Beginners Cubase Problem
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Posted on Nov 09, 2008 02:17 pm
Wadeyboy
Member Since: Nov 09, 2008
I'm new to using Cubase but had managed to write some songs using a cheap midi keyboard and was pleased with the results. However, after trying to mix it down to another format (midi and MP3) not only did I fail in mixing it down to another format but now when I try to play back the tracks as they were (just as Cubase projects) only one track is playing back out of all the tracks I've written (not just the one I tried to mix down). Also, I cannot get any sound when I try playing my midi keyboard. I've obviously changed something accidently but I've no idea what. It's an absolute disaster as I've basically lost all my songs! I bring up the mixer and all the bars for the individual tracks are moving just as though all tracks are playing but all I can actually hear is just one of the tracks. Can anybody help please? This really is disastrous because I've lost many, many hours of work. I'd really appreciate any help.
Thankyou.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 09, 2008 03:23 pm You need to look and see if the track that is playing back is soloed or if the other tracks are muted.
That is usually the case.
The fact is unless you had saved the project differently the original project should be there.
The other thing may have been you mixed the project down to a single stereo track but that does not sound like the case.
Nov 09, 2008 03:47 pm No they're not soloed or muted. I can't get any sound when I try and play the keyboard now either. The soundcard I'm using is a soundblaster live if that helps. The sound level bar is moving up and down as i play so it is receiving ok but no sound is coming out. When I bring the mixer up, all the sound level bars are working too but the sound isn't coming out. I tried uninstalling then reinstalling Cubase but I'm still getting the same problem. All I can hear when I load any other track is just one track!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 09, 2008 05:45 pm Ok then. Are all the tracks audio outputs assigned correctly to the SB card? And is the master output assigned as well to the SB?
On the not playing the keyboard, are you seeing audio meters in the audio track moving when you do this? Or is it the midi input meter that is moving?
Nov 10, 2008 12:18 am The tracks and audio outputs are assigned correctly. I didn't touch any of the setups. All I did was try and mix the tracks down. Everything was working fine until then. I'm not sure what you mean about the master output assigned to the SB but assume it was as like I said, before trying to mixdown everything was fine. Yes I am seeing the audio meters moving. I've just tried it again and have found if I turn the volume on my speaker setup up really loud, I can just about hear them but the tracks with VST instruments on them (which were all setup fine on the mixer before the attempted mixdown) has the VST instrument playing really loud, so loud I had to turn the VST right down to enable me to hear the other tracks. And because I've had to turn the volume on the speakers right up, the hissing of the speakers is too prevalent. Somehow, all my MIDI tracks can barely be heard even though the mixer settings were how I left them when I last used and set them.
Thankyou for your help by the way. Much appreciated.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 10, 2008 06:11 pm OK, so all the tracks are midi to VSTi's?
Or do you have audio tracks as well?
Something has changed whether you can see it or not. It just a matter of finding exactly what happened along the way.
Are all the mixer levels in Cubase even or close to it? Also, does Cubase have a channel type gain at the very top of the channel/track that may have reset itself to a lower setting on the quiet tracks?
I'm just shooting out some ideas to look into here.
I would also check the SB control panel and make sure that its line output level has not gotten turned down somehow.
CAn you tell me what the VSTi's are that you are using?
Nov 12, 2008 12:22 am Yes it was the SB control panel. As you quite rightly said, it's output level had got turned down. I don't know how. I certainly didn't physically go into the control panel and turn it down.
Thankyou very much for your help. Much appreciated.
Nov 12, 2008 12:27 am I can't make out from the instructions how I go about mixing down my midi and VST instruments down onto a single track so I can convert into an MP3 ideally or a midi file at least. Can you give me some pointers bearing in mind I'm using a Soundblaster Live and VST instruments (the ones that come with Cubase SX 3.1, monologue, a1, etc). Even with the instructions it's very confusing.
Thankyou
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 12, 2008 02:16 pm To export it as a midi file simply save it as such. The one thing though is that it will choose different instruments if someone else opens it that does not have the exact same set up as you.
To do an mp3 you will need to go to file, export and choose mp3. Make sure you have all the tracks selected you wish to have in the mixdown. It will automatically convert the VSTi's to audio in the mixdown and it should be mixed according to the settings you have at that time. Make sure to select to use all automation and track effects if you have any on.
Nov 12, 2008 03:50 pm I tried doing it as an MP3 as that is what I need really, but I got a window come up saying "an error occurred during the export." There was no explanation saying why. I'd tried to do it like this once before and got the same error message but assumed I was doing something wrong.
Any ideas?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 12, 2008 03:57 pm It sounds like the mp3 conversion portion of your Cubase is not functioning properly.
You might simply export as a wav file and then use another app to convert it to an mp3. WinAmp, Windows Media Player and many other free ones on the web work well for that.
Nov 13, 2008 01:00 am I use CDex... Seems to keep the best of the original source that I have found.
Nov 14, 2008 11:01 pm I tried saving it as a wav but got the same error message up. I was speaking to the person I bought the computer from (on which Cubase was already installed) and he says it's a try before you buy version and that although nothing was disabled, it had a time limit for how long you could use it. He says that the time limit is now probably expired and that is why I can't export as Mp3's or wavs. He suggested using a VST plug in called tape it and that might allow me to convert the songs into wavs.
