MIDI fool needs quick guidance

[moon]

The Christmas season, having deposited a wealth of undeserved gifts, is turning sour as I can't get them to work.

I've got an E-mu 1820m which is up and running beautifully. I've started with the Cubase LE software, managed to open Proteus inside it as a VST, which sounds great using the mouse with the onscreen keyboard ( I'm a total MIDI newb ), but nothing I can do will make my external MIDI controller keyboard kick in. It's a Roland PC-180A , connected to the rear MIDI in of the E-mu.
What's the secret ? I'm half-blind from reading the manuals but they just don't cater for simpletons like me. How do I get the controller to control ?

[itsplayed]

Try using the front midi in on the E-MU instead.

[moon]

Happy new year to you, mate.

OK, still no joy. The front MIDI indicator is rapidly flashing. ( 1) Does that indicate a fault ?

[itsplayed]

Thanks, same to you!
Are you getting any signal response on the midi indicator within Cubase?

[itsplayed]

...also make sure your keyboard is set to local control "OFF". The manual for your keyboard should tell you how this is done.

[moon]

Ta.

Do you mean within Patchmix ? Patchmix doesn't seem to have any reference to MIDI at all. I can't even find any reference to MIDI ports in Windows.

[itsplayed]

No, the keyboard itself should have a midi local control on/off function. Also have you selected the default session within the patchmix? There is a midi signal indicator in cubase on the lower right hand side. The bar will show activity if cubase is recieving a signal from your keyboard. Remember, it's midi out from your keyboard to midi in on the audiodock.

[moon]

The 'default session' is selected in Patchmix but 'MIDI', under 'Session Settings' offers just two options; 'Dock MIDI 2 in' ( I'm now plugged into MIDI 1 on the front ) or ' Sync card enabled'. I have the 'Dock MIDI 2 in' button checked.

There is no ' midi local control on/off function' on the controller. There's ' MIDI/Select ' and that's about it. It only has 'MIDI out' and that's connected to the E-mu MIDI in ( 1)

There's no indication of an input signal anywhere in Cubase LE or Patchmix.

[itsplayed]

Are you using another soundcard besides the E-MU? Go to Start> settings> control panel> sounds and audio devices...under the audio tab make sure the E-MU is shown as your midi playback device. In Cubase under "device setup" make sure the E-MU is also selected. Highlight a midi track in the main project window, to the left in the inspector window make sure "all midi inputs" is selected for your in and the Proteus is selected as your out

[dcwave]

Have you armed the midi track in Cubase and selected the midi port in for the track?

[moon]

I've just got the E-mu and onboard sound is disabled.

I don't have 'Sounds and Audio Devices' in Control Panel, just 'Sounds and Multimedia' ( Windows 2000 Pro ). Sound Playback is fixed at E-DSP WAVE (9000) with no options. Sound Recording is the same. MIDI Music Playback has choices of E-DSP MIDI port (9000), E-DSP MIDI port 2 (9000) or Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth. I'm set to E-DSP MIDI port (9000)


OK, itsplayed, you're a bit of a genius. 'All MIDI inputs' in and 'ProteusXLE' out has done the trick. :) Bonza.

Cheers to you too, dcwave. I've got no end of other stoopid questions but they can wait until I get bored with the rather splendid sound of my newly enabled keyboard. Thanks guys, have a happy 06. :cool:

[itsplayed]

Your welcome Moon and remember, no question is stupid if you haven't got the answer. That's what makes the forum such a great resource when your stuck. Here's to your new music making rig in the new year....cheers!