My Very First Sonar Question
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Posted on Jul 07, 2006 08:14 am
jenkinstp
Extreme Recording Novice
Member Since: Sep 08, 2003
So my copy of Sonar Professional came in last Friday and I've been playing with it off and on over the last week. Since I'm new to computer based recording I've been taking it slow and going through the tutorials. Well, it didn't take me long to get stumped. Here's my problem:
I've just started playing around with the soft synth possibilities, and everything works fine when I'm in a midi only project... but when I'm in a midi and audio project (the "normal" project template, for example) I don't get the proper response from the synths. When I insert a soft synth into a midi and audio project I lose the ability to select different sounds from the bank and only get the default sound (piano with the Cakewalk TTS-1 synth).
Has anyone else had this problem? I feel like there is a setting I have wrong. Thanks for the help!
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 07, 2006 08:21 pm Ah yes, a couple of questions though first.
Are you inserting the synth using the SynthRack or just creating the tracks yourself?
IF you have used the synth rack then proceed this way with the TTS-1. Make sure you have choosen a midi channel, start with 1 for the first part. Then you can choose a patch. Simply click on the arrow on the right side of the patch section in the midi track. Choose a sound/patch and you will be good to go. You can now insert another midi track for another instrument. Simply choose the TTS-1 in the midi output port and choose channel 2 and select another patch. Now you can record another bit of midi notes and it will play along with whatever you recorded on the previous track. You can do this with up to 16 midi tracks for one instance of the TTS-1.
This should work the same with most of the software synths with the exception of most other synths do not have the ability to run multiple channels at once. Some do, but most dont. But you should simply be able to choose the channel and bank and patch right in the midi tracks properties. Some software synths will not however respond to the command from the track so you will have to choose your patch on the synth page itself when its up.
I think that covers that for now. Let me know if it doesnt.
Nozie
jenkinstpExtreme Recording NoviceMember
Since: Sep 08, 2003
Jul 10, 2006 10:29 am Thanks for the response Noize. I was sick all weekend so I didn't get a chance to mess with it but I will tonight. To add some clarification... I'm inserting the synth by using the insert synth command from the menu. It then creates 2 synth tracks at the bottom of the screen and I choose the syth as the out in the midi track. So far I haven't been choosing a Midi channel... I've been leaving it on auto... so I'll try manually assigning channels. The method you describe above works fine when I'm in a midi only project... but for some reason when I have audio tracks in there also (and a master track) things get gunked up and no matter what patch I choose it still only plays the default patch for that synth. I'm thinking it may have something to do with the master track and me not routing things correctly. Does that make any sense to you?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 11, 2006 07:38 pm Yes it does make sense. Mut I do audio/midi all the time and use the synth rack faithfully without any trouble. What you need to do is make sure you dont have any other midi tracks set up outher then the ones the synth rack sets up for each synth. Or the ones you manually create if the synth is capable of using more then one midi input, such as the TTS-1. Most of the other synths are single channel synths so you need to be carefull and make sure you dont have other midi tracks set to play on the same eynths outputs.
Another thing that might be happening is that you have a midi parameter set to reset all synths on start. That will do it as well. It should be in either the options/project or options/global settings and will have its own midi tab I believe. I am so used to just letting my preferances transfer fro each install I forget exactly what it is. IF you have trouble finding it let me know and I will look at my settings and get you set up straight.
Because you should not have any trouble combining audio and midi at all. It is another story though making sure your levels are all set correctly as well. Remember for each instrument output and audio track you add, you will be adding to the main outputs gain each for each track you add whether softare synths or audio.
Keep me posted on what you need.
Noize
jenkinstpExtreme Recording NoviceMember
Since: Sep 08, 2003
Jul 12, 2006 07:58 am Thanks again Noize. I still haven't had time to play around with things again but I should get some time tonight and I'll try out your suggestions. It didn't make sense that things were acting the way they were. Maybe I should just add the tracks myself instead of using the template. Is it necessary to have a "master" track in there before the mixdown stage?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 12, 2006 08:11 pm I honestly never use a template at all. It just opens up stuff I may never use. I just open a normal project and go from there. I do highly recomend using the Synth Rck view though adn let it open your synths for you. It is much easier.
And no, it is not an absolute necessatiy to have a master track, but it does make dropping the overall volume of a perfect mis much easier without having to adjust each tracks faders individually.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 12, 2006 08:12 pm I should add, the only thing I ever put in the master track is master fader automation and possibly a master reverb or something.
jenkinstpExtreme Recording NoviceMember
Since: Sep 08, 2003
Jul 13, 2006 08:47 am Thanks for all of your help Noize. I finally got everything working last night and messed around with my first project. When I manually selected the channels and then changed the bank from the synth instead of from the track everything worked just fine. Now I need to figure out how to set up my own templates so I don't need to do so much customization each time. Thanks again!
I haven't done much from the synth rack view. I think I'll try to learn some of that this weekend.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 13, 2006 09:11 pm Indeed, using the synth rack is more for setting them up and calling up the synths screne when you need it. You dont need to go back to it for much as changin patches and such is all done for the track for most of the software synths. But there are a fw that need to be edited right from their screne.
