I am a MIDI retard, need help recording

[layman]

I am new to all this and I am using a PC (I know, I'm sorry) and DIGI001 with a Triton ProX keyboard. I need to record this song to a CD in a format that is playable by CD players but the "Bounce to Disk" function is never highlighted. I have spent hours reading the manuals and watching that lovely (note the sarcasm) video and it seems you're supposed to be able to click on "Bounce to Disk" to record the whole thing and make a CD. Hopefully I am not missing something obvious, but I need help before I bash my computer in.

[mfym]

In order to bounce, you probably need to use the selector and highlight all your midi. In order to burn to a CD, your bounce to disk file has to be 16 bit (unless it's DVD). It might be easier to just start with a 16 bit session.

The bounce to disk would only be the levels of your aux fader.

Hope this helps. http://duc.digidesign.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif

[layman]

I had tried selecting everything and the "Bounce to Disk" option was still not available. Then I went back and looked and the whole thing is a 24 bit file so I'll try redoing it as a 16 bit file and maybe that will work. Thanks.

[Product Management]

Hey layman,

your post should probably better go into the Pro Tools problem solving conference. Tech Support folks monitor these conferences much more often than this one...

Anyway, do you have any audio tracks in your session? You won't be able to bounce if there's only MIDI tracks because bouncing creates audio files and needs audio sources. MIDI alone doesn't quite cut it. ;-)

Hope this helps!

Adrian Haselhuber
Product Manager MIDI/Synth/Sampling

[Neil Ward]

hi.

Can you give us more info please ... are you using only midi? .. if so are you monitering the midi instruments through the 001 or an external mixer.. are you using audio tracks too? what is your session setup.. 24bit 16bit??

//NW

[layman]

The session is 24 bit and it is all MIDI. If I include one audio track is the whole bouncable to disk? I am monitroing the MIDI tracks through 001. Thanks for your help.

[IOP Drummer]

MIDI iS NOT AUDIO!!! MIDI IS NOT AUDIO!!!

[layman]

I realize that MIDI is not audio. What is the purpose of having it on Pro Tools if you can't record with it? (to anything but MIDI file formats that is).

[Gulliver]

You need to record your midi tracks onto audio tracks before bouncing.

[Rams Boy]

No, you don't need to record your MIDI to audio. Simply add an audio track. Blank is fine. Then select all your midi data including the blank audio track. Bounce to disk. Done. We do this every single day.

[IOP Drummer]

So how does Pro Tools know to take the audio mysteriouly out of my ext mixer carrying my MIDI gear signals?? Sounds like you're using aux inputs for all of your MIDI gear INSIDE PT. Boune to disk is AUDIO ONLY. THERE MUST BE AUDIO INSIDE PT, WHETHER IT IS IN THE FORM OF REAL TIME AUX INPUTS OR AUDIO TRACKS!!!!!

[Neil Ward]

layman...

OK it seems like your session detals are in order... try creating one audio track, leave it blank ( I was under the impression an aux track would do, but hey http://duc.digidesign.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif)

let us know how it goes...

btw ... IOP drummer ... take a chill pill man... stop shouting...

//NW

[Gulliver]

I stand corrected - you do not need to record an audio track.

I believe you need to keep low latency monitoring off, though. Is that the case?

Also, what latency issues are there and how can they be corrected?

[mfym]

"You won't be able to bounce if there's only MIDI tracks..."

WRONG.

A bounce to disk will bounce the levels of an aux fader. If your keyboard's audio is connected to the 001 with a properly assigned aux fader in PTLE, and the keyboard is receiving your midi, you can bounce the levels of your aux fader to disk, without having to create audio tracks in PTLE.

I'm assuming layman that you have made the correct midi connections. If you're unsure, a search here will help.

Gulliver: It's always a good idea to leave low latency monitoring off when bouncing to disk unless you're using a mixer.

Hope this helps. http://duc.digidesign.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif

[layman]

well guys, I thank you for all your help so far. I did add am audio track of silence and tried to bounce it to disk but all I got was the silent audio track and none of the MIDI tracks. Obviously I am still missing something.

MFYM - Since I am a freshman at all this (perhaps that should have been an argument for using something other than 001) your input about properly assigning audio through aux fader may be the solution though I haven't a clue how to go about doing that since the manual is written for people with more knowledge than I have. I need the manual "PTLE for Raw Beginners" with a hefty glossary of terms.

