• SONAR
  • using instrument plug in question (p.3)
2016/12/24 12:45:35
jjvibes
Okay,. You are quite kind of with your time. When I deeply appreciate it :-) although I have been involved with music for a long time I realize this is a completely new world-which I am pysched about! Luckily I have a little time as I don't have any big deadlines until the end of January when which will happen fast..
Because I am a teacher im trying out sonar with students as well as Cubase!! I'm sure many folks think it's crazy to use more than one DAW, but for now it's the learning cycle.... I'm sure when I need a to get stuff done my brain will connect to the correct tool.
We'll be checking out your song :-)
Super grateful for your responses. Happy holidays, Jim
2016/12/24 14:02:06
abacab
jjvibes
Okay,. You are quite kind of with your time. When I deeply appreciate it :-) although I have been involved with music for a long time I realize this is a completely new world-which I am pysched about! Luckily I have a little time as I don't have any big deadlines until the end of January when which will happen fast..
Because I am a teacher im trying out sonar with students as well as Cubase!! I'm sure many folks think it's crazy to use more than one DAW, but for now it's the learning cycle.... I'm sure when I need a to get stuff done my brain will connect to the correct tool.
We'll be checking out your song :-)
Super grateful for your responses. Happy holidays, Jim




No problem!  I always learn something new when I try to answer a question.  Or re-learn something that I had forgotten, so it works both ways.  Pay it forward
 
I was in school band for years, but after school got caught up in the day job, and neglected to keep up with my music.  Then years later, I decided to get back into music as a hobby with a keyboard synth.  Then I picked up a MIDI sequencer, then a keyboard synth workstation with an internal sequencer, and finally a computer.  Mad addiction, LOL!
 
I remember trying to decide what music software to use on Windows 95 back then.  Most of the good stuff was Mac only.  A guy in the store suggested this thing called Cakewalk.  So I picked up a copy. I also ended up with a LE version of Cubase for Windows.  Both Cakewalk and Cubase got started as excellent MIDI sequencing tools, with multiple MIDI tracks, piano rolls, and notation views. But they were not quite DAWs yet.
 
A lot of technology has changed since the days when music software just consisted of a MIDI sequencer, or some notation stuff.  Inexpensive, reliable, digital audio really has changed the game.  These sequencers began adding audio recording, then real-time audio FX with monitoring, and virtual instruments and samplers.  DAWs are now a full blown recording studio in the box, and much more complex.  I doubt many users ever learn or use all of the tools available in their DAW.  But there is plenty to grow into, when needed.
 
Plus there are a lot more choices today.  But for the Windows platform I would have to say that Cakewalk Sonar and Cubase are both probably great tools for MIDI production.  They were founded on MIDI roots.  With all of the demos available for download, it would be wise to try several DAWs and see what works best for your creative workflow.  But due to the time investment involved climbing the steep learning curve of any one of these tools, eventually pick one, and learn it well.  They all do the same things, just differently.  The idea is to stop thinking about how to make it work, and just create music
 
All the best, and Happy Holidays!!!
2016/12/25 20:31:31
jjvibes
well..i get the idiot award...tried all the steps and no luck..maybe you tube.. crazie..how I can get the same goal to work in another daw....
 
op..needs a break!
 
2016/12/26 16:36:51
abacab
Are you doing this in Sonar Home Studio, or Platinum? They may have slight differences ...
 
If the .mid file is not opening in Sonar with TTS-1, check the source application of your test score .mid file. It may  export things differently.  Sonar should understand the SMF (Standard MIDI File) specification.  That standard was created a long time ago to enable file exchange between systems.  Ensure that you are choosing SMF Type 1, if the option is available, but Type 0 should also work.
 
Silent tracks - - is another thing that still gets me. Be aware of the keyboard note # range assigned to each sound in the VST.  This is usually set by the sound designer to prevent an instrument from playing outside of it's range.  If my MIDI track only has notes in the C1-G2 range, and the instrument sound is set as for example, say C3 - G4, then no sound will play.
 
If I see the MIDI track meter flashing, but no sound, it's usually either that, or the wrong MIDI channel sending the data.
 
So as follow up, how about instead of posting something like "tried all the steps and no luck", please post exactly the steps you have taken, in detail, and the results of each step.  That is the only way we can help, short of looking over your shoulder. 
 
Best of luck!
2016/12/26 16:42:22
scook
abacab
If the .mid file is not opening in Sonar with TTS-1, check the source application of your test score .mid file. It may  export things differently.  Sonar should understand the SMF (Standard MIDI File) specification.  That standard was created a long time ago to enable file exchange between systems.  Ensure that you are choosing SMF Type 1, if the option is available, but Type 0 should also work.

