Embarassing Newbie MIDI question

  • Thread starter Thread starter WagTheDog
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WagTheDog

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I'm embarrased to ask this, but how do you record MIDI data in Cakewalk? I have tried it on 2 different computers with no success, so it must be something I'm doing wrong.

I tried it for hours on my DAW (Audigy and Aardvark DP 24/96) and also on the PC I'm typing this on (a SB Live!).....I am able to record audio thru the Aardvark on my DAW but no MIDI on either PC....I'll give the specs on the SBLive! PC since it's a little easier.....

Sonar 3
2.6 CPU
256 MB mem

Options/MIDI Devices:
INPUT
SB Live! MIDI Port (DF80)

OUTPUT
SB Live! Synth A (DF80)
SB Live! Synth B (DF80)
SB Live! MIDI Port(DF80)
MIDI Mapper

In Windows Control Panel:
Sound Playback- SB Live! Audio (DF80)
Sound Recording - SB Live! Audio (DF80)
MID Music Playback - I've tried all of them, SB Live! Synth A and B, SB Live! MIDI Port, SB Live! sw Synth


I pick a MIDI track in Sonar, for input I select None (Omni) or SB Live! MIDI Port Omni or any one of the 16 MIDI ch.
For output I've tried all of them (Synth A, B, MIDI Port). I have tried both the Piano Roll view and VSampler....I arm the track, click the record button, then click on the visual synth keys (either the Piano Roll keyboard or the VSampler keyboard).....I hear the notes I'm clicking, but nothing records.....

It's the same thing on my DAW whether I use the MIDI on the Aardvark or the Audigy (the setup on the DAW was a nightmare.... I couldn't use the WDM drivers because it wouldn't recognize the Aardvark drivers in Options/Audio ...when I would disable the Audigy in Control Panel, Sonar would then recognize the Aardvark drivers....I reloaded XP twice last night and lost count of how many times I reloaded the Aardvark drivers....I finally downloaded the 7.04 Aardvark drivers and used ASIO.....the 2 cards now peacefully co-exist)

This is embarrassing....it's gotta be something simple that I'm overlooking....

After you quit laughing, clue me in on what I'm doing wrong please.
 
I am presuming that you have no external midi devices then and are trying to play midi by clicking with the mouse. You cannot input midi for recording (in Sonar) by just clicking on notes in the staff view or by pressing the keyboards often seen in virtual instruments. If you want to record from a virtual instrument you will need to download free (postcardware!) software called "Bome's Mouse Keyboard V1.01" from
http://www.bome.com/midi/keyboard/ that enables you to then play virtually with your mouse. You will also need Midi Yoke software to create a bridged midi input in order to use the "Mouse Keyboard." Get this from
http://www.midiox.com/index.htm
Old versions of Cakewalk used to include a "virtual piano" for this purpose but this no longer seems to be the case with Sonar.
 
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For the SB Live and Audigy, did you checked your mixer on Audio HQ? Take a look there and see if the MIDI input is enabled, its volume and then select it as your recording device.

PS: I suppose you've already checked your cables (In/Out), right?

BShark
 
The last version I messed with in Cakewalk was Version 9.....and I used the Piano just like you are talking about. I thought the piano roll was the same thing.

Doesn't VSampler allow you to use it for MIDI input? If so, how would you use it?

I have a Kawaii K1 synth that I can use for MIDI input, but I assumed that the soft synths allowed for MIDI input into Sonar? Not true?

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!
 
Wagthedog!
I am not aware of any softsynths or dxis that can be used for inputting midi. They are essentially virtual output devices.

You can often input midi into standalone or dxi/vst softsynths by designating one of your hardware midi ports as an input.

If you have a keyboard it's hard to understand why you would want to use any other means of inputting midi.
 
It's really more of a space issue....right now my "studio" is in the corner of our reading room and space is at a premium... I just didn't want to take up the space for a synth.....that's all, and since I'm a "hunt and peck" kind of keyboardist, having to use a mouse and "layer" chords is not much different than what I would be doing on the Kawaii anyway.....

It just seemed strange that Sonar would take away a feature (Virtual Piano).... and since the VSampler has a visual keyboard, I just assumed it was for input.
 
The easiest way is to enter the notes in the Piano Roll.

But if you want to use a virtual piano, there's still options. Check out the Virtual Piano at AnalogX. And you need to make some "virtual" MIDI ports aswell, I use MIDI-OX (do a google search). When you have installed both, Open the Virtual Piano and specify one of your new MIDI-ports as output, open Sonar and go to Options -> Midi Devices and select the same MIDI-port for a Input Device. Now, start recording in Sonar, switch to the Virtual Piano and play! :)

(This is what I do with my laptop ;))
 
Thanks to all of you....nice to know I've not gone completely crazy....I just couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.....

I'll try the AnalogX......

The "reading room" (where my computer is at) is my wife's getaway place.....maybe I can sweet-talk her into letting me set up the Kawaii in there .......
 
WagTheDog said:
The "reading room" (where my computer is at) is my wife's getaway place.....maybe I can sweet-talk her into letting me set up the Kawaii in there .......
Click to expand...
As you know, that would be the best option. Playing keys on qwerty-keyboards sucks! ;)
 
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