No sound from HomeStudio 2002

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nosmas

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I’ve been working on this for days, weeks, and I’m having no success at all. It’s almost enough to make a grown man cry…

Setup:

Micron Millenia w/ AMD Athlon 1GHz proc, 512MB RAM, Windows 2000, Cakewalk HomeStudio 2002, M-Audio Delta 66 (latest drivers), and Omni I/O module.

This setup used to work before with Microsoft Millennium (kept crapping out on me so I decided to upgrade to Win2k) and an older version of Cakewalk. After upgrading the OS, M-Audio drivers, and Cakewalk I began to experience this problem.

I get no sound nor does the Omni indicate any activity coming from the application and I can’t figure out why. I’ve toyed with the settings, read and re-read the docs, and still no-go. I’m trying to test with different files with the latest being one of the tutorial files that comes with Cakewalk. Opening this file also opens up the console window that displays meters, etc. Even these meters do not indicate any activity when I play the file.

Any ideas? I sincerely appreciate any help or direction. I’m fairly new to this and, as such, posted a similar call for help in the Newbies section. If that’s considered a no-no, please accept my humblest apologies.

Many thanks!
 
OK, first off can you get sound from any other application - e.g., Windows Media Player. IOW is it just HS2002 that you are having the problem with?

Secondly, I assume the HS2002 test file has audio in it, and is not just midi.

Under that assumption I would start by trying to change your buffer settings and/or increase your latency. The steps I'm going to give you are for Sonar, but I assume they are the same or similar for HS2002.

Go into Options -> Audio -> Advanced Tab and look for the setting for I/O buffer size. Try changing the buffer size with various different settings - 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512. After each change, see if you can get playback. If not, return it to your original setting, and go the General Tab and move the latency slider all the way to the right. See if that helps. You can also try increasing the number of buffers. Try it at 3 or 4.

One other thing to try is checking the box on the Advanced Tab to Always Use MME Interface. (See if the other options work first.)

Let us know if any of that works.
 
Actually, I've been using the shipping VIA sound card for all other apps including Media Player. I hadn't thought about trying to redirect that sound to the Delta but I'll give that a shot this evening when I get back home from this thing they call a job...:)

So how can I tell if the file(s) I'm testing contain only audio, midi, or both? And, if it's just midi, does this pose a different problem altogether?

BTW, thanks for the prompt reply, I just keep getting impressed by the content and responsiveness of this forum.

Thanks!
 
Your Delta card has no midi synthesizer in it. Therefore, you can't playback midi through it unless you have an external synthesizer, or use your other sound card or a DXi.

BTW, if you are using your other sound card for the other applications, can I assume you have two sets of speakers?
 
No, I am in the process of purchasing a pair of studio monitors, as soon as I can get this working. I am using a pair of headphones connected to the Omni I/O for this particular test. I know the headphones work because I tested them on other audio equipment.

Per my earlier question, should the "Console" GUI within Cakewalk indicate activity on its meters while the file is playing? I'm just trying to find out if Cakewalk is getting as far as attempting to output the sound.
 
nosmas said:
should the "Console" GUI within Cakewalk indicate activity on its meters while the file is playing?
Click to expand...
Yes. That's why I suspect it is something with the buffers or latency settings.

However, insuring that the sound card is actually working is a good first step.
 
Sheesh...

My humblest apologies!!!! You're brief mention of MIDI got me to thinking about the file I was playing and looking at the console I saw the output as the VIA MIDI interface.

I looked for an audio file, loaded it, played it, and....wouldn't you know it... sounds like a champ...

I sincerely apologize for not figuring that out but many thanks for all your assistance! Time for those monitors...:)

Thanks!
 
About those monitors...

Before you get into the mixing boards and start an argument about what monitors to get, I would suggest the Event 20/20 monitors. Best bang for your buck.

Also, the Event PS series are a more budgeted way to go, but not if you will be working with much bass.

Best of luck!

Micro
 
Thanks Microchip!

Yea, I've been browsing different forums and found a few discussions referencing that particular topic. I've had a grand time toying around with my setup although I had to go out and purchase a $30 set of headphones temporarily. I'll definitely look into the Event 20/20's.

By the way, the answer doesn't have to be here but I'd like to know where to go for this info:

Since I'll be laying down most of the instruments tracks myself on my recordings, is there a general guideline that is normally followed concerning which tracks get laid down first? Percussion? Keys? Etc.?

thanks!

Samson
 
Samson,

Which tracks you put down first is going to depend on several things, with personal preference and the style of music being performed as factors. Here are my suggestions...

If you have a percussion track, that will usually go down first.
If you don't have or don't want to put down a percussion track first, then I would choose to lay down whatever instrument will dominate the piece you are working on. The idea is that you want a 'center' to which you can then build your other tracks around.

Either way, if you have a lot of rhythm in your song, I think it's generally going to be much easier to record the rest of your instruments to a rhythm track than to record your percussion track to match the other instruments you have already recorded.

(But keep in mind I write ambient/spacemusic for planetariums, so I don't work with alot of rhythm in my line of compositions!)

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask-if I can help out, I will try.

_Micro
 
Makes sense, sorta where I was leaning. That being that case, in addition to the fact that I'm NOT a drummer, do drum machines tend to work fairly well? I'd like the ability to inject drumrolls, runs, etc., something that my keyboard doesn't do.

Ultimately, I will use real musicians to play a role when I go to the studio. My personal home recordings will be used to provide these individuals with an idea of what I want from them.

FYI, I am the current praise & worship leader for our church. Our music consists of revamped traditional gospel to contemporary praise & worship. I attend a bi-lingual church (split about 50-50), lots of percussion, lots of rhythm, fun stuff. I would imagine this would really drive the need to lay down the percussion first.

BTW, I really appreciate the insight. Thanks again!

-Samson
 
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