No sound???

Welcome to the forum.
Which version of MC? Is that a 64-bit OS?
Some of the demos are all MIDI and you may have to insert a software synthesizer to hear it play.
Does it play (the timeline moves) but you don't hear anything or does it not do anything when you click play?

Thanx guys, so I was able to hear an audio loop as per manual. :) 

However, I tried previewing MIDI groove clips as per manual and imported a couple MP3's into the tracks...  nothing on either one of them. 

Netbook is 32 bit Windows 7 Starter.

I am using an UM-1G MIDI interface and an ancient Yamaha PSR-70 controller (lol)... I don't know if it's going to work but it's all I have at the moment..   I'm not really at the point to test and get that up and running although it is plugged in...

I selected the Um-1G midi device for output and input as well as MS GS Wavetable Syth in Midi Devices.

The help feature is saying that possibly I don't have a Patch or Bank selected for the track???  Or an output setting selected?  I don't know how to check for that.

My soundcard is a Realtek.

Any advice? I don't need a new controller do I?

Cheers!
Greg

hmmm... kinda stumped.  Still no sound, plus it's bedtime.

I've chosen the synth, selected the synth, played the midi loop... not sure what the patches and banks are for? how to insert them?   I go up to Insert.... Patches/banks.... but don't know which patches to choose I understand that there is like 16K patches... each patch has 128 banks of different sounds.. ie music box, pipe organ. But does the mp3 need a patch and a bank?  How do I know which one to use? 

Could you please explain in what is the purpose of them (patches/banks) and how to use/insert them?  And also if the Yammy is gonna work... and how to set that up?

I know I'm asking alot but any help would be great! 

Cheers!
Greg

Every track has to have an output selected. Every track you're recording on must have an input selected.
If you're clicking notes into a MIDI track with your mouse you don't need an input.
If you import audio or MIDI into a track you don't need an input.
But the output is required if you want to hear the track.
All the track parameters are selected in the track pane.
 

 
The top track is a MIDI track, denoted by the MIDI plug icon.
The second track is an audio track, as shown by the stereo wave form icon.
The one on the bottom is a bus, named Master.
The MIDI track has an input (I) of Focusrite Omni. It's output (O) is also the Focusrite, sending the MIDI data out to my keyboard to be played.
The channel (CH) is 1 and the bank is PSR 280 GM (General MIDI) Voice. The patch is Grand Piano.
All these things can be selected in the MIDI Track Pane. 
The channels are especially important, because if the MIDI tracks don't have a channel selected, they'll all sound like piano, the default patch. Channel 10 is reserved for drums in the GM Standard, but you can have drums on any channel.
The audio track has the input set to Left Focusrite Saffire ASIO. When recording microphones or guitars, or any mono instrument, you should choose a mono input or the audio will only play from one side. Usually the mono input is the left input.
By default, audio tracks will output directly to your sound card. It's best to change that output to a bus for greater control of the audio signal. You can insert a number of buses, you should have one as a Master bus to sum all the audio to, and say you have 5 guitar tracks; insert a bus, name it Guitars, and output that Guitar bus to the Master bus.
The Master bus is output to the Focusrite Saffire ASIO Play 1, the Saffire being my audio/MIDI interface.
 
Another possible problem is that Yamahas sometimes don't work with MIDI-to-USB converters that aren't made by Yamaha, especially older Yamahas.

A lot of folks think that when they insert a patch they should hear sound, but there are no patches to insert unless a synth  has been inserted first or the system is playing thru a windows GM sound set.

The program does not have a midi solution setup from the start, you have to do that, and like Guitarhacker said, go to his site and read the info on synth setup, then it will make sense.

Thanx guys!  That helped muchly...

Update: good news: The Yammy works.... I was able to get the keyboard to trigger the different patches to the Netbook. Also was able to listen to an imported MP3.  The Input and outputs I've learned are kinda important! lol

Bad news:  There is a split second latency and it sounds like a CD that is scratched... with a consistent ticking sound.  Neat effect if I wanted it.. but I don't.

I now have to figure out my next step as my Netbook just isn't going to cut it.  I do have an older Dell desktop with 512 mb, running XP and a Creative Audigy SB0090 Sound Card that a friend gave me.  I could install the SC and buy some ram... and then cross me fingers?   or I could buy a new system, new controller...(which is where I'm leaning)

Question for you...  is the Creative Audigy worth keeping and installing into the Dell with new Ram? Or am I better off to bite the bullet and put a new system on the credit card?? :(

If you had to start from scratch... how would you guys build a recording/production studio with what I have?  What is the most cost effective way?  And what exactly do I need?  I'm a bass/guitar player by trade but I'd like to start with producing electronic music/djing using a laptop/keyboard... then slowly introduce the actual instrument recording and vocals, once I know what I'm doing.   So I don't need mics ( although I do have a 58), interfaces etc, just yet.... happy with the keyboard for now. 

Oh yeah... the age old question... MAC or PC? 

This, like an other hobby, does require a "small" startup investment to actually do it right. Many folks come in and have a fairly decent computer so they can get going with  ease.

You should decide if this is something you are interested in doing. If so.... you need a few things. the first is a computer that meets or better yet exceeds the MINIMUM system specs for the product you are running.  Second, you need a decent interface ...also called a sound card, to get the music in and out of the box.  Beyond that.... mics, midi keyboards, other software, and all the other stuff to make music..... monitors, cables, etc....

once started, and moving along with a working system, you can build your studio as you can afford or need to.

Trying to start using the wrong or inadequate gear often results in frustration and that's what makes people give it up.

Many come here and have very little discretionary income to spend on this hobby, and we try to help them as best we can to get started.

If you are able.... A quad core i5 or i7 intel based processor running 4 to 16 gig of memory, a nice USB sound card/interface supporting midi & Audio, a nice set of 5" to 8" reference monitors and a sub would be a nice initial investment.....  Under $2k total.  That gets you started with a system that will last awhile and do what you need it to.

Once you have that.. it's easy to dump another $1k to $2k on software and synth libraries and mics....etc.....