i really don't understand this problem

[Rock Star 87]

ok, i posted about this a couple months ago, but i didn't really know what i was talking about, so here's the scoop because the problem still remains.

I am using an SBPCI card and all my MIDI work is done on the internal synth. i can choose between that or a MIDI mapper, but i for one, don't know what the MIDI mapper is, and two, they both have this problem. My one MIDI track is turned to 64 on my console. Whenever i play the piano line it sounds fine, but when i burned to cd i found out when the treble is turned up the whole way, there is this miserable hissing. then i found out that this also happens when playing the MIDI track. i found this out while turning the treble up all the way on my soundcard. but one weird fact is that after i stop playback the static still remains. when i go to options>MIDI devices it stops until i play the track again. earlier today i somehow recorded it and it sounded like i wanted it to, but i don't remember how and reloading the file and rerecording yields hiss.

let me know if u need more info. if i don't fix this, i can't ever use MIDI. pleeeeze, for the love of god help me.

 

[mixsit]

I'm the last person to do midi advice, but I'd guess that if you ran it up to 127 the s/n would be better.(?)

 

[Rock Star 87]

i tried, it just makes it louder, the notes and the hissing.

 

[dachay2tnr]

Does this only happen when you record the MIDI to audio? Or is it there when you do just a straight playback of the MIDI?

If the former, how are you recording to audio?

 

[dirtythermos]

Maybe the SoundBlaster is noisy and crappy?

 

[tedluk]

Maybe the SoundBlaster is noisy and crappy?

LOL!

We have a winner, folks!!

 

[Rock Star 87]

playback and recording. i know my soundcard sucks, but yesterday i recorded it (after many takes) and it sounded great, but i don't know what was different.

 

[tedluk]

Well, I don't know anything about the SB other than it's not a good card for serious audio, but it sounds like your gain staging is off somewhere. What's probably happening is that you are overdriving the little amplifier on the sound card and that's introducing noise. Of course, increasing the treble made it worse as this raises the upper frequencies which is where the hiss lives.

When you say it's set to 64, WHAT is set to 64?

Your goal here is to increase the level of your recording without overdriving the amp on your SB card. Is there some kind of a control panel for the SB or does it use Window's volume control? You might have levels set too low there.

Sorry I'm not giving you better answers than this. You really should think about a better audio card. It doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Ted

 

[Rock Star 87]

i think it uses the SB mixer for volume. i'm getting a much better card friday, but i'd like to keep this as a secondary for the hell of it. also, the MIDI track in the console is set to 64. the synth is at the 1st bar, and the master soundcard volume is set up the whole way. is that a bad setup, or is it fine.

 

[tedluk]

Since your recordings aren't sounding good, I'd have to say it's a bad setup!

Lower the volume slider in their mixer or whatever app they use and you should be able to increase the levels in SONAR. The idea is to set things so you get the maximum gain without overdriving the sound card. The SB probably has a very small amplifier in it, only a few watts no doubt and not a very clean one at that, I'm sure. Setting its level to its maximum will reveal all its glorious inadequacies (in stereo!).

Ted

 

[dirtythermos]

Do you like the MIDI sounds of the Soundblaster? Why aren't you using a softsynth?

 

[Rock Star 87]

i thought that programs like fruityloops and orion pro were softsynths.

 

[tedluk]

i thought that programs like fruityloops and orion pro were softsynths.

Not per se. They're more virtual studios that have softsynths within them.

Softsynths are things like Crystal or Arturia's CS80 or Native's B4 etc.

Ted

 

[dirtythermos]

A softsynth is a synthesizer implemented in software, that uses the processing power of your computer to "play MIDI." Even the Edirol VSC softsynth that comes with Home Studio 2004 will sound better than the wavetable synth on your SoundBlaster.

 

[Rock Star 87]

not to fear, i'm getting a santa cruz. i heard good things, i just hope it works with Pro Audio 9.

