Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!!

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desiday
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2013/08/03 13:27:06 (permalink)

Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!!

I recently purchased the Roland SD-50.  Along with it came the Sonar LE (8.5.1.17).  I installed it fine.  I use my Window's based computer to download midi files and play them back through my computer while performing live.  My problem is I don't know how to use the great sounds of the SD-50.  The sounds played back are all cheesy GM sounds.  Even if I change the sounds (instruments) in the individual tracks and save, the next time I reload the midi on the computer, it defaults back to the same GM sounds.  Long story short, how can I choose the expanded and enhanced sounds of my SD-50 through my Sonar program on my computer?  Please save my sanity, and thank you in advance!
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    spacealf
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/04 03:01:23 (permalink)
    Here is the manual 'om' means to me Operator's Manual.
    http://www.sweetwater.com/store/media/sd-50_om.pdf

    USB cable
    This cable connects the SD-50 to your computer’s USB connector.
    * Please use the included USB cable. If you need a replacement because the included USB cable becomes damaged, please contact
    one of the service locations listed at the back of this manual.

    • SD-50 driver

    page 83, 60, 86

    Jacks and Connectors
    MIDI connectors (OUT, IN)
    LINE IN jack (Stereo Mini)
    LINE OUT jacks (Stereo RCA-PIN)
    PHONES jack (Stereo Mini)
    MIC IN jack (XLR type, phantom power available)
    MIC/GUITAR IN connector (1/4 inch phone type, Hi-Z
    available)
    USB Connectors
    • COMPUTER (supports USB 2.0 Full-Speed USB MIDI and
    USB Audio)
    • MEMORY (supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Flash Memory)


     
    From what I understand, if I am correct, is that you can send MIDI into the computer via USB or the MIDI, so the computer would need a MIDI card in the computer. However, you can not send MIDI out via USB, only by MIDI, so in the computer and the card in there, you would hook up a MIDI cord to the MIDI out and to the MIDI in of the unit. If it  all works in and out via USB then you need none of that unless you want to use the midi connections on the unit.
     
    In Sonar after installing the driver on the computer (I suppose that is for USB) well, in Sonar in the menu item "Options" you have MIDI Devices - your unit should be the unit for both MIDI in and MIDI out. I have Sonar 7 so it should be relatively the same.
    Also in "Options" you have Instruments under the MIDI Devices menu item. In Instruments, you set your unit for all 16 channels so your device is used to send the MIDI out through the MIDI connection to your unit to use to play the sounds. (or into the computer).
     
    I am not sure if USB does that in your unit. In my audio/interface (RME Babyface, I have MIDI in and MIDI out, and the only way to get it into the computer (I have not used it, but I used to do midi long time ago when sound cards had MIDI connections on them) for me is through the USB connection.
     
    I really do not see that for your unit, but then read the manual, it could be both ways with the USB and also the regular audio just like my device.
     
    In Sonar then in Each Track of MIDI data, you would also pick your device (Or something like USB device) to output the tracks to, not GS Microsoft's software synth inside of your computer, you should see for the input and output of each track the option to pick your device instead of Microsoft's software synth.
     
    That also means that each track has to be a MIDI track and not a regular audio track for the data of the song. There are both of those, and MIDI is MIDI and audio is audio or a wave recording.
    Set the channel output of the MIDI track and also to your unit, and you should know the ID unit number of your unit, like the first MIDI unit is unit 16 (or 17 - have not looked at anything midi in a long time but even my synth is one of those numbers for midi sending and recieving), and the second MIDI device if you had one, would be unit 17, the third unit 18, and so on up to unit 32. Each MIDI device would be operating on a different unit number for 16 channels to each device for a total maximum count device of 16 units x 16 channels each unit for a total of 256 MIDI tracks possible, if the LE version even handles that many, which is probably does not. Only handles perhaps say up to 64 midi tracks perhaps, whatever it says in the help manual of Sonar. Whether you can do all of that in Sonar is probably the question. Well, at least you would have 16 channels of midi, and if more units of midi then perhaps also hooked up into the computer, but right now I am thinking that only 16 channels of midi can be used. I suppose Help in Sonar may help you out there.
     
    That is all I can tell you, if USB, you still need the driver for the unit installed on your computer to recognize it and then it should be listed to pick for Midi Devices, and then set each track after setting up your unit in the Options Menu items mentioned for each track to transmit on what channel you want to send the sound out on, realizing that channel 10 is reserved usually for drums.
     
     Hope that made some kind of sense. It is not that hard to do, but you have to set everything up in Sonar first.
    post edited by spacealf - 2013/08/04 03:08:11

     
     
    #2
    desiday
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/04 09:12:40 (permalink)
    It does make sense, and that is how my settings are set.  I guess I should have been more specific.  When I open Sonar to edit a midi, if I go to an individual track, let's say an acoustic guitar track, when I click on the patch selection, it only gives me the options of the 128 GM sounds, when I know the SD-50 has several acoustic guitars and even a 12 string guitar sound.  How do I get the SD-50 sounds to appear when I open the patch icon?  I can change it to the particular sound I want directly on the SD-50, but it never saves is that way the next time I open the midi on the computer.
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    57Gregy
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/04 09:50:43 (permalink)
    You'll have to find, download and install the instrument Definition for the Roland. Then you will have all the banks and patch names listed.
    Or you could write your own ID.
     
    And welcome to the forum.
    post edited by 57Gregy - 2013/08/04 09:51:45

    Greg 
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    #4
    Jeff M.
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/04 10:26:47 (permalink)

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    spacealf
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/04 15:35:51 (permalink)
    Oh, yes, Instruments Definitions! How can one forget? Well, had a Sound Canvas a few years back now when only had regular midi connections in and out of anything, computer,  keyboard, whatever.
     
    Well, that should do it then, and it sounds like it will be a nice unit, since it has a mic input and guitar input as well as the rest.
     

     
     
    #6
    desiday
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/13 16:00:05 (permalink)
    Thank you everyone.  I downloaded the file, but I can't get the preset tone list to show up in the Sonar program when I select the patch icon on the individual.  I'm sorry for being such a pain...  :(
    #7
    57Gregy
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/13 16:19:39 (permalink)
    Did you load the ID in the ID file?

    Greg 
    I am selling my MIM Fender Stratocaster HSS, red and black. PM for more details.

    Music Creator 2003, MC Pro 24, SONAR Home Studio 6 XL, SONAR  X3e, CbB, Focusrite Saffire, not enough space.
    Everything is better with pie. 

    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=609446
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    #8
    desiday
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/13 17:34:48 (permalink)
    Yes, downloaded it and have it working!!!  Thank you.  Is there a more accurate guide to the patch listings?  The GM2 group and Preset group listings downloaded from online do not coincide with the patch that the SD-50 plays.  It's like I'm choosing sounds blindly.
    #9
    spacealf
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    Re: Pulling My Hair Out, Please Help!! 2013/08/14 19:17:49 (permalink)
    Since it came from Roland it should be correct. ?????
     

     
     
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