MIDI IN (or is it OUT) not working?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kevinm
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kevinm

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Hey all,

when i try to record from my keyboard (alesis qs8.1) to my computer, i don't get anything. before, i've had it work fine and it seems like suddenly it has stopped working since i moved the keyboard into my bedroom. i've tried both sonar 2 and nuendo 2 to no avail. both programs allow me to play back midi files through the keyboard just fine, but i cannot record to the computer. is it possible that my midi in (or is it out...lol) port on my keyboard went bad? or that the midi interface is broken? is there any test i can perform that might help me out?

thanks,
kevin
 
If you can play back a MIDI file through the QS, but are unable to record from it, then you are dealing with your MIDI OUT. It's pretty unlikely that there is anything wrong with the keyboard unless you damaged it physically in the process of moving it.

More likely culprits might be a bad cable, incorrect connections, incorrect routing within the computer and software (for instance, if you don't have whatever MIDI interface you're using configured properly [i.e. the correct drivers are installed and functioning], and you haven't enabled it within SONAR [I don't know anything about Nuendo], then you're not going to be able to record). Incorrect setup of your keyboard is another definite possibility. I don't know anything about the QS8.1. Check your manual for instructions on proper connections. Check to make sure that "local control" isn't set to "off".

Give us more details about the MIDI interface, your computer, etc.

Ted
 
the midi interface is old school. it's two midi cables running into an adapter that plugs into the sound card's gameport. i know it sounds suspicious that this could be the culprit, but i've used it reliably for years now. as far as i know there are no drivers for it, it's always just worked through the sound card.

my machine is a celeron 1.1ghz, running winxp pro. the sound card is a sound blaster pci 512 with the latest and greatest driver i can find on creative's site.

also, the both cables i know are good, because if i switch them they both play sound from the computer to the keyboard.

btw, in nuendo, when i have a metronome playing through the keyboard, it tells me that the midi out activity *is* working. it seems that the midi input is not.


kevin
 
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First we have get together on the terminology. In and out are relative to the MIDI device you are refering to. If you are not getting MIDI messages from your KB to your computer then you either have an issue with the MIDI "out" of the KB, or the MIDI "in" of the computer.

It sounds simple, but did you recheck that the joystick port MIDI adapter on your computer was securely pluged in? If it is cocked just a little you could get the problem you are discribing.

If that is not it, maybe the port you are sending on from the KB is different that than the one you are receiving on at the computer.
 
ok i have completely screwed the adapter into the gameport securely. now, when i use sonar (which i think you are familiar with), here's what happens with the midi in/out activity in the system tray:

when i depress a key on my keyboard, the light on the left flashes, but no sound comes through to the amp. when i hit the "record" button, a click track plays through the keyboard/amp and the light on the right flashes. it seems as though i am getting *some* connectivity, but key bindings still don't work and it will not recognize notes being played (even though the light on the left flashes when i hit keys).

kevin
 
kevinm - just a thought. midi receive channel in your pc software
on the track you enable for midi recording should be the same channel
as the keyboard midi send channel. at least this is how i do it.
are you doing that ?
 
ok. i am indubitibly a moron. I forgot i totally have a Korg D1200 with midi in/out so i could test the midi out of the keyboard. i plugged it in, and sure enough the midi activity light on the d1200 blinks when i depress keys. so i'm off to purchase a new midi interface right away. old thing must've taken a crap.

kevin
 
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