OK. I am completely new to MIDI, so bear with me...
I want to program drum tracks using Tracktion's sequencer, Battery, and Drumkit From Hell. For right now I just want to drag'n'drop, so I don't have any external MIDI hardware, such as a drum machine or keyboard.
Here is my problem : I'll drop some MIDI notes in the sequencer, load up Battery as a filter for the track, and load up some DFH samples in Battery. Now when I click the cells in Battery, Tracktion (not Battery) will play the drum samples properly. Now when I click play on the MIDI clip, Battery will not get triggered at all and everything is silent. Now I am assuming this means that the MIDI info isn't making it to Battery, and then back out to Tracktion.
I'll go into Tracktion's settings and pull up the MIDI device and all I have is a Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth for MIDI output. There is no MIDI input available. I would assume that I need a MIDI interface so that I can select a MIDI input in Battery, but that means I have to get external hardware, like a keyboard, right? I don't want to have to buy a MIDI keyboard right now, I just want to drag'n'drop without any external gear. Is that possible?
I'd really appreciate it if somebody could tell me EXACTLY what I need to get to be able to make drum tracks using the above mentioned programs using ONLY the drag'n'drop method.
Thanks guys! Much appreciation!
Newbie Q! Tracktion MIDI sequencer, Battery....
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- KVRist
- 482 posts since 2 Jun, 2004 from West Sussex, UK
I'm no expert, but I think it would be an idea to check the basics first.......
Go to the settings page. Have you got a Midi input device, and is it enabled? You'll need this to create midi clips to play Battery.
Next, click on the track (e.g. track 1) and check that it is set to "default audio output".
Then click on the midi input device arrow, and make sure that it is attached to your track. When you click on the input device you should see a keyboard at the bottom of the screen. Provided you've loaded Battery correctly, you should be able to play notes by clicking on the keyboard.
The next step would be to create a midi clip to play Battery, instead of clicking on the keyboard.
I hope this helps. If not, please provide more details of your setup, and I'm sure other folks will pitch in.
Go to the settings page. Have you got a Midi input device, and is it enabled? You'll need this to create midi clips to play Battery.
Next, click on the track (e.g. track 1) and check that it is set to "default audio output".
Then click on the midi input device arrow, and make sure that it is attached to your track. When you click on the input device you should see a keyboard at the bottom of the screen. Provided you've loaded Battery correctly, you should be able to play notes by clicking on the keyboard.
The next step would be to create a midi clip to play Battery, instead of clicking on the keyboard.
I hope this helps. If not, please provide more details of your setup, and I'm sure other folks will pitch in.
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- KVRist
- 482 posts since 2 Jun, 2004 from West Sussex, UK
I'm no expert, but I think it would be an idea to check the basics first.......
Go to the settings page. Have you got a Midi input device, and is it enabled? You'll need this to create midi clips to play Battery.
Next, click on the track (e.g. track 1) and check that it is set to "default audio output".
Then click on the midi input device arrow, and make sure that it is attached to your track. When you click on the input device you should see a keyboard at the bottom of the screen. Provided you've loaded Battery correctly, you should be able to play notes by clicking on the keyboard.
The next step would be to create a midi clip to play Battery, instead of clicking on the keyboard.
I hope this helps. If not, please provide more details of your setup, and I'm sure other folks will pitch in.
Go to the settings page. Have you got a Midi input device, and is it enabled? You'll need this to create midi clips to play Battery.
Next, click on the track (e.g. track 1) and check that it is set to "default audio output".
Then click on the midi input device arrow, and make sure that it is attached to your track. When you click on the input device you should see a keyboard at the bottom of the screen. Provided you've loaded Battery correctly, you should be able to play notes by clicking on the keyboard.
The next step would be to create a midi clip to play Battery, instead of clicking on the keyboard.
I hope this helps. If not, please provide more details of your setup, and I'm sure other folks will pitch in.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 20 Sep, 2004
Well, here is the new problem.
After much search on this forum I discovered that I could download a program called MIDI Yoke and connect a "virtual" MIDI cable from Tracktion to Battery.
Now that I have MIDI Yoke output 1 selected as an output for the track, and MIDI Yoke input 1 selected for the input on Battery...I still have no sound. None. I drop the Battery filter at the end of the track and I get a message that says the filter doesn't output to a wave device so it might not be audible. But, in the Battery stand-alone version it IS connected to the outputs on my card and I can hear the drums. I still don't think Battery is getting any MIDI info. Even the piano roll doesn't make any sounds when I click on it.
I have everything setup as it should be, I think. I have no idea what to do...
