Midi newbie is frustrated

[W.I.S.C.]

I'm using Sonar 3 pro with a Radium 49 controller. All my drivers are installed and up to date and Sonar is recognizing the controller, but I can't get anything to play. I think I have is set up right, all I need to connect is the USB cable, right? So how do I get Sonar to accept/recieve the controllers signal? Maybe I'm just confused but I thought I could just plug it in and go. I would apretiate any help cuz midi is a new thing for me and I don't want to hate it right at the start. I'm running XP pro and have a soundblasterLive! soundcard. Please help... thanx.

Dan

 

[Toki987]

I`m pretty sure 3 is not that different from the 2.2 i`m using. You'll need to assign the OUTPUT of the midi track to the soundblaster midi synth and load a soundfont library. Select onmi IN, in the CHANNEL part you can let it be 1.
Next you need to load a BANK of presets. You should have a 2,4, and 8 meg bank that came with the SB. After that you can pick a PRESET.

You can also INSERT a software synth that comes with Sonar, if you do that it will show up as a new audio channel. On the next or any midi channel you desire, set it up the same as for the soundblaster, but on OUTPUT you`ll want to direct it to the software synth you INSERTed.

 

[W.I.S.C.]

I'll give it a try...thanx. I'll let you know what happened...

 

[James Argo]

Here's some light for you...

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=77416


Jaymz

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Thank you much...James. This place has always had great people on point and with much knowlage

 

[W.I.S.C.]

That link was very helpful but I am still experiencing trouble. I cannot get my controller (Radium 49) to play the patches (I mostly want to use the Dreamstation), but when I hit record it registers in midi ( draws a map of the notes I play) without sound. I can hear the notes after I stop and play back, but that's just because it has now been mapped in midi. Both the USB and the midi out (into the Quatro) register on the midi map during recording, but I can't get any sound out of it otherwise. The piano roll still plays the sound, but not the controller. I am getting more confused by the day. Also, the soundfonts option in the dropdown box is not available. I can see it in "shadow" form , but can't choose it as an option. I have all my driver updates and have tried MANY configurations to try and correct this. I have had this Controller for 2 years and still can't get it to work right. Works great when using an external sound module, but hooking it up to my PC seems to not be it's strong suit. I really want to use this thing and not have to smash it with a rock. Thanx in advance...I know you have better things to do than to hold my hand thru this midi thing, but it comes with great appretiation and admiration.

 

[Toki987]

When using my Live card I experienced the same thing a couple of times. It took a reinstall of the live drivers, reboot, and let it "profile" the sound card again.
However I chucked the basic creative package that came with the card and
I downloaded and did a reinstall with a complete Live package from Compaq which includes AudioHQ and the rest of the Live utilities.

Also, if it will print the midi track and plays it back thru the LiveSynth, but only after you have played it, it seems the "input monitoring" driver is not loaded, which a reinstall of the Live drivers and a new "profile" of the card should cure.

James, Moskus? what ya think?

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Thanx Toki!!Okay all drivers re-installed...same trouble. On the Midi icon in the task bar (the little keyboard with the two red led-like lights) only the input light glows when I play the controller. There is nothing happening outputwise. Also my soundfonts under the options dropdown box is still "shadowed"...I appretiate you guys help, I can feel us getting closer, plus I'm learning some things. Thanx again in advance

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Hope you can see this ScreenShot

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Is this right?

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Then there's this also...

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Here's the little light I mentioned

 

[W.I.S.C.]

My devices are chosen as...

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Here's my soundcard playback. It's a Creative AudioPCI. There are no updates for it.

 

[Toki987]

If its lighting up when you press a key the Sonar software is recognizing a midi command. Something appears to be amiss with the output mapping to the synth now. In the midi track set it up like the pic i`m attaching, In the dreamstation's track, in output, you have to direct it to the soundblaster for playback. and assign to "SB Live! Midi Synth" where it says maudio in mine.

 

[Toki987]

maybe you can see this one

 

[Toki987]

My devices are chosen as...

It doesn`t show the "soundblaster MIDI synth" as an output device. Therein may lie the trouble. The UART is just a mapping gateway to send to other devices. The midi synth is a standalone synth even though its on the PCI card.

I dont think it`s being read as a synth by windows. Check System>hardware>device manager in control panel and see if its showing up there as creative sblive!

 

[W.I.S.C.]

Like this?


Still isn't working. Same problem as before. It will record (without sound) the notes I hit and play them back during playback, but I can't hear anything when it's idle or when I'm recording/playing the project

 

[Toki987]

dats right, but the problem now seems to be "input monitoring", but it also has know what to monitor. If the midi synth isnt showing up as an output device that could be part or the biggest of the problem. I dont think there is a problem with the controller at all or the USB at all now. I`m thinkin' and lookin....

 

[W.I.S.C.]

I truly appretiate you taking the time out to help me...I've read so much on the subject for the past 4 days , my head is spinning.