Hey all, is it possible to get a midi signal from my Boss DR-880 into my M-Audio Fast Track Ultra Midi input, then USB into my computer and have Sonar X2 see that as a midi signal?  I'm trying to send a midi drum pattern though but when I arm the midi track, it's not seeing any signal. 

For the input I chose Fast Track Ultra - MIDI in... But not getting anything. Mind you, I'm very knew to Sonar so I could be user error and I don't have something setup correctly.


Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Make sure you have enabled the midi device. I have a FTU and it works fine.

Under P = Preferences > Midi > Devices... check the boxes next to the FTU's input and output then click APPLY (do apply rather than OK... not sure why).

G

First off, does windows see the MIDI device? It needs to see it before sonar can see it, so look in the lower right corner and if you see a little piano icon light up when you press any key on your midi device, then windows see's it and then you just need to set it up in sonar


CJ

Hi gswitz,
Went to preferences and it was already checked. 
If I put this signal in as an audio track, i get a signal just fine.

Also, not sure if this is the issue or not but I'm currently using the X2 demo version. Not sure if midi recording is disabled for the demo version or not. 

Are you using a sift synth to make sounds form the MIDI signal? MIdi is just data, it contains no sounds. Insert a soft synth to produce sounds from the midi. Read the tutorials on soft synths to get you familiar with them

CJ

Hi CJay... 

Not applying any kind of synth to it. It's just a drum rhythm from the the DR-880.  As far as midi indicator? I see it down there, but it does not look to be "light up" but it does display. If I hover over it I get a tool tip that says "MIDI Input/Output" activity.

Ok...

Let's try basics...

Right click in track view and add a midi track...
select the input as omni if it isn't....
with the focus on that track, touch your key board...
does the level bounce? You won't hear anything yet
because you haven't routed the signal to anything
but the line level should bounce....

After that... it's a matter of routing the output of the track to the software synth of your choice...
On that software synth, make sure you pick a program...
Sometimes I get confused when I add a new synth and can't hear it...

It's possible to route the midi signal to a synth without a loaded program... the result is silence...

So, open the synth and load a program...

Now... when you hit a key... the sound should route to the midi synth and you should hear output....

I usually use "Insert Soft Synth" and follow the directions in the help file...

Insert Soft Synth Tutorial

Hi CJay...

Not applying any kind of synth to it. It's just a drum rhythm from the the DR-880. As far as midi indicator?

Then your not reocridng MIDI. If its a drum sound, then its audio. MIODi is just data. It has no sound to it. This is why you do not see any midi activity

redbarchetta


Hey all, is it possible to get a midi signal from my Boss DR-880 into my M-Audio Fast Track Ultra Midi input, then USB into my computer and have Sonar X2 see that as a midi signal?  I'm trying to send a midi drum pattern though but when I arm the midi track, it's not seeing any signal. 

For the input I chose Fast Track Ultra - MIDI in... But not getting anything. Mind you, I'm very knew to Sonar so I could be user error and I don't have something setup correctly.


Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Yes it is possible. I wouldn't use the M Audio as the MIDI port for it though. It has USB of its own and that is the way I would go if I didn't have a dedicated MIDI port to plug it into.  

I would have the audio out going to the M audio and the MIDI out going via USB to Sonar. You will need to add that device to Sonar via Preferences/MIDI devices.

In Sonar add a MIDI track and set its input to the DR 880. Arm that track and hit record and hit play on the DR 880. You should be recording the MIDI data into Sonar. 

 

I agree with John, you don't need the M Audio. I have done it USB direct with my DR880 several times now. I've been using the TTS-1 for the synth for it.
You might have to set up the midi and USB inside the DR880 under Edit/Midi/settings and Edit/USB/Mode/Midi.
Another thing to watch is the USB connection seems fragile so doesn't work sometimes. The answer in my case was to secure the connection with a bit of velcro.