 

[James Argo]

Santa Cruz won't do any better than SB card, specialy when you do MIDI. Let's see. It's PA9, right? Then not much you can do with decent softsynth (DXi nor VSTi).

Now, when you record MIDI from SB internal synth, make sure you select MIDI as recording source in windows' mixer. Double click the little yellow speaker icon on your taskbar. When it's open, it's Playback properties, not Recording properties. Click Options-->Properties, select Recording. Now, it's Recording properties. Select MIDI (or internal synth for that matter) as your recording source. NOT "What U hear".

Back to PA9, now you're gonna record each MIDI track to audio one by one. Solo the MIDI track (it's ported to your SB intrnal softsynth, right?), raise the volume to 127 (or any highest point without getting clipping). We're gonna deal with volume adjustment latter on audio mixing stage. Right now, let's record 'em as loud as possible without gettin clipping. Insert new audio track, set to record from SB audio, hit arm, record...

Just do it, and post the result...


Jaymz

 

[Rock Star 87]

my SB card (or my santa cruz for that matter) didn't have a record synthesizer, i had to mute everything but the synth and record. i have win 98 btw. and it didn't have record what u hear. i have tried practically every setup with that card, and nothing worked, i always had static. i was hoping u would answer, u seem to know a lot about recording (not that everybody else here doesn't but my first time was with James) i usually set it to 64 on the console but i get the same result with 127. on my reocrding meter on my empty audio track b4 i'm getting ready to record there is about -72 dB's of ??? going. when i set the output mix to record, and have everything but the synth muted out, it stays. when i mute the synth, it goes away. i don't think there should be any interference in the synth.

 

[James Argo]

my SB card (or my santa cruz for that matter) didn't have a record synthesizer, i had to mute everything but the synth and record.

In PA9, Options menu, can you select soundfonts? Or it's grey'd out? I just get little picky with your so called "SB card". FYI, even the old SB AWE 32 (yes Creative's ISA slot flagship) will enable soundfont in PA9. Most ol' card quoted "SB compatible" because Creative SB *was* the standard. Not necessary playing soundfonts. Only SB cards played soundfonts. If the Options-->Soundfonts grey'd out, then I assume yours is not realy SB. It's just so called SB compatible card. The story would be completely different.

i have tried practically every setup with that card, and nothing worked, i always had static.... i usually set it to 64 on the console but i get the same result with 127. on my reocrding meter on my empty audio track b4 i'm getting ready to record there is about -72 dB's of ???

In regular ordinary multimedia 16bit 44KHz card, -72db considered average noise to signal ratio (headroom). They would advertised -90db, but in real application, you're lucky if it's below -60db Want better headroom? Get something runs 24 bit (assuming you use decent cables & routing)

when i set the output mix to record, and have everything but the synth muted out, it stays. when i mute the synth, it goes away. i don't think there should be any interference in the synth.

Realy? well, it sounds like broken card to me. un-muted Mic in, Line in, or CD in usualy gave you noises, but synth? nope. At least won't be that obvious. I've heard you tried in your friend's DAW running SBLive! without problem (?). Then we can tell there's something wrong with your card. I tell you, if you're serious doing your stuff now, maybe it's time to invest on better card (and upgrade to HS won't be that bad either!). Save your time & headache for the music, not the system! Right?


Jaymz

 

[Rock Star 87]

i upgraded to a santa cruz and i get the same thing. even if it's the standard headroom, it shouldn't be showing up so prominently on my final recordings. i burnt them and played them on my home stereo and i get the same static.

 

[Rock Star 87]

what really confuses me is that there are so many volume adjustments. There's the MIDI send volume on the track view, the console volume of that particular MIDI track, the master playback volume on the soundcard, the record volume of the soundcard, and the MIDI individual volume on the soundcard. i'm so confused. once i figure out what should be what volume, maybe this can work itself out, but it just seems like there's another problem besides the soundcard, i mean first the SB had this problem, and now the santa cruz, so could it be anything else. i highly doubt both of these synths have the same damn problem, or do they.