SR-16 MIDI Output Problem

[gvdv]

Hi,
My friend and I are experiencing a problem trying to get my Alesis SR-16 drum machine to output MIDI to a computer using Cakewalk's Home Studio multitrack software.

We can output MIDI from my friend's keyboard, and we can output audio files from the SR-16, but, despite following the SR-16's manual, cannot get the MIDI output to work. We've been using Home Studio successfully for a while, so we know that that is working.

We've tried the OMNI setting on the SR-16, and I presume that the POLY mode is activated by setting the unit to anything other than the OMNI, as there are no other instructions about the POLY mode. We've tried setting the Home Studio software to both OMNI, and also to various MIDI channels (at the same time, we've tried these channels on the SR-16).

We're NOT trying to use the SR-16 as a controller for the keyboard, although inadvertantly we did manage to trigger the keyboard's drum sounds from the SR-16 before we removed the keyboard from the sound chain to try the SR-16 by itself.

Can someone walk me through - very simply, step-by-step - how they output MIDI to their multitrack software from the SR-16?

Thanks,

Geert, in Toronto.

 

[Nils K]

I should start by mentioning that I don't own a HR-16, but as I have an MMT-8, and they both share the same manual, I will try to ponder the problem.

Assuming everything else to be in working condition, a few questions: Is the MIDI/UTIL setting "Transmit MIDI Drum Notes" ON? Otherwise nothing the HR-16 does - keyboard-wise or internal - will reach the midi out port.

Is your software listening in on the same midi channel as the HR-16 is transmitting on?

Are the midi connectors inserted correctly? (I've had to ditch a dodgy midi cable more than once with my MMT-8 - Alesis equipment seems to be more picky about this - try a different cable if at all possible)

Does the software filter anything out? It may (not likely, though!) be the midi note range the HR-16 is transmitting...

Is the HR-16 set to operate on its own internal clock and not sync'ed from the outside?

That's about all I can come up with at this time... - hope it helps.

regards, Nils

 

[gvdv]

Hi Nils,
Thanks very much for the reply - I really appreciate it.

I am at work at the moment, but will go home and check the settings on the SR-16 in order to check on the things that you mentioned.

Just one quick question to you; in your post, you mention the HR-16, not the SR-16. Are we actually talking about the same drum machine? It could be that in our different parts of the world the same unit has different model numbers, but I just want to make sure that we are talking about the same piece of equipment.

I will post a reply later in response to some of the potential issues that you raised.

All the best, and thanks once again for replying,

Geert, in Toronto.

 

[Nils K]

Whoops... - that'll teach me to read posts properly...

I meant the HR-16, actually... - I don't think the SR-16 differs that much with respect to the midi feature set it carries - The settings may have a different name, though.

check out the manual for it and see what it says about midi out options...

regards, Nils