New to Tracktion- HELP!

[trappist]

Sorry if this has been asked before but:

Recently d/l the free copy of Tracktion. Been using by itself and some free softsynths with success......today I bought a M-AUDIO Midisport interface, installed everything, plugged it in (using Windows XP), with a Korg Triton for controller. I can't hear any of the softsynths via MIDI--I can only play them using Tracktion's onscreen "keyboard."

All the green lights come on with Midisport. How do I configure Tracktion to recognize the Triton? Since it has limited help files....I didn't find anything helpful. Thanks.

[cbit]

if all has been installed correctly there should be an icon representing the midisport midi input on the arrange screen, it will be floating in the space to the left of the tracks, you need to drag it so that it points to the track you want to feed the midi to.

[gbles]

In addition to the above post....

If you do not have an 'input' icon to the left, representing your MIDI input, then check the settings/devices page. From there you can enable and disable audio and MIDI devices. Depending on what you have installed, you may have a few in the list.

[Beno]

..also, once the Icon is available and dragged to a track. Select it and be sure the enable End to End button is ticked for the midi input.

Good team work guys!

Ben

[M'Snah]

A problem that I have had after (XP) crashes and other problems is that the checkbox 'show only enabled devices' at the settings page is checked, while some of the (new) MIDI / audio devices were disabled, and because of that I couldn't see them... It's worth checking

--HansM

[trappist]

The MIDIsport device shows up in Windows System/Hardware/Device Manager as enabled. Tracktion shows no sign of MIDI input anywhere. Is there an enable/disable there?

????

[gbles]

(Updated after I remoted into home to check on these pages)

When you click on the Settings tab the Audio Devices page is already selected. The second list box displays MIDI Devices. Make sure your input device is enabled here. If it is not, click on the 'x disabled' section to toggle its status and enable it.

Now go back to your project. You should have an input icon on the left that has the same name as your MIDI input device. Drag that to a track until the icon becomes an arrow pointing at the track and then try playing. Anything?

If not, make sure your MIDI device is still selected (highlighted red) and look at the 'Properties Panel' in the middle bottom of the screen (this is a context sensitive menu). Amongst those options is 'enable end to end'. Its just above the keyboard on the right hand side. Make sure this is enabled. Anything now?

[trappist]

You should have an input icon on the left that has the same name as your MIDI input device. Drag that to a track until the icon becomes an arrow pointing at the track and then try playing. Anything?

Yes, thanks....for some reason the MIDI devices were disabled in Tracktion. First there was no device listed there, now it's enabled and working.

I am finally getting MIDI control w/my Triton, but the sounds are now distorted and crackly. It sounded fine when I played with the softsynths (using piano roll thing) in Tracktion. This is maddening!

[gbles]

Upon first install the MIDI devices may be disabled by default as Tracktion will not know which ones to enable, if its anything like my system. I have a bunch of different MIDI ins and wouldn't want them all to be displayed as input icons. Good news is that this will be a little different in T2.

Now, just to make sure I know exactly where you are....

The Triton audio input is now crackling, or your Triton MIDI input is now causing crackling to occur in the soft synths?

[trappist]

The "crackling" was because I had the latency set too low in Tracktion. Now that I've adjusted it....sounds fine. Most illogical.

Anyway, thanks for everyone's help. I never had these kinda issues with my hardware synths. This is going to be a learning experience to be sure.

[gbles]

Try not to get too disheartened. While some things may seem illogical, it sounds like you're just getting going in an area where there is a lot to learn. The latency thing, for example, makes sense to anybody who has used a DAW for a while.

I used to use external gear only, but could never go back now. Not because of sound quality (that argument will go on and on and on.....) but because it is much easier to deal with. For me. Give it a bit of time and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. There will always be things to complain about, and how things could be better, but then there are so many positives.

Anyway, glad everything is sorted out now, and I hope you enjoy Tracktion. In my opinion, its by far the least illogical host to use.....

[trappist]

Thanks....I appreciate it.

You guys are great. Nobody from M-Audio or Mackie has answered my email regarding this.

[koolkeys]

Actually, they have answered. Beno, who posted above, is from Mackie. It seems that the forums are the main way of general support. And they do a fine job. Thanks Beno!

Koolkeys

[trappist]

Just one more question--why does the sound output get distorted when you lower the "latency" setting?

[gbles]

Just one more question--why does the sound output get distorted when you lower the "latency" setting?

Somebody feel free to explain this better....

You're setting audio buffer sizes in memory, which get smaller for lower latency settings. Lower latency gives a smaller delay between some action and the audio being played. For example, set a high latency and try playing a a note on your external synth into a soft synth. There will be a noticeable delay between hitting the key and hearing the note. Ideally, you want this to be low, giving no delay. The problem is, going lower and lower creates more of a strain on your system as the memory buffers become smaller, which ends up in crackling.

I wouldn't worry about figuring it out in great detail at the moment though, as long as you're delay and crackle free. For reference, the latency in Tracktion on my audio card shows up as 512 samples (10.6 millisecs).