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 QUESTION: "Hey how are you today? My question is concerning Protools LE on a Gateway Windows Vista computer. Okay,I purchased the Mbox 2 Pro Factory about a month ago, and everything is going good except for a couple of things. I'm able to record my music using Portools sounds, but for the past month I,ve been trying to link my keyboard(Motif 6 Classic) to Protools, so I'll be able to use my sounds from the keyboard along with the others. I can see that my board sounds are already linked to my computer and I can assign them to a midi track and I can see the tracks output picking it up, but the only thing is I'm not getting any sound. One of my friends told me to buy 2 other instrument cables and run them from my keyboard(mono L & R) to the Mbox L&R,(I have my moniters plugged in mono L&R mbox); which I did, but still no sound.I usually record my sounds with instrument tracks, but that only allows me to use the sounds Protools provides; but I know that there output is Analog 1-2 and the midi track doesn't give me that option of that output. Midi tracks only give me the output options:none,Motif6-Ch.2,or Predefined sub menu-Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth[Emulated] with Ch. 1-16 and Microsoft Midi Mapper[Emulated] also with Ch. 1-16 that I've tired but still no sound. The input gives me a choice between All and Motif6 ch.2. Okay with Reason 4. I'm able to record Reasons but just one thing, It only records thorugh Mix L and Mix R which together make stereo right? Okay, when I'm done recording my first sound and get ready to record another, I have no other channel to record on except Mix L and Mix R which and the same. Reasons gives me a choice of other channels, but the sound only picks up thorough those two. It goes from Ch.3 to Ch.64. So,can you help me if you can,and tell me what I'm doing wrong. Thank You."
ANSWER: Hi Daryl,
I am fine thanks.
You have provided a lot of details in your email but I am not sure what it is you are really asking as parts of it are a bit confusing...
If you want to record the actual sounds made by your keyboard, you need to run stereo lines from the keyboard output (this may be L/R line outs, or you may have to get it from the headphone jack) into the Mbox, as your friend suggested.
In ProTools, you will record this to an audio track (not midi).
You will need to set the audio track INPUT to the two Mbox inputs, which are probably the only two inputs which appear, unless you also have some other audio hardware on the computer. (And if you do, you should disable it via the System menu so it doesn't interfere).
When you arm the Audio track (press record button), you should be able to see the audio signal display on the meter when you play your keyboard, and also hear it via your monitors if you have set this correctly in the MBox mixer application.
Remember, there will always be two mixers to deal with... the Mbox itself will have an application to route the Mbox inputs and outputs abd this has to be set correctly in addition to your DAW (ProTools)... so open this first, and make sure you can see the keyboard audio displayed on these meters. Then set this to play through your monitors.
After you have set the Mbox mixer app correctly, go back to ProTools and do as I said above, and confirm that you can see the same audio signal in the Audio track in ProTools... at this point, obviously, you can record and play back the track as normal.
Now... the other thing you mention is using Virtual Instruments... this is more complicated but you seem to have the right idea... There are always two things involved... a MIDI control track to trigger the instrument, and an associated AUDIO track to play the actual audio from the associated software instrument. Some DAW's combine these into one single track, but it is still a MIDI-->SAMPLER-->AUDIO path.
Let me know if you get the keyboard working, and follow up with any further questions about the VSTi issue.
cheers,
j
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for the info, but I have another question. Ok, let me try to explain this one better. On my Mbox2 I have 2 inputs on the front that I use for my bass and guitar. On the back I have a Mon out L&R which I use for my moniters. Then to the left of my moniters I have Line In L&R and to the right of the moniters I have Line Out 1,2,3,4,5,and 6. I knew from playing my guitars that I can plug an instrument cable through the front and record through an audio track and get sound;also running the cables from output L&R mono on my keyboard through the front of the Mbox2 produces sound. Ok my question to you is there any other way I can plug-in and produce sound from my Motif 6 and record with an audio track without using the front inputs? Also, theres no way you can quantize? If this helps, on the Audio track I use Analog1(input) and Analog 1-2(output).
Answer I am not familiar with the exact operation of the Mbox2, but since it has two line inputs at the back, this is where I would (permanently) connect the audio outputs from your keyboard.
The question is if the MBox has separate drivers running the back inputs, or if they are just switched with the front Instrument inputs... If they are only switched, it forces you to make this switch each time you want to play the keyboard... no big deal, but you just can't set up your studio one way and leave it, and it forces you to adjust trims, etc.
The only other way to record all your studio instruments together is to plug everything to an external mixer (guitar, bass, keyboard) and then send the output of this mixer to the back two line inputs of the MBox.
As for quantization, there is MIDI and Audio... and both are done inside the DAW software sequencer. Audio quantization works by adjusting individual audio clips located on your time line. MIDI can do this too, but mostly (and I think this is likely what you are referring to) it refers to moving the individual MIDI notes relative to the named tempo of the sequencer, so as to tighten up the rhythm, or impose different feels to a given musical passage. This type of quantization can only be done with MIDI (well, Melodyne excepted) and this MIDI has to be triggering notes somewhere... either in your keyboard's synth engine, or a plug-in VSTi located in your DAW.
Hope this answers your questions... please follow up if you need clarification of anything.
