Midi, session drummer and PA 9

[Fab4ever]

I'm sorry to be such a stinking newbie, but I hope you all can help me.

I just installed Pro Audio 9. I have a Delta 44 soundcard for audio. So far, everything I've done has been audio. I want to learn midi!

To that end, I purchased a Soundblaster Live Value and installed it as well.

In all my recording to date, my audio goes out of my Delta 44 and into my mixdown deck (a consumer stereo) which also serves as my monitor. (I know, I know - I need real monitors. That day will come).

Now, the questions:

1. How do I get midi sounds out of the synthesizer on my Soundblaster Live into my Cakewalk project file?

2. How will I hear the midi sounds? I don't have a mixer and I don't want to use the D/A converters in the SB Live. Can I route the sounds from my Soundblaster to my Delta?

3. Finally, I want to use Session Drummer as my drums. I believe that's a midi program. How do I tell it to use the synthesizer on SB Live, but play out of the Delta? Is that even possible?

Again, apologies for such basic questions. I really enjoy recording and mixing digital audio, but I really want to integrate MIDI in to my projects. Help please!

 

[AlChuck]

1. How do I get midi sounds out of the synthesizer on my Soundblaster Live into my Cakewalk project file?

Not sure what you mean. Cakewalk records and plays MIDI data. Or do you mean how do you get them to be audio data in your project file? It's clearly described in the book or help system, and there's also another description on their website. Basically you use the SB Live's WAV In to record its own MIDI synth playing, then just play it back out of the Delta.

2. How will I hear the midi sounds? I don't have a mixer and I don't want to use the D/A converters in the SB Live. Can I route the sounds from my Soundblaster to my Delta?

Nope, not without going through the D/A and out the outputs then into the inputs and A/D of the Delta...

Best thing would be to get some sort of mixer, or maybe your stereo has another pair of inputs that you can hear while you have the Delta going too (like via a tape monitor switch). Even a simple line mixer for $50 or less can get you this functionality.

3. Finally, I want to use Session Drummer as my drums. I believe that's a midi program. How do I tell it to use the synthesizer on SB Live, but play out of the Delta? Is that even possible?

Not as such. You can record the MIDI data as audio data as I mentioned in my answer to your question #1.

 

[Fab4ever]

AlChuck,

Thanks for the replies and your patience with a newbie.

I just need a bit of explanation. And I think I need to be clearer about what I want to do.

Here's an example. I have a cheapo Yamaha consumer keyboard, but it's supposedly MIDI compatible. So let's say I want to record a midi keyboard part, and I want the actual sounds to come from my Soundblaster Live synth.

Then, on playback, I want to (naturally) hear what it sounds like with my other (audio) tracks.

Are you saying I need to run the midi track OUT of my Soundblaster's Wave Out and run the audio out of my Delta's Wave out, putting all into a mixer that then goes into monitors? Is that the only way to do it without making my midi files audio files?