Sonar 4:PE with a regular, stock soundcard

  • Thread starter Thread starter Grey Angel
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Grey Angel

Grey Angel

Angel of Shredding
I'm trying to start using the midi function, like drum tracks and stuff, but I have no midi output. I went to Options-Midi Divices, and the only thing on the list of outputs was "Microsoft Midi Mapper", and if I selected that, it told me I had NO midi output. Could someone throw me a bone here?
 
Grey Angel said:
I'm trying to start using the midi function, like drum tracks and stuff, but I have no midi output. I went to Options-Midi Divices, and the only thing on the list of outputs was "Microsoft Midi Mapper", and if I selected that, it told me I had NO midi output. Could someone throw me a bone here?
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It sounds like your sound card does not have a built-in midi synth. Midi Mapper will only work with MME drivers, and I assume you are using WDM (or ASIO).

Regardless, stop worrying about it and use DXi's or VSTi's. Much better variety and quality than you will get from a cheap sound card anyway.
 
dachay2tnr said:
It sounds like your sound card does not have a built-in midi synth. Midi Mapper will only work with MME drivers, and I assume you are using WDM (or ASIO).

Regardless, stop worrying about it and use DXi's or VSTi's. Much better variety and quality than you will get from a cheap sound card anyway.
Click to expand...


DXi's and VSTi's? I hope those aren't soundcards. I'm not going to buy a good one until I move out and get my own computer, though. Is there a way for me to install a driver or something that will enable me to have a midi output?
 
DXi's and VSTi's are software synths. They allow you to play midi using software rather than hardware.

There is at least one supplied with Sonar. In Sonar 3 it's the Edirol VSC. Not sure, but in Sonar 4 it might be VSampler, or something.

Check your help file for DXi or DX Instrument.
 
Allright, I have 4 DXi soft synths with Sonar 4:PE -- Alien Connections ReValver SE, Cakewalk TTS-1, Cyclone, and Dreamstation DXi2. So, I should be able to use any of these to make sound? That's all I basically want from Sonar right now: to play MIDI sounds through the speakers. :mad:
 
Cakewalk TTS-1 is the go.

Load it into the synth rack, (VIEW-SYNTH RACK, then INSERT and choose the TTS-1). When the dialogue box pops up let it create a MIDI track and the AUDIO tracks for you.

When this sets up it will point the MIDI track's output to the input of the TTS-1's audio track.

You program in the MIDI track and the AUDIO track plays back the sound.

Ciao,

Q.
 
Follow what Qwerty said.

The other DXi's you have are more specialty stuff. TTS-1 is the general midi DXi which will contain all of your common instruments - some better, some worse.

Once you get the hang of it, you can troll the net for some VSTi's (same idea, different format). Cakewalk will allow you to work with either DXi's or VSTi's. There are a lot of free ones out there. Again, some better, some worse. :)
 
Grey Angel said:
DXi's and VSTi's? I hope those aren't soundcards.
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No, they're more like lesbian STDs. :) (in-joke)

Actually, I think you're slightly misunderstanding what MIDI is. It's just a stream of data containing note, velocity, duration etc information. A stock soundcard may have a synth of some kind (either FM or wavetable) built in, which is what people associate with 'MIDI sounds'. In your case, you have loads of cool VST and DX instruments already in your PC to play with, which will allow you to have lots of fun with some very realistic multi-sampled sounds and some very flexible synthesizers. Incidentally, you might need to reduce the latency of your project down to be able to play on your keyboard accurately (I think it's Options --> Global or maybe Project and then move the slider to the left, mine defaults to 100ms which is way to slow to be able to play properly!!).

Incidentally, I REALLY don't understand what Sonar's doing when it makes all those extra tracks. Why can't you just have one MIDI track with output to a synth? What are all the extra bits it makes and what do they do?
 
noisedude said:
Incidentally, I REALLY don't understand what Sonar's doing when it makes all those extra tracks. Why can't you just have one MIDI track with output to a synth? What are all the extra bits it makes and what do they do?
Click to expand...

The additional AUDIO track on the output enables you to stick audio FX in the bin as per any other audio track. You get multiple output tracks set-up automatically when the synth has multiple outputs. This makes it easier to tweak and pan individual instruments.

Ciao,

Q.
 
Qwerty said:
The additional AUDIO track on the output enables you to stick audio FX in the bin as per any other audio track. You get multiple output tracks set-up automatically when the synth has multiple outputs. This makes it easier to tweak and pan individual instruments.

Ciao,

Q.
Click to expand...
Erm ... ok. I'll go have another look at that. Thing is, the first time I used a VSTi I kinda chose some default from that pop-up box that wasn't what I needed. So now I have to work out from demo songs etc how to set the tracks up. And yes, I know ... RTFM ... but I'm a software retard and I intend to stay that way. :D
 
Qwerty said:
F1 is your friend.

Q.
Click to expand...
Cheers dude!

You're talking to the man who couldn't work out how to insert a plugin on a track in Pro Tools HD ... even with the spiral-bound instruction manual!!!! :eek:
 
If you click DXI synth rack icon a window will appear.
On the right side of the tool bar will be an icon for synth options.

Here you can adjust how DXI's are loaded,and their corresponding tracks.
 
Get a MIDIsport 2x2 USB interface.

Then you can hook your keyboard/drum machine/whatever and have MIDI.

Under $70US.
 
Allright, I'm poking along here, looking studiously at the help file every 10 seconds; I'm looking at the TTS-1 help file, and it says that I can click the "preview" buttun to hear the sound play. I click the button, but no sound comes out. :(
 
noisedude said:
Incidentally, you might need to reduce the latency of your project down to be able to play on your keyboard accurately (I think it's Options --> Global or maybe Project and then move the slider to the left, mine defaults to 100ms which is way to slow to be able to play properly!!).
Click to expand...


Mine is set at 500 ms.
 
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