundcard for a MIDI synthesizer, then you can do everything internally. Go to the volume control panel, then click properties, then options, and go to select recording. Now you can choose where to record from. Select mixed output, as that will have everything in it. Then in Cakewalk, click record (turn the metronome off), and wait until the piece is over. Then you should have one track with everything on it, which can be exported as a WAV., MP3 etc.
If you're using an external synthesizer then just plug a cord from the headphones slot on the synth to the line-in on the back of your computer.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKYOU!!!

[moskus]

Another question for the FAQ.

Anyone?!?

[Paul881]

Moskus - yes, for sure.

Blue Bear - welcome, you are a rare visitor to this forum.