After much search on this forum I discovered that I could download a program called MIDI Yoke and connect a "virtual" MIDI cable from Tracktion to Battery.
Now that I have MIDI Yoke output 1 selected as an output for the track, and MIDI Yoke input 1 selected for the input on Battery...I still have no sound. None. I drop the Battery filter at the end of the track and I get a message that says the filter doesn't output to a wave device so it might not be audible. But, in the Battery stand-alone version it IS connected to the outputs on my card and I can hear the drums. I still don't think Battery is getting any MIDI info. Even the piano roll doesn't make any sounds when I click on it.
I have everything setup as it should be, I think. I have no idea what to do...
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- KVRist
- 317 posts since 13 Oct, 2001 from Mars
You definitely should not use MIDI Yoke for this purpose. 
I'm not familiar with Battery. However, some drum samplers may require users to set the MIDI channel to channel 10. (just in case, a MIDI clip's channel settings is located at the bottom panel of Tracktion.)
I'm not familiar with Battery. However, some drum samplers may require users to set the MIDI channel to channel 10. (just in case, a MIDI clip's channel settings is located at the bottom panel of Tracktion.)
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- KVRAF
- 1617 posts since 19 Mar, 2002 from Victoria, BC
ok, let's try something simple first.
What-you-need-to-make-it-work(tm)
1. Battery as a filter on the track, good. **Make sure it is the first filter, or at the very least, that any filters before it aren't stopping your midi notes** The tracktion level meter registers (and passes along) midi notes, so you can use it to test if midi is getting to battery by placing it right before battery
2. samples loaded in battery, if you click the cells and they play, you should be good to go.
3. A midi clip, on the track to trigger battery. Sounds like you have this figured as well, but just in case, set the In/Out markers, select the track and hit 'g' to generate an empty clip. left click to drop some notes, is your level meter (before battery) peaking when the midi notes play? good, battery is getting that midi.
4. Make sure the track is set to an AUDIO output, as that what the battery filter is sending out.
5. Still no sound? make sure the notes you have in the clip correspond to the cells in battery, keep in mind that tracktion is capable of displaying the octave numbers 'wrong' depending on your misc. settings tab.
6. Still no sound? ask NI
disclaimer - I've never used battery, I don't know if it requires more set up than adding the samples to make it work.
What-you-need-to-make-it-work(tm)
1. Battery as a filter on the track, good. **Make sure it is the first filter, or at the very least, that any filters before it aren't stopping your midi notes** The tracktion level meter registers (and passes along) midi notes, so you can use it to test if midi is getting to battery by placing it right before battery
2. samples loaded in battery, if you click the cells and they play, you should be good to go.
3. A midi clip, on the track to trigger battery. Sounds like you have this figured as well, but just in case, set the In/Out markers, select the track and hit 'g' to generate an empty clip. left click to drop some notes, is your level meter (before battery) peaking when the midi notes play? good, battery is getting that midi.
4. Make sure the track is set to an AUDIO output, as that what the battery filter is sending out.
5. Still no sound? make sure the notes you have in the clip correspond to the cells in battery, keep in mind that tracktion is capable of displaying the octave numbers 'wrong' depending on your misc. settings tab.
6. Still no sound? ask NI
disclaimer - I've never used battery, I don't know if it requires more set up than adding the samples to make it work.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 20 Sep, 2004
Wait!
Sound! Not very good sound, but I have a MIDI file I edited triggering Battery as it should. Now though...
The sample that it's triggering is supposed to be a crash cymbol, instead it sounds like a very heavily digitally distorted buzz.
Sound! Not very good sound, but I have a MIDI file I edited triggering Battery as it should. Now though...
The sample that it's triggering is supposed to be a crash cymbol, instead it sounds like a very heavily digitally distorted buzz.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 20 Sep, 2004
I've got it. Everything is working perfectly. The heavily distorted samples are from my Echo Audio card's ASIO drivers having conflicts with the CardBus chipset in my laptop (this apparently is a common problem for this specific chipset). For now I just switched over the drivers to DirectSound till Echo sends me some new drivers that will help compatability.
Now all I need is a RAM upgrade.....
Thanks for the help guys! Oh, and what is up with the wrong octave label on Tracktion's piano roll?
Now all I need is a RAM upgrade.....
Thanks for the help guys! Oh, and what is up with the wrong octave label on Tracktion's piano roll?
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- KVRAF
- 1617 posts since 19 Mar, 2002 from Victoria, BC
if you go to the miscellaneous section of the settings tab you can set which octave # is 'middle C' this is because not all plugins/hosts count them the same. Experiment and you should be able to match it up with battery.