Alesis QS7.1, Aardvark 24/96, Cakewalk Pro 9.0 & Super Computer don't work!

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mshea

mshea

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Could someone help me. I purchased an Alesis QS 7.1 and their customer support SUCKS. I also purchased the Aardvark 24/96, which came bundled with Cakewalk Pro 9.0.

I installed the Aardvark soundcard and break out box to my computer (Gateway, 950mhz, Athlon Processor) Ample hard drive and speed!!! BUT...I HAD to leave my standard soundcard in, as it is connected to my CD burner. Anyhow. I plugged my Alesis to the Aardvark using the Midi Ins and Outs...but for some strange reason, my Alesis is not....communicating with ANYTHING else. Cakewalk works, I can play the demos, but it isn't receiving any data from the keyboard. When I first hooked up, I was able to HEAR the Alesis sound through my computer monitors, however, after much tweaking trying to get them to "talk", I have lost that. I'm so LOST. Could someone walk me through the connection process. PLEASE.

The Aardvark may or may not be functioning properly, but it doesn't seem to be communicating with the Alesis either. I went into Global Edit mode and followed the user instructions for MIDI sequencing....but...IT DIDN'T WORK.

Their is NOTHING worse than SITTING on all this equipment and not being able to use it. PLEASE, PLEASE, anyone out there with the same experience or more knowledge than I...could you please assist me in my endeavour.
 
I use a mac with my QS8 so there is never any problems
One serial connector and set your globals and you are done. Are you sure Cakewalk is set up properly, I never use it so dont know what to tell you. Are you sure you are comminicating on the right midi channels. When you
go to global settings on the keyboard do you have it
set to I/O: Midi and not mac, do you have, I think it is midi thru, turned on, the keyboard mode should be set to out 01, your clocks may have to be set also. I have a
friend who has a QS8 set up on a pc with cakewalk, email me for his email address and I will let him know
you are going to email him for advice and he can probably get you going. My email is dragun@witty.com,
so mail me and we can try and get the ball rolling.
 
Have you added the device in cake?

Hello,

A couple of suggestions. I am running a Direct Pro, XP-30, and cake.

First is the direct Pro MIDI device selected? If so, where is it in the order of devices, relative to the MIDI on the other card (1st, 2nd, etc)? Make sure that the tracks you want to "talk" to the QS are pointing to the right MIDI device and the proper port. Also, make sure you have the instrument definition file pointing to the MIDI device for Aark.

Those are the first things I would look at. Let us know how you fare.
 
Ummmmm?

OK. I took draguns advice and altered the global settings, didn't work. So now I think I'm agreeing with schwa about the Cakewalk needing to know where to look, however...truthfully, I'm totally confused now. Those cakewalk settings are quite frustrating. I really don't know what to put, port, huh? I don't know what port to send it to. And will I have to direct it like this for EVERY track I use the Alesis for. If that's the case...this REALLY STINKS!!! I use the Alesis for EVERYTHING, except drums, actually no, I'm lying, I've built beats from the ground up using it too. This is becoming one BIG BUMMER!!! I messed things up to the point now that NOTHING is "talking" to my Alesis. I can't even get the sound to run through the computer, I heard it before, now it's gone...UH OH!!!
 
When I have the alesis global keyboard mode set to
out 01 I never have to tell my software which channel to
recieve on, their is a multichannel mode just arm any the channel and it recieves. Then again I am using Opcode and a Mac.
 
Getting there...I think...maybe?

AH HA!!! Maybe it's the Aardvark, I'm going to reinstall the darn thing, but the kicker is when I tried to just reinstall the software, I didn't get the same nifty options I got the first time. I don't think the Aardvark recognizes it's own MIDI ports...When I turn it on, I get 4 options...Analog 3,4 and SPDIF L,R in. NO MIDI anything, however, the ONLY thing I have plugged into the Aardvark are the MIDI in out that run straight to the Alesis. Hmmmm? What do I do now, should I totally take the Aardvark card OUT and put it back in, a new slot maybe? So I can get those lovely options back?

And yes, the CW patch thing sounds like a lovely option, I noticed that it came with those patches for some Yamaha and Roland products already, but no Alesis, I can actually get that stuff off of the disk that came with my Alesis...I think.... OK...NEXT!!!

