MIDI : do not hear a sound...

Hello,

I have plugged my MIDI Keyboard in my sound card. When I play, the CakeWalk software turns its red light on... but I do not hear a sound... I do not understand.
It is the same problem with my rhythm machine.
Maybe it is caused by my poor MIDI knowledge. I am not used to using it.

Thank you for your help !

ORIGINAL: RobertB

First question, what sound card do you have? You may not have a synth available for the MIDI to play through.
Do you have any soft synths? If so, do tutorial #8 in using soft synths(click F1 to get the help menu. the tutorials are in there)
Have you selected your MIDI inputs/outputs in Options>MIDI Devices? What keyboard do you have?
MIDI takes some getting used to. Answer these questions, and I will try to help.

- I have a EDIROL UA-25 Soundcard.
- I just have SONAR LE. Nothing else, concerning musical softwares.
- I have already selected the MIDI input/output : EDIROL UA-25 for both... I am not sure about anything.
- I have a Genio System MP1000 (keyboard). And a ZOOM RhythmTrak RT-323 (rhythm machine).

Thank you.

I'll try.
First a quick little lesson. Midi info is only commands, it contains no sound, just info like when to start, how hard to start, how long to hold, when to release, etc. The sounds are in your keyboard and rhythm machine and are not delivered through the midi cables. Only the line outs carry the actual sound. The line outs of your 2 machines should be plugged into some sort of monitor system.

Now a couple of questions.
When you try to record a midi track (I know you don't hear anything....but) does any info appear in the track view?

Do you own a mixer?

How do you listen? What are the UA 25s line outs pluged into?

The UA 25 is a stereo unit and presents problems when several outboard synths are used. A mixer becomes required.

Give us a lttle more info and we'll get you goin'.
Bob

I specify that I have used the rhythm machine and the keyboard separatly.

Good. I assume you have done this by....connecting the midi correctly and plugging the line outs of one machine into the inputs of the UA25. AND (I always forget this one) turn ON the input echo ( next to the R) on the track.

I think the problem you have is ...... not enough inputs.

Without a mixer this is probably your best bet:

Midi ins & outs
From UA25 midi out to Keyboard midi in
From KB midi thru (out) to drum machine midi in
From DM midi out to UA25 midi in

Audio ins & outs
From KB line out mono (L) to UA25 input 1
From DM line out mono (L) to UA25 input 2

This should let you hear up to 16 channels of midi, but notice it leaves no inputs left on the UA25 to record any audio. You will have to convert the midi tracks to audio before recording.

I see a small mixer in your future, they are available for under 100 bucks.

Bob

There is a setting on the keyboard/ piano that you need to turn it to - i had the same problem (see thread 'Is there a certian setting on the keyboard/piano...'

i_love_music

Ronny,
Have you gotten this resolved?

In theory, you can. However, my old Soundblaster Live! and the E-MU0404 did not get along. It may have been due to my inexperience at the time, but I pulled the Soundblaster. Except for games, the E-MU is better. The code in lots of games(I'm a big flight/combat sim and racing buff) doesn't access the E-MU properly, and you get occasional stutters, or affected video(which is really annoying).
I set up two hardware profiles in windows, so I use the E-MU for music, and the built-in AC97 for games. This works fine, as the video is not compromised, even though the sound is only average. I do have a decent video card, which helps immensely.

My own experience would lead me to say no, but I see you found Coldsteal's post in the other thread. Hope fully he will see this and shed some light on how he got it to work. I am interested as well.
Both E-MU cards have direct monitoring, which gives you zero latency. Even if you want to hear effects as you play, which means you have to have input echo turned on in the software, these cards are efficient enough to do it with 5-10ms latency.
I usually keep mine at 7ms(ASIO). This gives the effect time to process, and is roughly the same delay you would hear if you stand 7 feet from your amp. It is virtually imperceptible. Much more than 10, and you can hear it..
With audio only, you could comfortably go tighter. I leave some room for the synths(not really an issue with GTP)