MIDI import and playback in MULAB

[MusicandFilmmaker]

Hello everyone!

I was trying to import a MIDI sequence which I composed in score within the notation editor Musescore.

I was going to use MuLAB to edit the initial MIDI and add effects and so forth to make is sound more realistic.

However, once I imported the MIDI, it will not playback in MULAB.

Is there something I need to do in the settings to get this to happen?

Thank you so much!

[pljones]

Where are you routing the MIDI sequence?

There's a lot it could be. You might not have your audio set up correctly. You may be sending on a MIDI channel that whatever is on the other end is not expecting. You may not be sending to anything at all. Look at each step in the signal path from your MIDI sequence to your speakers and check it's configured correctly.

[MusicandFilmmaker]

Where are you routing the MIDI sequence?

There's a lot it could be. You might not have your audio set up correctly. You may be sending on a MIDI channel that whatever is on the other end is not expecting. You may not be sending to anything at all. Look at each step in the signal path from your MIDI sequence to your speakers and check it's configured correctly.

Okay, how do I set this up correctly?

I guess I am not quite sure if I have this set up correctly.

Where is the menu where I can view what is sending to where and what exactly it is sending to?

Also do I have to have a MIDI controller or MIDI keyboard connected to use this?

I intended on mixing down the sequence to WAV once I make the initial MIDI I created in Musescore sound realistic.

I have worked with other DAWS, but I have never had to do this much setup before and this is why I am not quite sure and I could not find anything for this exact topic I am looking for.

Thank you for helping me,

[pljones]

Okay, how do I set this up correctly?

That depends on what's wrong.

I guess I am not quite sure if I have this set up correctly.
Where is the menu where I can view what is sending to where and what exactly it is sending to?

That depends on what's wrong, too, unfortunately.

Also do I have to have a MIDI controller or MIDI keyboard connected to use this?

Not unless you want to use one.

I intended on mixing down the sequence to WAV once I make the initial MIDI I created in Musescore sound realistic.

The first thing you need is a sound source to convert the MIDI data to sound, of course - what are you using?

I have worked with other DAWS, but I have never had to do this much setup before and this is why I am not quite sure and I could not find anything for this exact topic I am looking for.

Thank you for helping me,

I'm not sure what set up you'd have to do but it's generally the same: configure your sound card, configure your sound source, mix down, just three steps.

[MuTools]

Diagnostic question: When you do SESSION -> Demo -> Choose one of the demo sessions, and then click play, then do you hear sound and see the position line moving?

If not, then goto MULAB menu -> Audio Setup and choose an audio driver.

Once that's ok, we can have a look at the next step. (if still necessary)

[MusicandFilmmaker]

Okay the best way to explain my setup currently will be that I will not be using a MIDI keyboard at the moment and so I was wondering how to set this up where the MIDI would playback and so forth through my soundcard so that eventually I could mix it down using the VST plugins and better SoundFonts.

When I play demo tracks on MULAB, I do hear all of the sounds and quite nicely I might add. There is no clipping or anything like that.

So what is the next step to be able to hear sound once I import a MIDI sequence from my score editor?

Do you need to know anything else; computer specs, etc?

Please let me know and I will be happy to tell you anything that might help you help me figure this out!

I never realized this could get so complicated depending on what kind of setup you have.

Thank you so much again

[pljones]

If you use the GM Synth on your sound card to process the MIDI to audio, then that's too far down the signal chain for MuLab to record it -- the MIDI data has been sent out and the audio data is not within MuLab.

You need a sound source that is inside MuLab -- find a VST that has the sounds you're looking for or set up the internal synths as desired.

[MuTools]

Ok, good to hear your MuLab audio setup works fine.
Next step: Lets import a MIDI file and assign sounds to it.
Step by step:

• SESSION menu -> New Session. Not necessary but easiest for this little tutorial because track 1 already has been connected to a synth rack.
• SESSION menu -> Import MIDI File -> Merge Into Current Composition -> OK.
  So the top MIDI track comes on the Basic Synth track and so that one should already make some sound. The other tracks are not yet connected to a sound source so you won't hear them yet. I assume that has been the reason why you didn't hear anything before. See next step.
• Click the [+] rack button at the right of the racks. This adds a new rack. Click first rack slot and choose a sound (MUX/VST). Then finally drag-drop the rack's title bar onto the 2nd track. This will make the connection between track 2 and that new sound rack and now you'll hear track 2 too. You can easily switch sounds using the synth's editor, which auto opened on pluggin it in.
• Repeat above step for the other tracks.

Tip: If you notice that you have a fixed setup for your MIDI files, you can create a template session with a bunch of tracks pre-asigned to sound racks. Then the first step above can be replaced by "SESSION -> Open Template" and choose your MIDI file session template. Then you'll have much less todo as things are already pre-setup by you.

Hope i explain well and this answers your questions, else let me know.