MIDI and XP Pro

[RTwinkie]

My MOTU 828mkII works very well as a sound card for all my needs, but I recently got some software that required the use of some MIDI files and I cannot get any sound at all. The MIDI Out indicator on the MOTU unit flashes, each time I try to play a MIDI file, but no sound.

I really need this MIDI function to work, since these programs are guitar lessons! Any ideas??
R. Twinkie

[Paul1024]

What are the MIDI cables connected to?

--Paul

[RTwinkie]

Hi Paul,

Oops, I tried to list everything that might be involved, but I overlooked this.

The MOTU828mkII is connected via Firewire. No other MIDI device is connected at this time.

My thinking is/was to get the MOTU working first, then begin adding things, like the Korg MIDI controller.

Thanks,
Twinkie

[resolectric]

You need either a:
a. synthesizer
b. sound module
c. software synth (VSTi)
d. soundcard with General MIDI capabilities

Address your MIDI data to either and you'll have sound.

[RTwinkie]

Hi Resolectric,

Maybe I am wrong, but when I purchased the MOTU 828mkII I was told it would serve as my sound card, MIDI, etc.

I have Cubase SX3 but haven't had a chance to study it yet. I understand it has a synth built-in, but when I import a .mid file, it also just turns on the MIDI OUT light on the MOTU. No sound.

My ultimate ambition here is to be able to study with my new software (that uses MIDI for its exercises), and also to play some MIDI backing tracks for recording my guitar & Mic.

Everything works except the MIDI portion.

Any other ideas??? Or am I just too stupid to grasp what I need to do?

Thanks,
Twinkie

[emmrecs]

Hi.

Resoelectric is quite right; you currently have no devices capable of reproducing MIDI signals. The 828 can respond to MIDI commands but cannot produce sounds. Certainly it is a soundcard but it is NOT a MIDI Sound Generator.

Unfortunately, your Korg KB is only a MIDI controller, not a sound generator. You have the ability to create/manipulate MIDI but not "hear" it.

Perhaps the easiest way to think of MIDI is as a set of commands which tell any sound generator which notes to sound on which instrument, how loud and for how long. In and of itself MIDI does not create audible sounds.

[RTwinkie]

emmrecs

Hey, you have finally "turned the light on" for me!

I was told that the 828 would also function as a great MIDI sound generator. If it doesn't then that explains why things are the way they are.

Hmmm... Well, I have this Cubase SX3 that supposedly has a synth in it. SO, does this mean that I have to open Cubase's synth before I can actually use my training software? Or what?

Should I get some additional hardware? Perhaps a Keyboard/Synth?

I thought the Korg would also play sounds. In addition to being a controller.

This probably sounds crazy to those who read this... but I bought all this stuff about a year ago. Then went through a nasty divorce. Now I have it all back, but it's been over a year since I made myself acquainted with this stuff. Now I want to get on with putting a small studio together, but find myself playing engineer more than playing my guitar(s). LOL I have heard this complaint from others too.

Please keep explaining for me. ANy recommendations will be much appreciated too.

Twinkie

[elmarq]

RTwinkle,,
I'm not sure if this procedure is the same in Cubase, but in Sonar 6, you "insert" a softsynth" into one of you audio tracks, then assign the output of a MIDI track to the softsynth thats inserted. This will allow you via a MIDI controller or the MIDI file to play the sounds within your softsynth. HTH!!!

[Jidis]

In Cubase, it would be in the devices/VST instruments panel (a bank of pulldowns to select instruments). Anything you've got in that bank will then be available as a MIDI "output" on your MIDI tracks, and the actual audio signals will have shown up in the Cubase mixer when you added the instrument.

Take Care,

George

[Atardecer]

On a PC, press F11 for the VST instrument list, select a synth, then create a MIDI track and set its output to whatever that synth is (can do this on the left hand side of the track).Also select the input to be your Korg keyboard - if it does not show up in the list then it may not have been installed properly.

regards

[RTwinkie]

Thanks for all the inputs guys!

I am now able to get bass, drums, & guitars, along with piano VST's working in Cubase! Glory Hallelujah!

My current puzzle is how do I get the MIDI audio from my training programs to become audible??? I don't know of any way to map them thru Cubase. Is there even a way to do this?

Since these sounds are not required to be ultra quality, it seems there should be a small general MIDI application that could allow this. But I have NO such app at this time. If you can recommend one, please do.

Thanks again for all the help so far!
Twinkie

[Guest]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "MIDI audio" and what training programs you are referring to but i imagine that you have either some MIDI files or audio samples that you've made or used elsewhere and that you just want to play them back and listen to them in Cubase. If so, goto File/Import and choose to import either a MIDI or audio file and it will ask where it is stored on your computer. Find where they are and once imported you can setup what sounds you what to use on what MIDI tracks as outlined before, while the audio should just playback (providing the soundcard is set up right).

regards
James

[RTwinkie]

James,

Thanks, but I have finally learned how to play MIDI files in Cubase.

May issue now is that I have some PC programs that are training programs to teach and test your abilities to memorize the fretboard (on guitar). These play their sounds via MIDI. I have not been able to get them to work, since they are looking for a hardware MIDI device.

Any help for this?

Thanks,
Dave