Problem: Midi tracks produce no sound.
Symptoms: when track/s are playing, volume meter is moving (indicating sound should work). There is no problem with mixed audio/midi tracks (ie where I insert a soft synth of any type. 
When I open a demo midi file (ie downtown.cwp) it gives me the error message "following MIDI devices could not be found" which is "Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth". I don't know what this is. I then reassign it to Profire 610 MIDI, my M-Audio sound card. It then says "this file contains System Exclusive data designed to be sent automatically to your MIDI gear. Do you want to send it now?" My answer here doesn't matter, no sound no matter what.
I then try to play around with the Track/Bus inspector in track view by selecting various track names and changing the output routing to "Profire 610 MIDI". All outputs originally are set on "Missing: Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth" which I know is wrong. I don't know where this Microsoft GS Wavetable synth is coming from. 
I go to Options>MIDI devices and there is 1 input: Profire 610 MIDI, I leave that checked; 2 outputs: Profire 610 MIDI (checked) and Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth (unchecked). Changing these check marks doesn't fix the problem.

Same problem exists when I create a new MIDI file track. "Master" is set to Profire 610 MIDI as is "MIDI" in the track bus/inspector, volume fluctuates when I play the keyboard, but no sound comes out.

Thank you, please help!

In a nutshell - "Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth" is the GM set of sounds in your built-in sound card.  Not what you want to use.  If I'm following your post correctly, it seems what you're neglecting to have in the project is a soft synth - a sound source to be triggered by the MIDI files.  Your Profire 610 MIDI is the interface connecting to your computer, but it doesn't have any sounds in it.  You need to use a synth that comes with Sonar.

The Sonar Help file about using soft synths is next on your required reading list.

rbowser

Maybe I need to insert a soft synth in a new MIDI track, but why doesn't a demo track like the Roland produced "downtown.cwp" file have sound? That is a drum beat demo track, and I can't possibly need to select different drum soft synths for each track.

Also, another thing which makes me think this is not a soft synth problem: I am following the Sonar 8.5 User's guide tutorials, Tutorial 9 - Drum Maps. I do exactly what the instructions say: they have me use DM1GM Drums in a MIDI track output, there are no further instructions for inserting a different soft synth. As I said, instructions were exactly followed and again, no sound although volume levels are fluctuating.

Thanks for the input, any other ideas, or is there still something fundamental that I don't get about soft synths?

pick the MIDI track- double click to open Track properties - look at the output   if it say's Microsoft wave thats your problem...any imported MIDI will default to this until you select a soft synth-

A "Drum Map" is NOT a "softsynth"...Tutorial 4 "Playing and recording software instruments" is where you need to start...

Also, another thing which makes me think this is not a soft synth problem

Your right, its not a soft synth problem, Cause they work fine..Its a configuration problem and a problem and a problem not understanding the terminology. Get familiar with the program and give yourself some time to take it all in..
 
 

can't possibly need to select different drum soft synths for each track.

Of course you dont. All you need is one soft synth that outputs multiple outs and all you need is one synth for 12 drum tracks, with each drum being on a different track. That's the way it works
Cj

Thanks for all for the advice. I have gone through Tutorial 4, and all the other tutorials. I just don't understand why tutorial 9 doesn't have me insert a soft synth and implies that I should have sound without having done that. It seems that that must be an error.

So, could someone give me a step by step for getting downtown.cwp to produce sound? I don't understand how to insert a soft synth that will cover all 9 MIDI tracks. And which is the appropriate soft synth to insert, or does it matter?

Thanks again!

Hi awinant-

So, could someone give me a step by step for getting downtown.cwp to produce sound? I don't understand how to insert a soft synth that will cover all 9 MIDI tracks. And which is the appropriate soft synth to insert, or does it matter?

Try inserting the Cakewalk TTS-1 softsynth, and make sure the downtown.cwp track outputs are all directed to it. You can select all the tracks at once and use Tracks > Property > Output for that.

You should then be able to hear all the tracks in downtown.cwp just fine, provided the TTS-1's output is directed to the Main Bus or directly to your sound card.

-Susan

awinant


Thanks for all for the advice. I have gone through Tutorial 4, and all the other tutorials. I just don't understand why tutorial 9 doesn't have me insert a soft synth and implies that I should have sound without having done that. It seems that that must be an error.

My version of Producer 8.5 lists Tutorial #9 as "Exporting, CD Burning and Sharing"...

Yeah, Susan nails it.

Cakewalks' initial level of expected user knowledge it too high for many even though we know that they must assume a basic level of knowledge on the part of their customers. This is not really a software package problem. This is fundamental midi and the basics of how a midi file is even audibly rendered. I reckon Scott gets on the wagon with a basic 20 page pdf on the dvd "Easy Midi" for Every One and coins it and cuts the noobie frustration level in half at least by getting Cakewalk to include a slip of paper with every package of sonar pointing them to the pdf.  And don't anybody tell me it's in the manual because we all know that very few noobies are goiing to dive into the blackness of a 1000 page manual. Remember, it's tough to find it when you don't know what you're looking for.