MIDI, Digital Music Composition, Windows Digital Audio Software, Digital Audio Recording, Live Audio Engineering, MIDI Guitar, General Music Theory and Composition.
Experience
Experience in the area:
- 25 years working with Computers and Digital Music.
- 10 years as a professional Live Sound Engineer.
- 5 years as a professional Studio Recording Engineer.
- 2 years as Creative Director of an internet-based Audio Production Company specializing in Sampling and Digital Audio.
Organizations:
- Currently active as a Beta Tester for various Audio Software Companies.
- Regular contributor to various Software Support Forums.
Education/Credentials:
- Dip. Technology Telecommunications Electronics (B.C.I.T.)
- A.A. Degree (U.B.C./S.F.U.)
- College Cert. in Jazz Guitar Composition (V.C.C.)
- College Cert. in Fine Arts (E.C.I.A.D.)
Question Hi, this is actually a two-part question.
What I'm using:
Windows XP Pro
Cakewalk Sonar 8
Casio wk-110 keyboard
Tascam US-122L for audio input/output
Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card
I've done a lot of audio recording over the years, but now I'm interested in utilizing midi to be able to use VST instruments. I really don't understand this stuff but I'm trying to learn. I've used VST effects for audio many times. My understanding is that you need midi to use VSTIs. So anyway, I have a Casio wk-110, which has "USB midi" and theoretically can't be used as a controller, but I don't know that that should make a difference for VSTI stuff. So I guess that's question #1. When I hook up the Casio via USB, it is recognized by the Sonar program, and I can record a midi track. Sonar has the ability to take a recorded midi track and assign a "soft synth" to it via a linked audio track. It supposedly can do this live too. So I assume the USB version of the midi isn't a problem, since I do get a recorded midi track. But if I assign the soft synth, I get no sound on any of my outputs. If I try to play back the original midi file, it only plays back through the keyboard's speakers. If I try to assign it to the Audigy or the Tascam, I get no sound.
I understand that midi is a signal, not an actual sound, but I would think that playback, especially through a VSTI, should be hearable through whatever I'm using for mixing, especially if I'm recording both midi and audio tracks. So that would be quesion #2 - how does one hear both the midi and audio tracks?
I'm obviously a newbie with midi but I'm very confused and everywhere I look either assumes I already know what I'm doing or the info doesn't apply to me. Please help! Thanks :)
Answer Hi Brad,
Check the tutorials at JayzenSound.com for background info on what Virtual Instruments are, as well as examples of how to set them up to work in Sonar.
I think the problem with your particular set-up is in how you have assigned the inputs and outputs of each track.
Basically, follow the signal path through from beginning to end and make sure everything makes sense and is going to the right place:
- play a note on the Casio
- this is sent via midi to the computer via the USB connection
- Sonar receives the MIDI (and as you have seen, it can be recorded in a MIDI track).
- So, in Sonar, go to the Synth Rack view and add in a VSTi. This will ask if you want to assign the tracks... make sure the boxes to assign both a MIDI and AUDIO track are ticked then select OK.
- You will now have an AUDIO track for the VSTi, and a MIDI track.
- Make sure the Casio is sending MIDI on channel 1.
- Make sure the MIDI track INPUT is assigned to your CASIO.
- Make sure the MIDI track OUTPUT is assigned to the VSTi.
- Make sure the MIDI channel is set to 1 (or OMNI).
- Make sure the AUDIO track INPUT is assigned to the VSTi.
- Make sure the AUDIO track OUTPUT is assigned to the output of your soundcard that is attached to your speakers.
So... playing a note on the Casio, sends MIDI to Sonar on channel 1, which is received by Sonar and sent to the VSTi, which looks up the sample assigned to the MIDI note and plays it... which goes to the audio track and then to your speakers where you hear the final note being played.
All this takes a finite amount of time, called latency, which can be set in your soundcard application software. Use ASIO drivers if available for the lowest latency.
