I am a new Sonar user.
I have been happily banging for the past week or so, had it all figured out to the degree that I could record tings and let that learning curve begin.
I got up this morning and my midi tracks won't make a sound. They are there, the info is reaching the mixing board and registering but I cannot hear anything.
Same thing goes for any attempt to add a midi track, no sound.
 
I've been down the checklist of regular things to check and double check. If I have a personal weakness it is in the assigning of I/O to the track. I can get lost in that stuff if I step outside of rote instructions. I don't think I did anything other than the usual there though. I went to bed last night having just laid down an organ track. I got up this morning and the midi tracks, period, are being p7ssy...I don't understand.
 
I must be missing something really obvious, could anyone lend a different perspective to my attempts?
 
Right, I am running the latest iteration of Sonar X3 on an HP which does nothing but run the software. I made sure I had sufficient horsepower to do what I am doing on this computer. I also went in and deleted any background programs not critical to the machines own welfare. I am using W8 (not MkII, not the one with the shell to allow users to pretend they are still using W7). And lastly I have a cute little M-Audio M-Track as the interface. I use an old Yamaha kybd with midi capability to trigger my midi stuff...anything else? Hmmm, don't think so.
 
I would be very appreciative if someone could lend a hand or an opinion or a new set of virtual eyes.
 
Thanks,
Dave
 

What are you using to make a sound? What synth? 

 got up this morning and my midi tracks won't make a sound. They are there, the info is reaching the mixing board and registering but I cannot hear anything.
Same thing goes for any attempt to add a midi track, no sound.

MIDI alone doesn't make any sounds. MIDI is just Data.
 
You need something to read that MIDI Data and then make the sounds, like a soft synth. You need a synth or soft synth to interpret the MIDI Data and in return it make sounds from the MIDI Data.
 
 
If you already configured a soft synth  to read the MIDI Data in Sonar, then just make sure you have selected a patch or program in that synth or soft synth.
 
You also need to check the routing form the MIDI track to the audio track that outputs the sounds from the soft synth. 
 
CJ

yes, I understand the diff between reading the data and getting a device to interpret it as music. I am using an old Yamaha PSR E223 keyboard to make the midi data into sound.
 
It's the routing that I am less than clear about but I thought I had things straight till this morning. I think I will seek out some sort of Dummy's Guide to routing, it's all I can think of to do right now.
 
 

"You also need to check the routing form the MIDI track to the audio track that outputs the sounds from the soft synth."
 
Hello, above could be key. This could be important because if for some reason Sonar did not see or if for some reason your midi configuration changed, your midi I/) may have been reassigned. Also check in "preferences" to see if your midi device is registered in Sonar.  Lastly, Can you elaborate more on "the info is reaching the mixing board and registering but I cannot hear anything".  IHTH.. thx

Hi LunaTech,
I am attempting to tell you all that my sound meters are showing the existing tracks that were recorded yesterday I don't have any sound though.
 
I just had another long look and it occurred to me that the keyboard I am using is not listed under devices, just the M-Audio interface. How do I get the computer to see my kybd if it is not listed anywhere?
 
I'm really getting confused now...all of this was working just fine 24 hours ago.
 
How do I check whether or where the routing from midi to audio is please?
 
D
 

Check MIDI/Devices in Preferences.
 
And in case you really use MIDI tracks with output to Microsoft GS Wavetable or such, you can consider to use some synth (Cakewalk TTS-1 for General MIDI).

Hi,
 
Not in front of my DAW but.... If you highlight a track with a midi instrument on it, that will bring into focus from the "Inspector" (Where the track information is generally on the left). IF this is a simple instument track, please note that toward the bottom there will be a split designating Audio/midi views.  This is where you can check the midi routing. This can also be done from the console view by checking the track with the soft syth and reviewing the I/O.
 
IF the Keyboard is not being listed in Preferencess/Midi Devices... I would suggest getting out of Sonar and checking to see if it is being seen by device manager. This can be accesses from control pane. Under sound devices (generally) this is where you should see your midi keyboard. Also check the physical connnections (midi or usb cable) to ensure nothing has somehow come loose or is making a partial connection.  
 
Still not clear on the "sound meters".  Is this within Sonar?  Or are they meters on the M-Audio.  Are you saying that you see the information in the track, and the meters are moving when you hit play but you are not getting any sound?.  If this is the condition.. Is everything silent including real instruments or vocals ( if recorded).  Let us know... thx.

 
 
Still not clear on the "sound meters".  Is this within Sonar?  Or are they meters on the M-Audio.  Are you saying that you see the information in the track, and the meters are moving when you hit play but you are not getting any sound?.  If this is the condition.. Is everything silent including real instruments or vocals ( if recorded).  Let us know... thx.




 
Hi Luna Tech,
That is the condition, as you have outlined it, with regard t midi, and yes other 'audio' source are fine and I am able to hear them.
 
Even as you described the routing above I was remembering something I had to do a week or so back. What I wondered then, and I am wondering now, is why we have to go there and do.
 
Thanks for your help.
 
D
 

It might help if you could describe the signal flow from beginning to end - keyboard to monitors without missing anything out and also distignuishing between Midi/Audio. What cables are connected to which in/out sockets