Newbie MIDI trouble

[Nexlevel]

I'm new to MIDI. Here's my setup: 800mhz celeron, 128m RAM, SB Live, cakewalk PA9, Roland mc303 groovebox (MIDI device).

Cables are connected correctly. Instrument definition is all set. When I use tutorial files in CWPA9 I can change patches and access 303 sounds. I'm convinced it's not a software problem.

Remote is on. Cant figure out how to turn local off (on mc303) if it's even possible (I think cakewalk is supposed to do that automatically in cases where you cant turn it off, and if so, it could be a software issue). I can record (with mc303 patches) using the mouse in the piano roll view with the “virtual keyboard”, but I cant play the keys on mc303 and get any sound at all.

My question is, If this is not a software problem, what am I doing wrong? I'm sure it's something easy, but like I said, I'm a newbie. If anyone can guide me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. This is only the first step in my ultimate quest. I eventually want to use my synth in my setup as well as a sampler (don’t have sampler yet), so any help will be appreciated because I have a long way to go. Thanks in advance.

 

[rjt]

The "local" question is handled in midi echo which is in project options under midi input.... in my case, that has usually taken care of itself... but if it doesn't, that's where you go.

Regarding recording etc. (sorry if this is too basic)... check what channel the mc303 is sending and what channel the track is set to record (you can use a midi-omni record mode which will take any midi channel). Check what channel the track is set to record and make sure it is the sound you want on the mc303. Make sure the little red R on the track is on (meaning the track is armed), then when you are ready to record, start with r, not just play.

Let us know if you see midi notes in the track or nothing after you do those things.

 

[Nexlevel]

still doesn't work

Thanks for replying RJT. I set echo mode to manual and mapped to port 1, channel 1. Local on port is set to port 0 (this is the default)The mc303 is set to send on channel 1(I physically selected "part button 1" which transmits on channel 1....this could be where the problem is occuring). I armed a cakewalk track (on channel 1) and still nothing. BTW, can you tell me more about MIDI-omni....didn't see anything.

My understanding of MIDI (which is quite minimal I'm quickly finding out) is that when I assign a patch to a certain channel within Cakewalk, I can select the same channel on my MIDI device, press the keys and hear the selected patch (there is no need to physically select the patch on 303). This doesn't seem to work in my case. I dont hear anything through my speakers (and when I put headphones in the 303 I dont hear the patch I've selected either).

To make a long story short, I still dont see any MIDI notes in the track after attempting to record. Cakewalk doesn't seem to "see" my 303 at all, except as a sound module for playback. I'm probably not doing something very basic, but I cant seem to figure it out. Once again, thanks in advance.

 

[Nexlevel]

MIDI out

Thanks for reply c7. In terms of cables I have a MIDI in/out to a DB15 and am going through the gameport on the SBLive. The MIDI out is connected to the MIDI in of my 303 (obviously MIDI in cable is connected to MIDI out of 303).

In the multimedia settings, A:SBLive MIDIsynth is selected. There is an option for SBLive MIDI UART, which, btw is the only device that appears in my CWPA9 MIDI input device list. When I switched to UART in multimedia settings and input/output devies, it still doesn't work.

What's interesting however, is that when I went to my media player to play a wave file (outside of cakewalk environment) my 303 gave me an error message saying basically "too many MIDI messages being received". So whatever the MIDI UART port is, must have control over the drum machine. BTW, the wave file played fine, it just caused the error on the 303, and I tried it twice and got the error message each time.

I dont know what the "UART" is, but I'm off to do some research. Thanks in advance for your help...I think I'm getting closer. Let me know if you have any suggestions, or know what "UART" is. You guys are great, I appreciate the responses so far.

 

[rjt]

When a problem occurs like this, I have had the most success at isolating each piece of the problem. So, when you have a pre-recorded (demo or midi file or something) midi plays on the rol. So the cables connected correctly. Next, unless you KNOW it is a problem, I would leave midi echo on auto. Next, the midi omni is a choice on the midi input in cake, you should see the different channels listed and at the top of the list it say "omni". Try using that, and recording a few notes (btw, you do both arm the track and hit record--cake is not like a tape deck where you can hit record then "play" when you are ready. First you arm the track, then hit the round (I think, I'm not looking at it right now) record button).

I don't have SB, but in your multimedia section, I think that is just defining the default card for your computer to play sounds etc. should effect cake as long as you have options for where to route the sounds.

Finally, I would get the midi recording correct before I do my patch changes within cake. That is pretty simple, check by hand to make sure the rol is set up correctly.

As stated above (I'm no expert, but I have had lots of problems) I usually break a problem down into small pieces. It sounds like you are well on the way to solving this one. Good luck and let us know!!