I'm with Konrad on this one.

+1 on Konrad.  I have a Yamaha keyboard, and just route its audio output to an audio track and FX bin any effects.

Bob Bone

The reason I want to monitor the FX before I record the midi is that  a) how the patch on the synth sounds with the FX can affect the choice of patch  and b) it can also affect the way I play, eg if there is delay involved.    Recording the above way, anyway does not record the FX, and they can be changed before making the final audio track.

I am a little confused by your explanation on why you want to monitor before recording the midi.

I understand that adding effects changes how you play notes, as you shape the placement of attack on the processed signal through the effects, so that as you used in example a delay, that when you hit the next notes on your keyboard are going to be subjectively done based on you listening to the processed sound with the applied exxect.

I hope I explained that so that it makes sense.

If the above is correct, then by adding effects into the FX bin for the audio track, those are not actually recorded - just the synth signal from your keyboard is actually recorded, but you still get to hear the sound as you are playing combined with any effects that were added to the FX bin.

That is one of the brilliant things about recording just the raw unprocessed signal, same goes for guitars that use Guitar Rig as an FX bin effect - you can change presets all you want after the fact, for you that would be effects (or you could actually run the keyboard signal through an amp modeler like Guitar Rig too).

It is only on final mix that Sonar would permanently apply any effects to that audio, on its way eventually a mixed master.

I hope I said anything that 1) makes sense, 2) matters, and 3) helps.

Bob Bone

LOL :-)   Yeah, I meant it would be nice to turn down/off all those MOTU Ultralite CueMix sliders, and forget about it :-)    In the Ultralite I can mute everything (or turn down all the sliders).  Then to hear a hardware synth, I set an audio track in Sonar and use the Input Monitoring.   Seems to work fine.    The result should sound exactly the same right (presuming I have no FX on the Audio track in Sonar) - its just that now the sound is mixed only in Sonar rather than the soundcard's software mixer (Sonar getting a full, unmixed signal)?

Mystic38

Well, i didnt mean uninstall or delete it :D..  I meant disable the ability for it to mix.. :) 
 
Look at it this way.. i have a Komplete Audio 6.. it provides direct input monitoring and has a huge volume control.. but all input monitoring is turned off and the volume control is at max.. any mixing & level control by the KA6  is disabled so everything i hear comes from Sonar...
So, looking at Bob_Bones post, simply setup cuemix so that it is not mixing.. if the mix is hardwired turn it down, if it is selectable, deselect it..
 
hope that helps..

Hi Bob - yes, it all made sense.  I want to do it this way exactly so I can hear the FX'd result as I play.  The FXs are not recorded, and I can then go and change them in the FX bin after recording the Midi track.   I'm a bit new to Guitar Rig, but yes there are all kinds of amp set ups (some very bizarre sounding ones), so I can route the hardware synth through those, and hear the way the sound is affected by the FX in real time.

robert_e_bone


I am a little confused by your explanation on why you want to monitor before recording the midi.

I understand that adding effects changes how you play notes, as you shape the placement of attack on the processed signal through the effects, so that as you used in example a delay, that when you hit the next notes on your keyboard are going to be subjectively done based on you listening to the processed sound with the applied exxect.

I hope I explained that so that it makes sense.

If the above is correct, then by adding effects into the FX bin for the audio track, those are not actually recorded - just the synth signal from your keyboard is actually recorded, but you still get to hear the sound as you are playing combined with any effects that were added to the FX bin.

That is one of the brilliant things about recording just the raw unprocessed signal, same goes for guitars that use Guitar Rig as an FX bin effect - you can change presets all you want after the fact, for you that would be effects (or you could actually run the keyboard signal through an amp modeler like Guitar Rig too).

It is only on final mix that Sonar would permanently apply any effects to that audio, on its way eventually a mixed master.

I hope I said anything that 1) makes sense, 2) matters, and 3) helps.

Bob Bone

Correct, Ultra.

Bob Bone