HELP: Cannot get any sound out of X1 Producer!!

Hi guys,

I have a fresh install of Sonar X1 Producer on my machine and it looks real cool but alas, it won't play most audio at all (gives an error message) and plays midi files with no sound.

When I launch the tutorial file Cakewalk_AudioDemo1.cwb and press play, I just get an error message (below):

ERROR MESSAGE:

Unable to open audio playback device.  Device may not support the current project's audio format or may be in use.  For help, please visit: 
www.cakewalk.com/support/hardwaresetup/ or contact Cakewalk Technical Support

1 - I have my default playback device set to Speakers (High Definition Audio Device) in my computer's control panel and 

2 - when I played the cakewalk project, I first went to edit > preferences and selected my fast track as the input driver and both Speakers (High Definition Audio Device) and Digital Audio (HDMI) (High Definition Audio Device) as the output driver (please see below for my actual system information).

3 - I also changed the output on each channel on the Cakewalk_AudioDemo1.cwb recording to Speakers (High Definition Audio Device) and this got me the above error.


MIDI files are no better:


1 - When I launch Latin.cwp from the same tutorial folder, it tells me that C:\Cakewalk Projects\Audio does not exist and asks if I'd like to create it (I put all extra content on my Q drive).  

2 - When I say NO, it asks me to locate the wavedata directory.  I direct it to the Q drive but no location on it (since I don't know what a wavedata directory even is, much less where to find it) 

3 - It tells me that SB X-Fi Synth A [1000] is missing and will be replaced with "--- None ---" and I hit ok.  

4 - Next it says  "This file contains System Exclusive data designed to be sent automatically to your MIDI gear.  Do you want tot send it now?" and I click cancel.  

5 - Finally the file comes up and plays with the meters going up and down as though it's producing sound, but no sound actually comes out.

6 - I added an audio track and armed it and recorded, and Sonar let me, but on playback, it moves the meters slightly, but there is no sound in it.


So basically, Sonar won't play audio or midi with sound:  
1) Is this a soundcard issue?  
2) Do I need a new soundcard?  
3) What is the most economical fix for this?  
4) And shouldn't it be able to at least record my audio using my Fast Track interface?  
5) Audacity has no problem recording crisp audio using Fast Track. Is this not good enough for Sonar?? 

Anyway, here is my system information, if it will help.  THANKS FOR ANY HELP ANYONE CAN GIVE:


OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium , 64 bit
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 640 Processor, AMD64 Family 16 Model 5 Stepping 3
Processor Count: 4
RAM: 4095 Mb
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.1), 256 Mb
Hard Drives: 
C: Total - 476837 MB, Free - 429507 MB; 
K: Total - 953867 MB, Free - 31192 MB; 
M: Total - 365000 MB, Free - 22994 MB; 
N: Total - 50006 MB, Free - 49327 MB; 
O: Total - 50006 MB, Free - 1604 MB; 
P: Total - 11923 MB, Free - 3118 MB; 
Q: Total - 953867 MB, Free - 223154 MB;
 
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer INC., M4N68T-M-V2, Rev X.0x, MT700CK43601739
Antivirus: AntiVir Desktop, Updated and Enabled


Sound Devices
-------------

            Description: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1106&DEV_0397&SUBSYS_10438415&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
         Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 7/13/2009 20:07:00, 350208 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No


            Description: Speakers (Fast Track)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: USB\VID_0763&PID_2024&REV_0030&MI_00
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: USBAUDIO.sys
         Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 7/13/2009 20:06:32, 109568 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No


            Description: Digital Audio (HDMI) (High Definition Audio Device)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1106&DEV_0397&SUBSYS_10438415&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
         Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 7/13/2009 20:07:00, 350208 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No


---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Microphone (Fast Track)
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: USBAUDIO.sys
         Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 7/13/2009 20:06:32, 109568 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the help.

I think I understood to change the driver mode to ASIO drivers, which I did in edit > preferences > Playback and recording > Driver Mode (changed from WDM/KS to ASIO) and then clicked "Apply"

It then brought me to the "Missing Audio Outputs" screen which said it was missing Fast Track, but would reassign it to the available (Fast Track) (this time "Fast Track" was in parenthesis but otherwise the same).

I clicked OK and it brought me back to the same Playback and Recording area in Preferences where I had set ASIO.  I clicked on "Close" and the preferences screen closed.

I pressed play on the file and there was no sound and no meters moving either.  I went to change the IN/OUT settings on the lower left and Fast Track was no longer an option I could choose in either input or output since I changed the Driver Mode to ASIO.  For example, under Input I only have "Selected Track input series" and "Selected Track Inputs" as possible inputs and although Outputs has a few more than that, Fast Track and onboard sound are both gone.

If I switch the Driver Mode back to WDM/KS, it profiles my hardware first, then if I press play, I get meters moving again but no sound.  

Did I execute the steps to the suggestion above incorrectly?  I'd REALLY love to get this working.  When I read the above, I thought it was the end of my troubles..... but I guess no payoff without work, right?

Thanks,

Good News!   By switching to MME (32 bit) instead of either WDM or ASIO, I am able to hear and record audio with absolutely no problem.  It recorded as crisply as it would in Audacity.


But there is still no MIDI sound, only meters moving with no actual sound coming out.

If I want to record my guitar, voice, plus add drums and maybe a bassline or an organ, can I accomplish all that using VSTs only?  Do all of these come as VSTs with SONAR??


For example, I have iDrum, but no clue how to load it to SONAR.