I'm understanding your track arm thing...but, am no where near that point yet, as I don't SEE any of that stuff. Like the box offering the analog or midi ports...i see the analog from the Aardvark, but once again. NO MIDI!!!

I checked out the CW FAQ page and it seems to address everything EXCEPT Alesis or Aardvark.

I'll wait for your reply concerning reinstallation tactics and techniques. Thank you so much...slowly, but surely I'll get there...in the meanwhile...you have no IDEA how much crap I've got compiled in my brain, ready to throw down. If I don't get a friggin' grammy after all of this!!! lol!!!
 
I think its cakewalk.

You need to go slowly, from your posts, it sounds like you're letting you frustration get the better of you.

In the tools menu (I think), there is a MIDI devices choice. Select it, and you will see all the MIDI ins and outs for your system (I think I have three or four on my system) If you only have a device hooked up to your Aark, make sure it is the only one selected. If you have other ports in use, make sure the Aark is first. This will prevent it from being necessary to select it manually for each track.

Next, select the instruments choice from the tools menu. Select the appropriate .ins file (I'm sure there is one), and bind it to your MIDI channels (1-16) for the Aark port.

After these two steps you will be able to set patches and record MIDI information from your QS.

This stuff is covered in more detail in the Cake manual, as well as the boob Cakewalk Power! Which I found helpful in getting my stuff all worked out.

Also, there's no mention of the MIDI ports in the Aark software, you'll only see it on a system level. Also, don't forget to re-run the wave profiler to make sure all your card settings are correct as far as Cake is concerned.
 
Let's check all the settings first.

OK. First off how is your midi connected? I will assume (don't say it) that you have Alesis out to Aark in and Aark out to Alesis in right? Out->In and In>Out.

Next, if the Aark drivers (v5.12) are running then you should have them showing in Cakewalk. Check under Options|Audio and make sure they show up as playback and timing masters.

Just a note to you: I have done this with a QS6.1, my 24/96 and CW9 so I know this combination can work.

Next check the MIDI setup. Check under Options|Midi Devices. The Ark ports should show up, select them for the Input and Output ports. On the output ports click the box that says move selection to the top. This will tell the system to use this device for every new track that uses midi as the default.

Next, let's check your Instrument Definitions. This is where you tell the system what channel uses what instrument as you can assign them independently. For your case however we will want to assign them all to the same device (the Alesis) To do this however you do need to download and install the definition for your kb into CW so it shows as an option. Do that now and then assign all channels to the new definition.

Next, connect the audio out's of your kb to the line in's of the sound card, Left out to in 1 and Right out to in 2. Then check to make sure you are getting a source in the Aarks mixer panel. Have you played with that yet? Adjust the volumes and pan settings as well as the routing in the patch bay. Set these up and then proceed. If you need help with this then stop here and get that working first, then proceed.

That should do it for getting you generally set up. The next step is to set up a track. Let's go one by one.

Start a new project.
Double click on the source area of track one to bring up the track properties. (Or right click on the left hand side of the track and select track properties). Here is where we select our ports and channels. To start with midi, select Source MIDI Channel X (1, 2, 3, etc.) or Omni if you don't care which channel it uses. Next, the port, choose what looks appropriate but there should be an option there for the Aark card, if not then choose a synth if you can, otherwise leave it alone for now.
Next, select the channel. This should match the source you selected earlier so playback can happen.
Click OK to close the track properties dialog box.

Next, click on the R in the track and this will ARM the track for record. Click on the record button and play some notes on the kb. Not much just enough to tell you it's working. Click stop. Rewind to the beginning. You should now see a yellow band of data on the first track. This is what you played. Click play and see if you hear what you played. You should if all the setups were correct.

Hope this helps sort it out for you as that is a ton of equipment I'd like to play with.

Good luck.
 
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Upgraded System - Aardvark Issue...AGAIN!!!

OK. So the glorious Gateway finally crapped out for good on me and I have moved on to bigger and better beasts and Dude got a Dell. I managed to get everything up and running from your assistance last time and kept it that way for a few years.

Now, with all of that knowledge. I moved the Aardvark soundcard to the new computer (did not change ONE singel connection to the breakout box)and the strangest thing is happening. Technically. The Aardvark is working lovely with Windows XP. I can HEAR my Alesis keyboard, but I can't control the sound and see no sign of life on the visual display/interface.

Any ideas???
 
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