Newbie needs help with Home setup

Posted on Apr 12, 2008 05:27 pm
Looski
Member Since: Apr 12, 2008

Hi everyone..

Im new to the forum. I hope someone can help me out... I have put together some equipment but cannot seem to record anything...

I have a the Audio Out ports on my Korg X5D Synth, Alesis Sr-16 Drum Machine and PC connected to a Behringer 4 channel mixer.

On the Korg, I have MIDI Out and Midi In connected to the MIDI port on my Soundblaster Live 5.1. I have got the MIDI Thru on my Korg connected to the MIDI In on the SR-16.

On the PC I am running Cubase SX 3.1. I can hear everything ok, but cant record anything. I have setup the Alesis and Korg in Device Setup. I start a new project, select a MIDI (or Audio)track and select the device e.g Alesis from the device list. I hit record ... and nothing.. I have no idea what Im doing wrong.. Is there a setting Im missing, or have am connected incorrectly?

Any help gratefully recieved.

Looski

[ Back to Top ]

Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 12, 2008 09:48 pm

Do you have the audio outputs of the mixer going to the inputs of the sound card? That is my first guess.

pjk
Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Apr 12, 2008 09:49 pm

Welcome to the HRC.

You don't need the mixer, as you're not recording microphones, only LINE level audio.

So I'd say send the drum machine (DM) audio to your PC and record it into a stereo file. (DM audio outs, plugged into the PC LINE level inputs, which may be on a 1/8" jack, for both channels).

Then, play the Korg audio to the PC into a stereo file, while playing back the drum track, so you have something to play against.

Now you should have 2 stereo tracks in Cubase.

If you're really intent on using the mixer, it can be done, but I wouldn't choose that way, with what you want recorded (line level instruments).

Now, for MIDI, do you really need the midi data? If you're already able to play the sounds from your devices, then you don't need the midi data. the korg and drum machine probably are doing a fine job creating the audio already, so why re-create the wheel?

If you're hard pressed to record the midi data, then send the midi out from the DM to your PC, and record the data onto a midi track. then plug the midi out from your korg to the PC midi in, and record the korg midi data to another midi track.

Seems redundant though,

Oh yeah, don't forget to arm the tracks in cubase, so cubase knows on what input to listen to, and record from.

hth

Looski
Member
Since: Apr 12, 2008

Apr 13, 2008 02:12 am

Hi guys ....

I will be recording guitar via microphone. THat willl be next, but I havent bought the mic yet as I wanted to sort our what I had first. I'll connect the Line Out from mixer to Line In of the PC and give that a go... If I understand it correctly, that will allow me to record what I hear as an audio track in Cubase - rather than Midi, is that right?

About the Midi... I understand there probably isnt a reason, as the Line devices are already capable of reproducing the sounds I want.. but it should still work shouldnt it? THe Midi out on the Korg is connected to the Midi port on the sound card. Why am I not recieving any data?

Thanks again.

Looski

pjk
Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Apr 13, 2008 11:21 pm

Well, I'd advise getting one thing working at a time, if you're kinda green. This stuff can be finicky at times, I know my stuff is, being as how I don't work on it every day.

Sounds like your LINE sources are the most important, so I would certainly get that up and running first. But it sounds like you are, so that's good.

Quote:
I'll connect the Line Out from mixer to Line In of the PC and give that a go

Again, I'm not sure why you'd use the mixer in this scenario. Adding another device to your chain only introduces noise and possible signal degradation. I would plug directly from the device to your sound card.

If you're using the mixer to mix the 2 devices together, then you won't be able to adjust the signals separately later. I would think you'd want to.

If you're looking to use a microphone, then you'll need a preamp. This can be in a mixer, like you mentioned, or a standalone preamp, with MIC plugged in the input, and LINE level signal coming out the other end. If you're already looking at the mixer, then it will probably be a good start.

Now for MIDI, sure, you can get data recorded via midi. I'm gonna guess my way thru your software, as I don't know Cubase. In software I've used, you would need a midi track, something to receive the midi events. Not an audio track. Now the MIDI bus often will have 8 or 16 channels, meaning 16 midi data signals could be sent through 1 connection. So you may need to tell your midi track on which channel to listen. In my experience, it's defaulted to channel 1, and I've had good luck with FL Studio picking it up right away, and recording data.

Not knowing much else, I'd guess to start with the midi track, then look at midi channels. maybe one of your devices aren't on channel 1. I'd think to check 1) korg, 2) soundcard, 3) cubase. I'm not much more helpful on that front.