Routing incoming MIDI to external sound module and record audio from sound module

[geswho22]

I have Waveform 11 Pro. I have an Alesis Vector wireless 2 controller keyboard and a Roland MC-101 Groovebox which I use as a sound module. The MC-101 is connected to the PC via USB. The Vector has a USB dongle (wireless) which I plug in to the PC running Win10. I'm using ASIO4All for the audio driver. I can see MIDI input from the Vector on track 1. Using NOTE mode on the MC-101, I can see audio in from the MC-101 on track 2 using the buttons on the MC-101 to trigger notes. I want to route the MIDI in from the Vector to the MC-101 so I can record the sound on an audio track in Waveform. I am assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that both MIDI in and audio out can go over the USB cable connecting the MC-101 to the PC. How can I set up Waveform to direct incoming MIDI on track 1 out to the MC-101 so I can record audio on track 2? I know this can be done in Ableton Live (saw it on a YouTube video), but I can't figure out how to do it in Waveform. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[pough]

I don't have any outboard gear so I don't have any experience, but maybe the Insert plugin can be used to do this.

[cjayconrod]

In the MIDI Device settings, do you have any outputs enabled?

[Watchful]

I use the Insert plugin on nearly every project. You'll find it (if I recall) in the Waveform plugins flyout menu, under Utility.

It's one of the most useful plugins if you have any physical hardware (keyboards, modules, or effects units).

Here's what I'm not sure about: are you using the controller to produce sounds from a plugin, or from exterior hardware?

***IF FROM A PLUGIN***

1. Set up your first track so that it has your MIDI data, and playing the external keyboard records MIDI events. Your plugin that generates the sound should be in this track--press a key on your keyboard, and you should hear a sound play through your system.
2. Set up your second track by setting the input (that's on the left of the track) to receive audio from the first track. Arm this track to record, and play away. Any pre-recorded MIDI events on track 1 will bounce to track 2. Any sounds you play on the keyboard will record onto track 2 as well. You can do either or both.

***IF FROM AN EXTERNAL KEYBOARD***

1. Set up your first track so that playing your keyboard creates MIDI events on it. You can record the MIDI events by arming the track and recording, if you wish--but it's not necessary for this trick. I do it so I can always go back and change things if I need to.
2. On track 1, drop in the Insert plugin. Double-click it to open it up. SEND should be your keyboard's name. RETURN should be your audio interface. You might have more than option in each, so be prepared to test it. If you press a key on your keyboard and hear it *through Waveform,* you got it!
3. Set up your second track to receive audio from the first track (see step 2 in the previous trick).

Now when you press record, your MIDI track will play through your keyboard. The audio will come through USB back into Waveform where it will bounce to track 2 for recording.

This seems weird, maybe, but it works for a lot of recording issues beyond this (such as kicking a track out to an outboard compressor or reverb unit and bring that unit's audio back in). It's a superb but totally undocumented utility.

You might need to experiment, too, with your audio and MIDI settings, but you probably have these correctly set up by now.

[geswho22]

I found a video that explained where to click on the track to bring up a panel to check for "Track Destination." I had to set the MIDI to go to the external sound module and that fixed it. Thanks.