Newbie grappling with MIDI/Soft Synths/Sonar

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Spillenger

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This is a long (cross-)post, for which I apologize in advance. It gives a lot of information and asks for a lot. I hope that if it gets good replies, it will be useful for lots of beginners.

I am a relative newcomer to computer-based music and recording, and a complete newcomer to Sonar 3, soft synths and Midi controller/keyboards. I have searched the web (and my product manuals!) in vain for a simple, practical, non-jargon-laden explanation of how to do what I want to do. (See below.) I would greatly appreciate (a) suggestions for books that deal with my questions (see below); (b) any advice about how to get started; and/or (c) answers to any of my specific questions.

Here is my basic setup:

Computer: Dell P4 w/HT technology @ 3.06GHz; 120-gig HD; 1 gig RAM; Win XP Home

DAW Software: Sonar 3 (I’m working with the demo; full version is on its way)

Audio Interface: Aardvark LX6, but I also have an SB Audigy 2 installed for MIDI applications, which I route from the Audigy to the LX6.

Mixer: Behringer UB1202

Monitors: Tapco S5 Active Studio Monitors

MIDI Controller/Keyboard: Edirol PCR-80

Here is what I want to do:

I am mainly an acoustic musician. I play guitar and banjo, some keyboards and bass. I’m in a bluegrass band. What I want to do is record myself overdubbed, using mainly acoustic instruments and occasionally an electric guitar plugged into the mixer. I also want to start working with synthesized instruments. For example, I’d like to be able to lay down an acoustic stand-up bass part using my keyboard/controller to govern a software synth that lives in my Sonar 3 program. At some point, I’ll want to add drums, percussion and other synthesized instruments. I want to actually be able to play this soft synth live in my home studio, not just record it. I want to hear it as I’m playing it and not record it.

Here’s what I don’t want to do:

I don’t want to become a MIDI nut. I’m not interested in plunging deeply into the intricacies of the MIDI world. I’m not going to make techno music or create loops for dance clubs. I only want to learn as much theory as I need to to make the right sounds come out of my speakers and go into my recording program when I hit the proper keys on my controller/keyboard.

Here are my problems/questions:

First, I have my PCR-80 keyboard plugged into a USB port on my computer. I have my Sonar 3 demo program up and running, and I have done everything the Sonar manual says to do to select the proper MIDI input and choose the proper channel. But nothing is getting from the keyboard to Sonar. In fact, though I have read through the Edirol manual carefully, it seems to be geared to people who are already experienced with MIDI keyboards (I am not). It tells you how to do what you are assumed to already know you want to do. In other words, it’s written at a level that’s over my head.

So, what I’d like to know is what I need to do (in layman’s terms) to get the instructions from the keyboard to Sonar. Do I have to assign instructions to particular controller knobs and pots? I’m hesitant to buy a book on, say, “MIDI for Beginners,” because it’s not really the intricate details of MIDI that I’m interested in. I’m just interested in knowing how I need to set up my controller/keyboard in order to have it control synth software in Sonar (or other DXi plug-ins I add later). The Edirol web site is useless. Any suggestions?

Second, my keyboard plugs straight into a USB port, instead of going into the MIDI in of my Aardvark LX6. In this case, where is the MIDI interface? I know the LX6 has a MIDI interface, but I’m bypassing that.

Third, can one play the soft synths in Sonar directly in real time or can they only be recorded?

And finally, what is the best way for a beginner to really get a handle on the various knobs, faders and switches on the Edirol keyboard? A set of step-by-step instructions would be great. As in, “The first thing you have to do is …”

I suspect I’ll probably get very few useful responses to this, but if I can get just one good one, that’d be great.

Thanks a lot.

Paul S.
 
4. Let be answer your last question first, All those knobs and faders in Edirol keyboard you will automatically figure out easily once the keyboard starts working with your Sonar.
3. Yes, you can play softsynth directly from sonar, you need to do that to print a midi (that uses softsyth) in sonar right?
2. Your keyboard acts like a midi interface and it is a usb midi interface, if it doesn't work out for you , use a midi cable from your keyboard midi out and go through your joystick port, or your soundcard midi in/out.
Once you plug in your keyboard midi out to computer midi in,
1. First go to option >midi devices > and select the midi interface you are plugged into (example : SB live midi A in, Delta midi in) and move it to top.
Now again, go to option > Instruments > and select all the available channel on the left and map it with the GM or anything you use on the right. Thats how you choose which channel plays what synth.
In the main tracks window, put a midi track, double click and select a channel for the track and a patch you like. By this time you should be able to trigger the softsynths through yoru edirol, If not it should be a problem with the midiinterface adn not edirol.
Hope this explains the basic stuff about midi in Sonar, spend some time you will understand. Good Luck.
 
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