Problems with Cubase System 4

[Jackel67]

Ok for starters I am new to home recording and very new to midi... Here is my setup

Dell 2.26 Ghz P4
Turtle Beach 5.1 Sound
USB2 PCI Card

Attached is:
MI4 via USB
Yamaha Motif ES8 via USB (does not go through MI4)

Problem #1 - MI4 needs to be moved to a different USB port every time I reboot the computer or it won't recognize that its there. Is this something anyone has heard of before?

Problem #2 - The Midinewbie doesn't know how to make the PC actually accept midi info from the keyboard or to send it back. I can see that the ports are there but I don't know anything about assigning channels and stuff and I can't find anything that actually explains it. it seem everyone assumes I have some concept of midi channels going in.

General ??? Is system 4 a good system or should I opt for M-Audio 410 firewire?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Jackel

 

[SteveK]

You have to assign each channel in Cubase an in and out. You can designate a channel as either audio or MIDI. When you add a track it will ask for a designation.

 

[Halion]

The USB problem sounds strange to me, can't help you there. I do have 2 tips though:
1) Regarding midi, read the cubase manual. If you see anything beeing recieved by cubase when you hit a key on your motif, that means cubase is getting your signal. All you have to do now is find out how to use that. And that's all in the manual.
2) Get rid of the surround set and buy some monitors. Next thing you know, your mixing your ass off for years only to find out your software skills are worth nothing because your speakers are worse than your mom's clockradio.