Newb Dimension Pro question

how about using a midi controller/keyboard
Cj

ORIGINAL: Tunesy

I'm new to synths. Maybe I've just overlooked it in the manual, but is there a way to audition sounds when you're working on them in Dimension Pro? I've been loading a midi file or scribbling down a few notes in the piano roll and hitting spacebar to test my Dimension Pro sounds while working on them, but it's a bit of a clunky way to work. Seems like there should be a keyboard shortcut or something to just test the sounds as your working on them. Thanks.

I use the piano roll to lay down some notes, and then loop them. Leave it running while you select different Dim Pro programs.

I don't want to add a midi device

You could download and install MIDI-OX (free for personal use). This allows you to use your PC's keyboard to send MIDI Note On and Note Off messages to Sonar. It's pretty crude, in that you get constant velocity and no aftertouch, but you would at least be able to play the soft synths. (There used to be a similar feature embedded within Cake's sequencer software, but I don't think that it exists any more).

However, I can't help feel that you would get so much more out of your soft synths if you were to get hold of a decent USB keyboard. If you get a 25 key one, it takes up little space, but will normally give you a more-or-less full-featured MIDI capability. Most also let you interact with Sonar via knobs and faders as well. They are really not expensive - far less than the licence cost of Dim Pro.

I don't want something that big chained to my hip while doing this hobby

Why ... do you do it while you're out running or something? Each to his own, but I can't imagine auditioning synth sounds without the means to try out a few fat chords ...

Maybe I should have mentioned how I like to do the music/computer hobby. I've played instruments for 30 years, but I'm not really interested in having the computer dominate my music time, hence the "keep it simple" mantra. My usual work flow is: Write music in Overture (usually string quartet, guitar solo, or the occassional full orchestra), export midi, open midi in Sonar, attach instruments, render. I also like to get lazy sometimes and generate stuff with Band in a Box. Is there any reason I should add the additional complications of a midi device to that mix? I'm all ears if the benefit is worth the hassle. Maybe I should have mentioned my main use of Dim Pro is for acoustic instruments and I'd like to learn to tweak them a bit in Dim Pro, which is why I was asking about auditioning. Anyway. No big deal. I'm having a blast with this stuff. I'm becoming a Cakewalk fanboy.