Midi doesn't come out!!!

[mazah]

I got a steinberg VSL 2020 soundcard a while back and i've been having trouble with midi since. When using N-track, midi just doesn't come out. The vu-meters on every single track is pumping like it's supposed to but the output vu-meter doesn't do anything and no sound comes out. I don't understand, please help!

 

[eyeball kicks]

Hopefully someone who's more of an expert will be along soon, but until then I'll have a guess.... the answer is that decent souncards do not play midi stuff on their own. I don't know why it is, but it's true. You need to use VSTi's instead, like softsynths or samplers. Or else a soundfont-player plug-in like sfz.

 

[brzilian]

I got a steinberg VSL 2020 soundcard a while back and i've been having trouble with midi since. When using N-track, midi just doesn't come out. The vu-meters on every single track is pumping like it's supposed to but the output vu-meter doesn't do anything and no sound comes out. I don't understand, please help!

MIDI is not Audio.

What is the MIDI output connected to?

 

[mazah]

Re: Re: Midi doesn't come out!!!

MIDI is not Audio.

What is the MIDI output connected to?

Nothing. Should it be? I figured not, because winamp and gpro and all play midi just fine.

 

[StevenLindsey]

I have nothing to contribute. Just jumping on here because I'm trying to figure out this midi thing too. Cheers.

 

[brzilian]

Re: Re: Re: Midi doesn't come out!!!

Nothing. Should it be? I figured not, because winamp and gpro and all play midi just fine.

Um, yeah!

Only gamer cards like the ones from Creative have onboard MIDI synths. If you want to hear MIDI tracks you need to either route that track through a software synthesizer or to an external MIDI keyboard/synthesizer.

Try learning about MIDI basics before trying to do something you don't understand:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/5821/midi-basics.html

 

[StevenLindsey]

hmm...looks like I may have use for my old Ensoniq ESQ-1 after all.

 

[mazah]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Midi doesn't come out!!!

Um, yeah!

Only gamer cards like the ones from Creative have onboard MIDI synths. If you want to hear MIDI tracks you need to either route that track through a software synthesizer or to an external MIDI keyboard/synthesizer.

Try learning about MIDI basics before trying to do something you don't understand:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/5821/midi-basics.html

I don't appreciate your attitude. I am a newbie to these things. We're you a master when starting?

 

[brzilian]

Actually, I had a good understanding of MIDI before I even owned my first keyboard with MIDI ports over 15 years ago. I did something people don't seem to do much of nowadays - bury my head in a book beforehand to learn everythig I can on the subject.

 

[AlChuck]

I agree with brzilian.

Would you expect to be able to buy a car and drive it before getting driving lessons and passing a driving test?

Another thing -- you posted the same question in at least one other of these forums. That's frowned on. I already answered your question earlier and all these poor guys came in here and typed a bunch of stuff when they didn't really need to because there's no way they could know the question had already been handled. Not fair to the folks here.

 

[mazah]

I agree with brzilian.

Would you expect to be able to buy a car and drive it before getting driving lessons and passing a driving test?

Another thing -- you posted the same question in at least one other of these forums. That's frowned on. I already answered your question earlier and all these poor guys came in here and typed a bunch of stuff when they didn't really need to because there's no way they could know the question had already been handled. Not fair to the folks here.

I bought a new soundcard for audio recording, i don't need midi at all otherwise than for these backing tracks so i haven't really been looking into it. I'm sorry if it bothers you so much but i just didn't have any reason to look into it before.

And about posting on different threads, i'm sorry to waste anyones time but i didn't know what was the best place 'cause i had no idea what's causing the problem. So i posted it in a few different places. Besides, i really wanted to get this working as fast as i could 'cause it's the only thing keeping me from doing my own demos. And i don't mean to excuse myself.

But on the subject, i must be really thick sculled cause i'm still not perfectly clear on what to go for. So i need some vst instrument thingy? What kind of? I tried looking for something yesterday but i was totally out of it... (maybe because english isn't my native language) I need some precise info on this, what should i get, how do i use it and such.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Ah, don't let it get to you mazah. I can promise you I'm not stupid but I've read tons of stuff about midi, understand the concept, but still don't get how to route the different components to actually get sound. Like you, I've never needed it or even wanted it until now. Even now, the only reason I really need it is because this $500 music recording software (Sonar) I just bought doesn't have a decent metronome (what a joke!) and the one it does have is implemented in midi. Gross. Plus I'd like to at least try out some of these software synths to see if they will be useful at some point. So I'm kinda being forced to fool with midi. But I really don't care for fake music sounds. There is a great lack (so far as my research has taken me to date) of step by step detail on how to set up a midi system to actually produce sound. I looked up about 100 sites yesterday.....no dice. They are all "what it is"...."where you can get free downloads".....etc, and then, like this one.....you're an idiot worthy of great scorn if you don't know it already. And as far as the car analogy goes... it's more like....I don't want to know how the engine works, I just want to drive the car. I can drive just fine the rest of my life without knowing how to rebuild a fuel injection system. If I had 100,000 downloads right now, I still couldn't play them through my FW-1884 because I don't understand the input/output thing yet. I will but I don't yet. I don't know if my 1884 is just an interface....does it have an internal synth?....how do you route from computer to interface to monitor speakers?....what is considered the input? the synth....no it's the output...the 1884?...no it's the interface... I understand it a bit from the external keyboard perspective.....keyboard > in to interface > computer > software synth > out to interface > out to monitors. But I don't get it when the input is generated inside the PC. I just don't quite understand electronic routing. Anyway, the idea is forming slowly inside my head. It would form much more quickly if I just had some simple explanations with visual aid, but I'll get it without those things if necessary. Sometimes it's better to learn something through tribulation, trial and error...that way it gets burned in to the brain better. So, I'm in the same boat with you. Just keep plugging at it. We'll get it eventually! Good luck.

