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I cannot hear MIDI playback
In order to hear MIDI playback you will always need to route the MIDI tracks to some MIDI device. Whether it is a synth built into Windows (MS GS Wavetable Synth), software synth (DXi VSTi) included with Cakewalk, or an external hardware synth, there are a few steps to take...
Internal Sound Card Playback: If you have a built-in sound card and want Cakewalk to play MIDI through the synth built into Windows, you will need to switch Cakewalk's driver mode so it can see it.
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio - Playback and Recording (Options > Audio > Advanced in legacy products)
- Change the Driver Mode to "MME (32-bit)" and click Apply (in legacy products put a check in the box that says "Always Use MME Interface" then click OK)
- Restart the program and let the Wave Profiler Test your hardware.
- Go to Edit > Preferences > MIDI - Devices (Options > MIDI Devices in legacy products). You should now see "Microsoft GS Wavetable S/W synth" under outputs.
- Select this new device and click [Apply (if available) then OK.
Software Synth (DXi, VSTi) Setup: If your sound card or audio interface supports WDM or ASIO drivers, you should use a DXi or VSTi virtual instrument as your synth, rather than the Microsoft GS Wavetable synth, which will not be available in these driver modes:
- Go to Insert > Soft Synth and add one of the synths from the list (click the + sign in the upper left).
- Make sure you check "MIDI Source", "First Synth Audio Output" and "Synth Property Page" from the Synth Options window that pops up. Once that particular synth is in view, press F1 for specific documentation on that synth (if available).
- Cakewalk should automatically create and route the necessary tracks for your soft synth. You can now route existing MIDI tracks to this soft synth by changing the 'Output' setting in the MIDI track to the synth you inserted. Note - For detailed instructions, see the tutorial called "Using Soft Synths" or "Playing and recording software instruments" under Help | Help Topics. These tutorials will be very helpful to you.
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013179/I-cannot-hear-MIDI-playback