How do I play 2 softsynths in realtime in Sonar 2.2?

  • Thread starter Thread starter keith turner
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keith turner

azimuth of new ideas
I want to use 2 of my hardware synths to control 2 different softsynth dxi instruments in realtime.
I can't seem to do this.
Is it even possible?
I have tried setting different midi channels in hardware and software but can only get 1 softsynth to sound from both hardware keyboards.
Sonar will only let me play the Dxi whose track the focus(yellow highlight) is on.

An example of what I want to do would be:

Midi and audio track1- Tassman analog model softsynth
Triggered by me playing my ProphetVS hardware synth(blowin leads)

Midi and audio track2-Tassman or VSC or Dreamstation,etc. softsynths
Triggered by me playing my Yamaha motif8 hardware keys.(compin)

I am using a midisport 2x2 2 port USB interface for the hardware into Sonar 2.2.
P4 2.8c 1.0gig ram.XP Pro
Motu,Lucid ad's 34 in/10 out

Geez, I hope this is some oversight on my part.I've been a Cakey since v 3.1 but never was any good with midi.

Thanks for your help in advance,
Keith
 
You must have input monitoring switched on both synths.

Are you using different channels?

Are you using two seperate midi inputs or a midi thru setup?

Double check to make sure all the inputs/ouputs/channels are set correctly.
 
The only way to do it in 2.2 is to use different channels as acidrock pointed out.

However, if you plan to to this alot, I recommend upgrading to Sonar 5. Here you can set the MIDI-device used for input for each individual MIDI-track. :)
 
Acidrock,
I have input monitoring on in Sonar and I have been succesfully triggering one instance of tassman.
Fwiw my latency is down to 2.9ms.
I have set my motif to send on midi channel 3>midisport channel b>sonar midi trk set to channel 3.While I am riffing on the tassman I just want to be able to grab my prophet vs set to send on midi channel 1>midisport channel a>sonar miditrk set to channel 1 Tassman,VSC,LivesynthPRO,etc. for comping or pads, Live ...While Drummer is rocking, in the heat of battle so to speak.
I am using to separate inputs A and B on the 2x2 midisport to get midi into the computer.
I am not sending midi back out of the computer to my hardware synths.

Moskus,
Honestly was tempted to upgrade everytime Cakewalk emails me,but it would probably sit in the box, just like 2.0 did, for the longest time.Once I get a Daw stable I don't like messin with it. If I have to upgrade to get this functionality I will though.$99 is worth it.
By channels, you mean different midi channels for send and receive on each soft synth, right.If so, that is what I am already doing,I will try again though.
If I tab down the track view(move the focus) to the track with the other softsynth I can play it fine ,but I need to have live access to at least 2 of my softsynths at the same time and potentially more... I have a juno106,d50,korg n1 that I can use as controllers too.
Please, tell me I can do this without having to buy more software, ie.project5,rewire,etc
Thanks to both of you for your help,
Keith
 
I don't remember how to do it in sonar 2, but in Sonar 4, go to Options --> General tab, and uncheck "Always echo current MIDI track". Otherwise, look for Recording table (or something like that) and map MIDI output to corespond it's MIDI channel, eg. Ch 1 to 1, ch 2 to 2, etc...

;)
Jaymz
 
keith turner said:
Acidrock,
By channels, you mean different midi channels for send and receive on each soft synth, right.If so, that is what I am already doing,I will try again though.
Click to expand...
Hold on a minute! I might be wrong here, but I don't think it can be done in 2.2. If I remember correctly, only one MIDI-track may use Input Monitoring? If that's the case, then you'll just have to upgrade to get that functionality.

I remember trying this, wanting to play drums using DFH and piano in Orchestral DXi. I think I came to the conclusion that it couldn't be done...



James, in Sonar 4 we had Input Monitoring for each MIDI-track, didn't we? Cheez, I've been on the upgrade train for too long... :rolleyes:
 
Thanks guys,
The only one of my Dxi's that seem to work is Edirol VSC.Tassman won't work with multiple instances .Maybe the DXi or Vst softsynth has to be multitimbral for what I want to do to work.Or maybe an upgrade is in order as Moskus has suggested.
It would have been cool to give some of my retired keyboards new life as controllers for softsynths,but one at a time will never cut it for live playing.
Keith
 
Moskus may be right,I'm a guitar player who has a keyboard.I have a problem playing with one synth simultaneously. :o

Are you using Full blown Tassman,or the LE Version that came with Cakewalk?
I think that is a demo/lite version,hence the limitations.
 
Acidrock,
That's funny,I am just the opposite;keyboard player with way to many guitars. :D
The Tassman 2.0 did come with Sonar 1.0XL and is the full version.I like it because you can build your virtual synth anyway you like it; very modular design and flexible too, IMHO. Livesynth Pro was a demo lite version in 1.0XL unfortunately.

James,
The echo DXi box was already unchecked.I played around with it anyway but no luck.
I don't think I can map any midi outputs.I don't have them enabled on the midisport,just inputs only. I am not routing midi out of the computer back to my hardware synths.

Thanks,
Keith
 
keith turner said:
. Livesynth Pro was a demo lite version in 1.0XL unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Livesynth Pro was a piece of crap that deserved to die,That software was outdated a week before it came out.

I have the Tassman LE version,but never reinstalled it when I switched computers.Kompakt and the VSC are the main synths I use.

Let us know how things work out.
 
Ugh, I'm sorry I forgot, I wasn't in front of my DAW... Just a guess.. :)
 
acidrock said:
Livesynth Pro was a piece of crap that deserved to die,That software was outdated a week before it came out.
Click to expand...
Since I know you are kidding, I'll let this one slide... ;)
 
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