 

[brzilian]

Even now, the only reason I really need it is because this $500 music recording software (Sonar) I just bought doesn't have a decent metronome (what a joke!) and the one it does have is implemented in midi. Gross.

Straight from Cakewalk's site:

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/DXi/Ping.asp

There is a great lack (so far as my research has taken me to date) of step by step detail on how to set up a midi system to actually produce sound. I looked up about 100 sites yesterday.....no dice. They are all "what it is"...."where you can get free downloads".....etc, and then, like this one.....you're an idiot worthy of great scorn if you don't know it already.

Results of a quick search on Google:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/5821/midi-basics.html

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/5821/midi.html

 

[StevenLindsey]

Yeah, I suppose I could purchase the ping thing. Would be nicer to just have a simple metronome already in the expensive software. I mean, the metronome is a very basic need in music recording. Why in the world would you design such a sophisticated audio recording system without one? Well, unless you wanted to sell more software, I guess.

I saw those sites yesterday. Some good definitions and information. Thanks.

 

[brzilian]

Yeah, I suppose I could purchase the ping thing. Would be nicer to just have a simple metronome already in the expensive software. I mean, the metronome is a very basic need in music recording. Why in the world would you design such a sophisticated audio recording system without one? Well, unless you wanted to sell more software, I guess.

It comes down to what Cakewalk was initially. In the Twelve Tone Systems days, Cakewalk was exclusively a MIDI sequencer. Cakewalk figures that people who need the metronome probably use MIDI as well. I have never used the metronome while recording audio.

Its easy enough to lay down a click track with the drum grid editor anyways.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Yeah, I'm sure there are several ways to do it. If I ever get the stuff all hooked up to the point that I can actually use it (I'm beginning to wonder ), I'll find a way. When you record several instruments by yourself (non-midi) you pretty much need the reference point of the click or metronome unless your brain clock is very good....mine isn't that good.

 

[AlChuck]

you pretty much need the reference point of the click or metronome unless your brain clock is very good....mine isn't that good.

Very few folk's brain clocks are that good... I used to think I had terrific time, then I bought a metronome and found out otherwise...

 

[sweetnubs]

People rag on midi all the time and how they don't need cheesy instruments but what they don't realize is midi is just a communications protocol containing instructions, not audio data. So it can be used in any instance in which you'd want two or more systems to comminucate with one another using a common language. For example kiddies, you can use midi for transport control on you DAW, automation for control surfraces, triggering samplers. I use midi tracks to control my outboard digital processors, you can turn them on or off and control parameters during mixdown via midi tracks. Remeber midi is just instructions and you need a sound module to generate sound be it an outboard hardware sound module, a keyboard that contains a sound module (it's inside you don't see it junior), software synths, etc. Midi, it's just not for elevators anymore.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Mazah... an update. I studied for about 5 hours yesterday on trying to get some midi sound out of my Sonar through the FW-1884. I tried every setting I could think of. I've done everything that both setup manuals say. The control surface seems to be working. NO SOUND. I've done what the tutorial #1 in Sonar says....NO SOUND. I tried playing the metronome. I heard a click inside my PC tower but no sound from my speakers...I set it up to play through the speakers. Somewhere I'm missing the synth that plays back the sound...but it's whippin' me because I have no idea where this synth is located in relation to the input/output on the midi track. I'm missing a link in my thinking. I thought the 1884 Control WAS the synth. It works great as a CD player with Windows Media Player. However, it won't play back audio in Sonar correctly either. Just a ringing distorted mess. It sounded fine for a while in Sonar but then crapped out. So..if you have had any luck and gained any insight...I'm all ears ( well, eyes. ) I haven't called Cakewalk yet because I haven't registered. Waiting til I get my internet working Tuesday to register. I hope I can figure it out before then. I despise trying to get tech support.