Can´t get any MIDI sounds out of Sonar

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Cacophonous

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Very silly question, I know. But I´m a newbie when it comes to sequencer, midi and stuff.
I can´t make Sonar recognize Windows XP´s "Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth" although Cakewalk Express can. In other words, I can play MIDI files on Cakewalk Express but NOT on Sonar. I already tried to configure that driver as MIDI output on Sonar but it doesn´t appear on Sonar menu... only on Cakewalk Express.

Thanks in advance.
 
Sonar has "higher standards" (if you see what I mean ;) ) and the Microsoft GS SW synth, is a bad-sounding software MIDI-device from Microsoft, and it wouldn't perform well. Why don't you route your MIDI-tracks via the Edirol VirtualSoundCanvas DXi? If you find the "Choose MIDI-device now"-popup, just uncheck "Options -> Midi Devices -> Warn about no Midi-devices".

To add VSC as a DXi: Just hit the DXi button, choose Add (the star-button) and select "EDIROL VSC". Alternative go "Insert -> DXi Synth -> Edirol VSC". Now you can route midi-tracks to the Edirol. In a midi-track, choose output to "Edirol VSC". You'll figure it out.

To adjust the settings of the VSC, just press the DXi-button again and double-click on the synth.

Good luck! :)
 
Thank you for your attention Moskus! Let me see if I understood it correctly... I´ve been reading about it... it´s a piece of software that makes my computer act as a synthesizer yet still using the MIDI system, is that correct? This edirol software you mentioned isn´t shareware... I guess it´s kinda expensive... are the any solutions that are freeware? What about EDIROL, is it pro-quality? If it is, it´s worth buying...
 
The Edirol VSC DXi should come bundeled with your copy of Sonar 2.0...
Cakewalks homepage said:
Additional DXi Synths included:
EDIROL’s Virtual Sound Canvas™ 1.5 DXi, modeled after one of the world's most popular sound modules.
Click to expand...

IMHO I don't think VSC has great sounds, but good. And far better than Microsofts GS synth...

You can also try Livesynth Pro DXi, which allows you to use soundfonts. Soundfonts are sounds that can be played back using either Livesynth Pro DXi or a soundfont-compatible soundcard (such as the Soundblaster Live! and Audigy).
 
Click here for a tech tip at Cakewalk.Com about using the Sound Canvas...
 
Thank you Moskus! My knowledge about all this stuff is little but ever increasing.

I have a simple SB 128 soundcard, I don´t know if it supports soundfonts, I´ll look into it and try sound canvas tomorrow.

Thanks for the help! I´ll let you know how I went through all of it.

see ya
 
Are you by any chance using a lap-top Cacophonous?
 
hey there! Nope, I´m using a desktop. Duron 750, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB harddisk. simple but efficient setup. I tried using sound canvas on some midi files and it worked! There is a delay though... If I record some audio digital over it, how can I sync with it?

thanks
 
Usual that sort of delay you are hearing is called latency. In this case I'm not shure, though. It's definently latency if you press a key on your MIDI-keyboard or in the Piano Roll, and the sound you hear is delayed. Is the delay present during playback aswell?

Sonar is compensating for the latency during playback, so it's a little weird...

What is you Options -> Audio -> Latency -setting?
 
I´m not using any instrument, just applying the tones I have from sound canvas on midi files here.

I believe it takes some time until the computer loads all the samples into memory before it can play them.

My settings are:

Buffers in Playback Queue: 2
Buffer Size: 100.0 msec
Effective Latency at 44khz/stereo: 100.0 msec

thanks!
 
I´m not using any instrument, just applying the tones I have from sound canvas on midi files here.
Click to expand...
I assume you mean you load a midi-file in Sonar, add the Edirol VSC DXi (make shure you select "Make first Output-track"), and route the MIDI-tracks to the Edirol DXi...

Example attached.
 

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That´s it Markus! that´s what I do... Are there any more tips you could give me? By the way, what are the really good, professional products I could use with Cakewalk (or other sequencer)?

thanks,

Rodrigo
 
If you want better instruments, I would use Livesynth Pro DXi. Download some soundfonts from www.hammersound.net and www.thesoundsite.net (I personally recommend GoldDrums for... err... drums). Just load the Livesynth as you would load the Edirol VSC, fire up some soundfonts, and you're away...

There's lots of DXi to use (click here for a list), and if you buy a VST-wrapper as fxPansions VST-adapter, there's even more!

But what do you mean by "good, professional products"?
 
Thanks markus for the new suggestions! I haven´t tried them yet but I will soon.

What I meant by "really good , professional products" is if there are synths that deliver near-perfect sound quality, if there´s such a thing. Besides that, I´ve seen some pretty incredible stuff, like people pluging their guitars in somr high-end recording workstations (I believe it was PROTOOLS) and getting a sound like a Sax, yes, from a guitar)
 
Pro Tools is a multitrack-program such as Cakewalk. To play piano and sax with a guitar, you just need a MIDI-pickup for the guitar, or the Roland Ready Strat. Then you can play any sound you want. Even drums if you like to...

What I meant by "really good , professional products" is if there are synths that deliver near-perfect sound quality, if there´s such a thing.
Click to expand...
Yeah, we all want that ;) ! There are several pro synths, but the thing is that you have to use it professionally aswell... Example: Two persons (say, a pro and a newbie) are given the same equipment and the task is to mix and record a spesific song. The two resulting songs will sound completely different even if the equipment is the same...

And by the way, my name is not "Markus"...:D
 
ahahah sorry Moskus! :-D

Interesting... just for the sake of information, I don´t want my guitar with a tuba sound so soon... heheh

And you are right... I´m still learning how to use synths and sequencers, I don´t need the last word on synths... To be honest, I´m already happy with these tones! I´ll record a demo soon using wether soundfonts or DXi. Your name will be included on the liner notes, ok MOSKUS? Not Markus, hueheahha

Thanks a lot,

Rodrigo
 
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