Evolution 149 Controller problem

[lufc71]

Hi,
For a few years I've connected my Roland to my pc via a midi-to-soundcard connection with both Cubase and Cakewalk software. No problems, just plug it in and away you go.
As I travel a lot and the Roland is very heavy, I bought the Evolution to play through my laptop. Easy right? er..no!! I've connected the midi out (it has no 'in') to the souncard, left the default channel as 1, then set the channel to 1 on the sotware, set a patch, set the input (the only option was the SBLive), set the output (again SBLive), but I get nothing. I now know that the Evolution works as I've hooked it up to the Roland and it works fine but I just can't get it to work as a midi controller straight to the pc. The instruction manual only mentions changing the output channel so I'm pretty sure my problem is with the software settings.
Are there any experts out there who wouldn't mind telling me where I'm going wrong. I'm sure it'll be something very easy but I just can't find it. As I always say "brain surgery is easy...when you know how to do it"!!
Many thanks,
Peter

 

[ssscientist]

From your list the missing ingredient is a midi interface, or both an audio and midi interface if you're recording audio on the go. A product like any one of these linked below will have it's own software addons and drivers for your XP system.

Here's a link to a good one --- LINK --- and here's another --- LINK.

If you don't want to carry around that extra piece and all you need is midi, consider this --- LINK .

 

[lufc71]

Hi,
Thanks for your help. Being a newbie to midi I didn't realise an interface would be required. The instructions (and comments I've seen on ebay for same keyboards) just say connect to the joystick port on the soundcard. All I want to do with this is play piano while travelling (I have a Tascam DP-01FX for home recording), so I'm using Cubase or Cakewalk for this as the controller has no onboard sounds. I was kinda hoping that the problem was simply that I had not set up this software correctly to receive the midi information from the Evolution. Are you saying that any controller without onboard sounds would need an audio/midi interface other than the souncard?
Thanks again,
Peter

 

[lufc71]

Hi All,

When I asked for experts, I meant experts in Cubase or Cakewalk who might be able to spot some simple setting that I haven't made. I've been f****ing around with this for ages now and getting a tad frustrated as I'm sure it's something very simple - I've proven all the hardware so it must be (?) a software setting problem.
Any ideas/suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Peter

 

[ssscientist]

Hi All,
When I asked for experts, I meant experts in Cubase or Cakewalk who might be able to spot some simple setting that I haven't made. I've been f****ing around with this for ages now and getting a tad frustrated as I'm sure it's something very simple - I've proven all the hardware so it must be (?) a software setting problem.
Any ideas/suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Peter

If it's the laptop and all you want to do is play piano, you've unfortunately selected a controller that needs an AC adaptor because of it's lack of a USB connection. It comes with a 'joystick to midi adapter', but in these days of powered USB connections that ranks as hoplessly old-school. And I probably don't need to point out that laptops have no joystick ports.

Cubase and Cakewalk are doing their jobs just fine --- sitting there waiting for you to send them a midi signal they can use, so you've misdiagnosed your problem.

The Evolution MK149 is not the right controller keyboard for your application. One of the many with a USB connection built in that don't require an AC adapter would be the appropriate choice.


.

 

[lufc71]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice. I'll bear that in mind when looking for another one. As for this one tho', I'm now using an AC adaptor, so the keyboard is powered up fine, and as I said earlier it works fine when connected to the 'midi in' on my Roland (i.e. not going through a PC). You're right that the software works fine; I can use both with the Roland simply by connecting it and playing. And yes, ultimately I want to play through the USB connection on my laptop. But I cannot get it to work using the joystick port on my desktop either. The 'software problem' I was referring to was my assumption that the problem was me! i.e. that I had not made a required setting somewhere. The Roland is simple plug n play as it has onboard sounds, but the Evolution has none and takes a little bit more work, and is why I think that I am missing something. I have set the 'midi in' channel on the software (same as the keyboard 'midi out' default channel #1) and a patch to play when a key is pressed. The volume is up, but I get nothing. I take your point that there is now much more advanced gear around but the fact is that there are loads of these controllers around all working perfectly well. Except mine! In trying to isolate the problem I have proven that the keyboard itself works, the midi connector works, and the software works (albeit with another keyboard), so the only thing remaining is human error.