[Neil Ward]

Layman...

OK,

To try and resolve this " your input about properly assigning audio through aux fader may be the solution though I haven't a clue how to go about doing that " .... please answer this...
Question... Where is the audio output of your midi instrument connected too? How are you managing to hear your instrument ( the korg I presume ) Is the audio signal going back into the 001 via an aux input or an external mixer?

//NW

[This message has been edited by Neil Ward (edited February 28, 2001).]

[layman]

The Korg keyboard's audio output is plugged into 001's L/R monitor inputs and the 001's audio outputs (going to Alesis monitor speakers) are coming from main monitor out L/R. I am not using a mixer at all.

[mfym]

Okay.

I can only tell you how my set up is. This allows me to record midi but I've indicated how to record audio also because of plug-ins
and better editing results, and because you can just record your keyboard and edit the audio without midi. Eventually you record your midi tracks as audio anyway. Everyone develops their own technique.

1.) Move your audio output cables (that go to your Alesis) from main to monitor on the 001. Again this is just my set up. Your needs may vary.

2.) Plug in your audio from the Triton to inputs 3 and 4 on the 001. This is how I monitor. If your want to record audio, use inputs 1 and 2 on the front. The pre-amps are just better.

3.) In PTLE in the mixer window, click file, choose new track, and create a aux input (stereo) fader track. On that same aux fader track you just created, click the top panel and choose input and then 3 and 4. You should now be able to hear your keyboard when played.

layman: You haven't indicated if you want to record midi or have recorded any midi at all, but I'm assuming you do since you posted in midi, which by the way, this new forum is an excellent idea.

4.) Buy (borrow) 2 midi cables. A music or computer store would help. If you have cables, plug the midi in of the 001 into the midi out of the Triton, and the midi out of the 001 into the midi in of the Triton.

5.) In PTLE, create a midi track as you would a aux fader track above. Click record on the midi track in PTLE and you should be able to hear your keyboard (Triton). Choose the top panel again of the midi track. Midi has 16 separate channels. If you want to hear the same sound from the Triton as you would play, both the Triton and the PTLE would need to be assigned to the "same" midi channel. So you still need your manuals, because only you know your Triton and how to assign its midi channel(s).

I believe PTLE will assign a midi channel to the midi track in numerical order, which you can change to that of the Triton's, or change the Triton's midi channel to that of PTLE's. Just as long as they're the same midi channel, it doesn't matter.

You can assign a sound from PTLE with the program change button on the midi track in PTLE. Bank select numbers are just no fun, so go to town. Both a midi channel and a program change assignment have to be made in PTLE on the midi track in order to hear your sound from the Triton. Click record on the midi track and you should be able to hear your keyboard. To actually record, click the record button in the transport window also and then click play. And all of this can be done from the edit window too by choosing Display, Edit Windows Shows and I/O view. This will probably take some work, but the results are worth it. Getting to hear all your midi tracks in real time, is a great songwriting tool.

I'm doing alot of this from memory, so excuse any mistakes. I know there's are alot of different set ups and it's difficult to explain, but I hope this gets you on your way in whatever method you use to record.

http://duc.digidesign.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif

[Neil Ward]

Layman ...

Is your 001 in monitor mode... (the button on the front panel) ???

That could be your problem... you need to create an aux input to monitor your Korg.. assign it's inputs to 3&4 where the Korg's audio output is plugged into the 001... as mfym has described... but I wouldn't change the 001's audio outputs to the monitor out... leave it as the main out 1&2.

that should do it.. Hope it makes sense!

//NW

[layman]

Well, I must thank you all for your help. MFYM and NEil, my Korg has always been plugge into the 3 & 4 inouts and I have had no trouble recording MIDI tracks to PTLE. I have now tried the aux input fader and I still only get silence on on the resulting bounced WAV file (and I have tried listening to it with the monitor on/off swithc in both positions).

Perhaps I should put the wav file onto a CD and try playing it on my stereo, but I suspect I would just waste a blank CD since it appears that all I have recorded is silence.

On a non-midi note, I have plugged my mic into input 1 on the front with pahntom power and record enabled the track but PTLE is picking up no signal.

I think I am to the point of needing to find someone experienced with PTLE in the Denver area to hire and come help me figure all this out. If anyone know of how to find such a person (because I have asked around and no one I know uses PTLE) I would be greatly indebted.

I love this forum and all the helpful people who frequent it and hope that someday I can return the favor.