Waveform going unresponsive and not making sound

[Phrixothrix]

I recently downloaded Waveform Free 12 and originally had a rocky start. I had no issues connecting my MIDI device to waveform, but I couldn’t get it to play any sounds. But after downloading Attracktive and using the free sounds from it, things were fine.

But a few days ago it bought a couple of cheap sound packs from Tracktion and ever since Waveform has been unusable. Everything is connected properly and it says sound is being produced but nothing is coming when I hit the keys on my MIDI device or on the digital keyboard. It also keeps going unresponsive when I try to load projects or pick new sounds.

I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling the the sound packs and Waveform itself and it hasn’t helped. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

[pough]

Just to rule out the obvious, are you aware that MIDI + nothing = no sounds? That is, MIDI must be run through an instrument plugin, otherwise there is nothing to turn the MIDI into a sound.

It would help if you could be a bit more specific about some things, like what does "it says sound is being produced" mean?

Which sound packs are you referring to? What's your OS? Which audio device and which audio device type?

One relatively common problem is people putting instruments into the master track. Bad things happen when you do that.

[Phrixothrix]

Sorry. I should’ve been more specific.

I’m running it on a 6 month old windows laptop. I don’t remember the specs, but everything is above the system requirements for Waveform.

I have the MIDI device connected and the instrument sounds (idk what else to call them. The synths and instrument sounds) on the right side of the track where the little gray plus sign is. It all says it’s connected but nothing will play.

Even on saved tracks I’ve already recorded. It shows the recording but it says “no sound is chosen for this track” now so nothing plays. Even when I add the sound back to the track. The only sounds I can get to play are the prerecorded songs from the tutorial.

And the sound packs were Band Essentials and SH-20. I downloaded them from the Tracktion website. I also have Attracktive and the free synths they included

[pough]

I'm sorry, but I really can't work things out from your descriptions. Maybe a screenshot or video that shows what's happening?

[Watchful]

Phrix,

You have the synth loaded to the right--that's correct!

Do you also have your MIDI controller showing up as an input on the far left of the track, under the track name?

If not, Waveform isn't aware of your controller: go to the Settings tab up at the top and ensure you've got that configured under MIDI devices (it will have a green checkmark and say "Enabled" if you have it set up right).

If so, pressing a key on the controller should cause a green light to flicker on the input. This tells you your controller is recognized as an input.

If you have the controller recognized as an input AND you have the input (far left) set to that controller, AND you see the green light, you should be good to go unless your track is muted or you don't have a preset loaded in your synth plugin on the right.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Yeah, and you have to remember that AFTER a typical instrument VST in the right side, MIDI has disappeared and been replaced with audio. Order is important. Typically on the right you have either just VST and THEN volume/pan, or VST - Audio effects (reverb, EQ, etc) THEN volume pan). Also click on the little speaker icon full right. Make sure it's set to default audio output unless you really WANT it to go to another track as a master.

It IS possible you may want MIDI output, in which case it can drive an external synthesizer or be sent to another track - but that's an exercise for much later when you're comfortable with the basics. Or never, unless you REALLY think you need that.