Hi all,

I just bought a midi controller keyboard and want to dive into playing "virtual instruments" in my SONAR 8.3 Producer software.

I'm a guitar player and have getting analog tracks down in SONAR. Now it's time to use the keyboard to get drums and piano/synths sounds into my music.

Does anyone have a link to a tutorial on how to do this. I'm looking for a step-by-step set up instructions and also where to find keyboard sounds (what file types do i use?, etc...)

thanks,
bob

Have you gotten Windows to recognize the controller? What controller is it? Did it come with a disk for the drivers?
Set-up is usually pretty easy and painless, as long as the controller is 'seen' by Windows and SONAR. Just select the controller as an input in a MIDI track, Insert a software synthesizer, set the output of the MIDI track to that soft synth, play the controller.
I'll look around for a video link on this subject.
 

There are few Getting Started videos here, including how to set up a controller and how to insert synths and effects:
 
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA828352165E555FA
 
Eventually, if you haven't already, you'll want to get an audio interface designed for recording. Otherwise you'll be hampered by the latency (delay) inherent in your computer's stock sound card.

hi greg

unfortunately I own SONAR producer 8.3 . There is no EDIT>Preferences option in SONAR 8.3.....at least under the EDIT menu I can find...

Do you have any other ideas where I can get my PC & SONAR software to recognize this midi controller?

I have the controller hooked up using a USB cable to my PC.

-b

Hey, Bob.
In Sonar 8.3, your controller should show up under Options>MIDI Devices/Inputs.
What controller are you using? Does it have its own USB drivers?
I have Sonar 8.3 Studio, so I should see the same views as you do.
If you can list your system specs in your signature, that will be a big plus for us to help you.
In particular, your OS and audio interface are important.
RAM, CPU, etc are also valuable.

Right, sorry 'bout that. In the newer programs, all that stuff is under Preferences, but in older versions, they're under Options.

ok, made some progress...that is I can now see the red MIDI lights on the MIDI input/Output activity in my system tray icon. But I'm still not getting the Midi controller keyboard to produce any sound. 

I went to Options>Midi Devices and I checked "USB Audio Device".

Also, i inserted a soft synth (Cakewalk TTS-1) and if I use the mouse and click on the instruments I trigger the sounds. But when I use the midi controller....no sounds.

Please advise.

thanks,
bob

Dell desktop Optiplex 755
Intel Dou 2 Core CPU, 2.66 Ghz, 3.25 Gb RAM

Windows XP, Professional , Serv pack 3

Midi controller: ALesis QX49

Audio interface: Line6 Toneport UX2

OK. Looking at the QX49 manual, it appears that you can select how MIDI is transmitted from the unit.
Verify that MIDI is being sent through the USB output (quickstart guide, p5).
Your MIDI device must be connected and turned on before you start Sonar, or the device will not be recognized.
If the device is recognized by Sonar, make sure it is checked in Options> MIDI Devices/Inputs.
In your taskbar at the bottom of your screen, you should see a little keyboard icon. When you hit a key, does the left light flash?

Make sure you select the input in the MIDI track to your MIDI device, that MIDI track is output to the soft synth, the soft synth output to a bus, the bus output to your Toneport.