For SONAR to automatically map a MIDI file to TTS-1 when opened, there must not be a MIDI output selected in Preferences > MIDI > Devices. If SONAR has a MIDI output device selected in preferences, TTS-1 will not be added when opening a MIDI file.
2016/12/26 16:51:34
abacab
scook
abacab
If the .mid file is not opening in Sonar with TTS-1, check the source application of your test score .mid file. It may  export things differently.  Sonar should understand the SMF (Standard MIDI File) specification.  That standard was created a long time ago to enable file exchange between systems.  Ensure that you are choosing SMF Type 1, if the option is available, but Type 0 should also work.

For SONAR to automatically map a MIDI file to TTS-1 when opened, there must not be a MIDI output selected in Preferences > MIDI > Devices. If SONAR has a MIDI output device selected in preferences, TTS-1 will not be added when opening a MIDI file.



Good tip! 
2016/12/26 19:34:59
jjvibes
ok, great news, i am dialing in some sounds...(i love when my 2 year old naps!) I even got aria to load in 1 instance...(hopefully the school kids will appreciate!) i know i do...
 
daw is like puzzles and problem solving...i don't mind as long as i can solve!
 
thank you so much for your time!Jim ps. it's hard to believe so i am going to experiment, again!
jj
2016/12/26 20:11:07
abacab
jjvibes
ok, great news, i am dialing in some sounds...
 
it's hard to believe so i am going to experiment, again!




+1
 
Experimenting is the best way to learn this stuff.  Sonar is my laboratory, BWAHAHAHA <evil laugh>
 
That's the cool thing about MIDI, is that you can use any instrument sound to play back any MIDI part.  Sometimes good mistakes happen.
 
Try some sounds that were not meant for the part, think outside the box!
 
Or sometimes it's fun to just take a GM (General MIDI) song file, open it up in TTS-1 with the basic GM sound set. And then, one by one using your VST's, substitute really good instrument sample or virtual synth sounds for the original GM sounds.  It's amazing how much better you can make a song sound which was originally arranged to be played with sound fonts...
 
Best of luck!
2017/01/01 10:17:47
jjvibes
thanks!  sadly, i got the aria to load in one instance and randomly all sounds just stop...this is not the case when i run roland tts-1  
everything is up to date and the sad part is i gave a shout out to support and have not heard anything within the last 2weeks.
keep in mind i am using sonar plat.
 
luckily i can get this project done with my other daw..
once i get internet back (big storm in the north east) i will make a new post to see if folks have the same experience.
happy new year, all!
2017/01/01 11:19:48
abacab
jjvibes
thanks!  sadly, i got the aria to load in one instance and randomly all sounds just stop...this is not the case when i run roland tts-1  
everything is up to date and the sad part is i gave a shout out to support and have not heard anything within the last 2weeks.
keep in mind i am using sonar plat.
 
luckily i can get this project done with my other daw..
once i get internet back (big storm in the north east) i will make a new post to see if folks have the same experience.
happy new year, all!




Sometimes you have to adjust the size of your audio buffers to allow for what you are doing.  The default does not always work best for all situations.  Small buffer sizes give you the benefit of low latency at a cost of CPU usage. Large buffers take less CPU, but creates longer latency.  You need to find the balance that works for your project and your system.  This applies to all DAWs.
 
If the Sonar audio engine is dropping out when the Aria player is running, try increasing your ASIO buffers.  The Aria player may be more demanding than TTS-1. 
 
Hopefully you are using a decent dedicated audio interface with low latency ASIO drivers.  But if not, and you are running Windows 10 and Platinum, you could check out the improved Sonar WASAPI driver for Win 10 just introduced in Sonar Platinum update 2016.11. http://static.cakewalk.com/cakewalk/products/sonar/release_notes/Welcome_to_the_SONAR_2016.11_Release.pdf
 
For adjusting audio buffers, look at these knowledge base articles:
 
I'm getting a delay or latency when recording or performing synths
https://www.cakewalk.com/...g-or-performing-synths
 
Audio Dropouts, Clicks and Pops When Playing and Recording
Audio Driver Latency/Buffer Size Needs to be increased if you are experiencing dropouts in the sense that the audio engine is completely stopping and your Cakewalk software is reporting "DROPOUT" in its Control Bar or Status Bar
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013007/Audio-Dropouts-Clicks-and-Pops-When-Playing-and-Recording
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