Old Cubase-user trying to navigate new MC5
Hello to all; I have enjoyed perusing the various posts here in the recent past in an effort to see if any of them might pertain to my needs. So far, I haven't come across any that have produced a remedy, so I decided to ask for help from such a nice knowledgeable group. I'll try to give enough of a background picture to clue you in to where I'm at and where I've been to this point (hopefully without writing a book about it).
From '94 thru '99 I used Atari computer/Kawai X-50D/Yamaha PF85 keyboards for recording rock,country, & symphonic classical orchestrations(mostly). I got away from all that for the last decade ( most equipment gone, too); but as of 1/7/11, I decided to get back in it again. So here is my current configuration:
Gateway(NV59C)4GB/500GB HDD Laptop('10)//MC5('10)//Yamaha YPG625 Portable Grand('07) [& later: Yamaha P150('97)]
In last 7 weeks, since buying the laptop & MC5 (then installing it & my yamaha synth on it), I threw money at the Geek Squad a couple times in an effort to configure some laptop things & get my recording playbacks to sound thru the synth speakers successfully. All seemed well in my musical 'garden of eden'. Then, I just HAD to do it; In an effort to familiarize myself with my new-found modern version of 'home music studio' (that I thought I knew enough about from past years experience),...yes, I proceeded to poke & prod & push & click & add & delete & enable & disable this & that & the-other-thing (almost as if I knew what I was doing). Well, it don't take no brain surgeon to guess the end results: Not quite Total Mayhem, but right next to it!
What WAS I THINKing? Obviously, I wasn't (maybe I could use that brain surgeon after all). Anyway, lest I wax poetic any further, let me attempt to cut to the chase. Here are the key questions or points of operation (malfunctions?):
1) After installing/un-installing (numerous times), I gather there is no 'return to factory default settings' option on MC5. Is that the case? (Sorta like what they say about Las Vegas: "What happens in there, stays in there!")
2) No sound at all from synth or laptop on playback of recording (even though all the appropriate requirements seem to register the proper connections, etc.); the recorded material shows visually to be responding on playback & in the staff.
3) Metronome sound disabled even though it shows visually to be registering while recording (again, all requirements seem to be checked & in place & mute off, etc.); This may be related to the problem in #2 question above.
4) How do I remove (delete) files, 'test' recordings, etc. that I do not need or want anymore? This is where I have probably made the biggest mistakes (of randomly...& recklessly?...trying to delete things & dragging or dumping things into the 'trashbin'
without truly understanding their significance). Just for instance, upon clicking on the 'Music Creator Demo' a dialog box informs me it is non-existent.
One further note which might offer a clue as to what has created some of the 'malfunctions': Upon suggestion from the Geek Squad (as per my personal intent), after opening a 'New' project I proceeded to "clear the slate" by deleting the existing Mic/Guitar/Piano/Drums tracks. Then, for good measure, I proceeded to delete the lower panel containing Master/Bus/Metronome/(etc.), so that I was left with a totally clear pane, top & bottom. If I'm not mistaken, that is when my no-sound problems seem to happen.
Anyway, I apologize for the lengthiness & hope I have not ruined my MC5 copy. If so, I will just go buy another & try to be a little more circumspect & cautious in my clicking here & there & everywhere. I told my wife "If Cakewalk was a car, I have no business behind the wheel". (Perhaps my recording license should be revoked!)
Thanks for whatever help may be forthcoming,
Phil Armstrong
Salem, OR
BMI(since '67)
MC5/Yamaha YPG-625 portable grand ('07)/