So next, I'm off to search for resources on how to use VSTs with Sonar.  If anyone can point me to a good comprehensive but not too difficult article (or if it's easy, just tell me how), please do.
Thanks,

If I want to record my guitar, voice, plus add drums and maybe a bassline or an organ, can I accomplish all that using VSTs only? Do all of these come as VSTs with SONAR??

 
Yes.
 
You certainly don't want to use MME driver mode when using VSTi. Your latency will be too low.
 
See the MIDI configuration Getting Started Video on CakeTV for MIDI setup. MIDI needs to trigger a softsynth or some other module for you to hear sound.
 
M-Audio audio interfaces usually have an ASIO driver. It's the best to use if the Fast track has an ASIO driver. Did you download the most resent driver for the Fast Track from M-Audio's site?
 
See the SONAR Help file Tutorial 4 for getting familiar with working with Software instruments (VSTi).
 
If the Fast Track doesn't have an ASIO driver, use WDM driver mode yet, only select the Fast Track drivers in Preferences, select the "Share Drivers with other programs" option in Prefernces, make sure there is a Fast track output selected for your tracks/busses in the project, and make sure the sample rate is the same for the project and in your Fast Track audio control panel.
 
Hope this helps.

Thanks Thomas, you're helping a lot.

I watched the MIDI video you mentioned and a few others.  I noticed in the MIDI video that there are synth options I don't have.  I only have one, MS GS Wavetable Synth.

I downloaded the latest FT driver but I have no way of knowing if it has ASIO drivers or not.  I did select ASIO in SONAR preferences, selected FT drivers and "share drivers" and made sure there was a FT output for all tracks (not sure what a bus is) but got silence along with meters moving.  MIDI plays back fine using MS GS Wavetable Synth in track outputs.  But no audio.

So on your next suggestion, I selected WDM driver mode and selected FT drivers and "share drivers" and made sure there was a FT output for all tracks (not sure what a bus is) and again got silence with moving meters.  Since MS Wavetable synth doesn't any longer appear under MIDI in preferences, MIDI also plays in silence with meters moving.  No audio AND no MIDI.

Sample rate for the fast track and for the project are both 44100, but still I get moving meters plus no sound.  Also, my MIDI output optins disappear from preferences so there is no possibility of MIDI at all when I choose WDM.  

Finally, I go back to good ol' MME and choose selected FT drivers and "share drivers" and made sure there was a FT output for all tracks and still getting silence with moving meters.  

• If I change to input: Fast Track and Output: "Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)" and set outputs to "Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)" on tracks in the project, I get my audio back.  
• I also get my MIDI back options back with MME.  And I can record at good volume.
• This seems to be the best setup, but if I understand you correctly, the latency will be too low for me to use VSTi (I believe this means that my sounds will appear too late after I play them?)  I'm going to buy a midi controller tomorrow since I no longer have one, and I'll test this.

Can you please read your PM?

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate this.  I've at least gotten to the point of being able to play audio and midi, as well as recording audio.

Thanks,

You said somewhere further back that the only speakers you have are connected to your computer.  Do you have any speakers plugged into the back of your fast track(or headphones plugged in the front) to hear the output?  

Mind you I could have missed the obvious in what was said above as well, in which case just ignore the above statement/question.

A Closer view

Chris:

You never mention which model of the Fast Track you have, so if you have a model that doesn't have a standard MIDI port, you should get a MIDI keyboard controller that has a USB connection.

And as mentioned before, it sounds like you have your speakers connected to the computer audio connector, and you need to connect the speakers to an output on the Fast Track when you have SONAR setup to use the Fast Track WDM or ASIO drivers.

UPDATE:

I haven't changed anything from the above set up (FT as my default playback and recording device in my computer's control panel, ASIO selected in SONAR's Preferences > Playback and Recording, FT ASIO drivers chosen as inputs and outputs in SONAR'S Preferences > Devices) but suddenly, since I've tried to record, now SONAR won't even play an Audio file using FT.  It was doing it fine a moment ago, but now I get this error:

Unable to open audio playback device.  Device may not support the 
current project's audio format or may be in use.
For help, please visit:
www.cakewalk.com/support/hardwaresetup/
or contact Cakewalk Technical Support.

So, no sound, but not only that, it won't even play.  No meters, nothing.  I've obviously upset it. 

Going to Preferences and checking it and closing it brings up the same error:

The ASIO sample rate is not supported by one of the USB interfaces!
Please check your sync settings in the Control Panel.

Back to square one???

UPDATE #3:

SUCCESS!  Well, sort of....

It is now recording audio over midi with no problem, well with a small but manageable problem:

All I have to do is start recording > get the error message > go to my computer's control panel > set playback default to onboard sound "Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)"> then set it BACK to Fast Track > start recording again, 

and for whatever reason, that resetting seems to get it recording.  Sometimes I have to reset twice.  If anyone's got a clue how to go around that, please let me know, but in the meantime, at least I can record, right??

It may not be a proper fix, but it's as close as I have right now....

Thanks again guys, sorry for being so long-winded....

Hi Mud, I just noticed your FT Driver is 2009.  Go to
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support&tab=driver&serie_ID=6&PID=5ea97966cd3fcd681250f391119131e0&OS=x90&show_older_releases=1
and Update with the newest/latest (12/21/2010)
Reboot system and see what ya come up with.

yup sounds like drivers aren't installed correctly or up to date, or there is a conflict with the fast track and maybe it is being used in wondows too or the onboard sound is causing problems-

i suggest starting by disabling the onboard sound int he bios to eliminate a variable, install lates driver s for the fast track and congfigure correctly in sonar to use the fast track-