Recording MIDI (usins VSTi's & E-MU XBoard 61)

[radaget]

Hi

I'm new to Reaper and computer music tech in general. I have an E-MU XBoard 61 (which I've recently downloaded the 64Bit Windows 7 drivers for - i think), a Novation 2/4 interface, a Sony Vaio laptop and a multitude of VSTi's. Oh and guitars.

I've managed to record a few tracks using audio and used VST's for effects (Amplitube) which is sounding great. What I can't seem to do is record MIDI. I can open the VSTi on a new track, arm it, set the monitor button and play the instrument so that the levels can be seen and i can hear sound but when i try to record the track, nothing is captured and when i play the track back, there is no sound. I'm thinking this must a simple mistake but I have the blinkers on and can't see the answer.

Any ideas please? And can the XBoard 61 be used with Reaper using Windows 7 64 Bit?

Many thanks

Tim

[DarkStar]

hello radaget and welcome to (posting in) the forum

Let's try to get it working with the Reaper Virtual MIDI keyboard (VMK) first.
-- create a new track
-- add a synth plugin to it
-- open the VMK (Alt+b, I think)
-- RecArm the track
-- select the VMK as the Input:MIDI device (right-click the RecArm button for the menu), select "All channels" too
-- make sure the "Monitor Input" is on (right-click the RecArm button for the menu)

Click the keys and you should hear the instrument.

If the track is receiving MIDI then a red square (MIDI received) and red line (MIDI velocity indication) can be seen in the track meter - in the Default theme temporarily disable your VSTi to see them, or temporarily switch to "Default 3.0.
All Ok so far? If so:
-- check in Preferences > Audio > MIDI devices, that your XBoard is enabled for Input (and for Control?) - right-click the device name for the menu
-- select the XBoard as the Input:MIDI device, select "All channels" too

Play the Xboard keys and you should hear the instrument.

[radaget]

Hi DarkStar...many thanks for your reply. I will certainly try this later tonight. Really appreciate your assistance and will let you know how I get on..

Thanks

Tim

[radaget]

Hi...tried that but if I'm looking at the right thing, I can't see the red block that suggests Midi in. I can see the level meter change and hear sound but no inn that Midi is coming in. Unless i'm looking in the wrong place..

[DarkStar]

With the VSTi disabled (a cut & paste montage):



What does your MIDI Devices preferences window look like?

[radaget]

Hi...pretty much the same as yours with a few things in different order. Somehow now managed to record using the virtual midi keyboard :-)

But when i switch back to the keyboard / keys that are part of the VSTi, it doesn't work...

[DarkStar]

Getting there, then

Keys that are part of the VSTi do not generate MIDI that would be seen in the track meters.

Perhaps you could compress a simple problem project file (no audio samples needed) into a ZIP file and post it here as an attachment so we can have a look at it and see what's (not) happening?

And screenshots of your Preferences > MIDI Devices window and your Input:MIDI devices available for selection on the track

[radaget]

Hi again..

I tried reinstalling the drivers for my E-MU Xboard 61 and all seems ok now. Everything in Reaper seemed fine and that there couldn't be anything wrong with that. So I tried looking at the controller side and it worked :-).

Thanks so much for your help..

Tim

[DarkStar]

You're welcome.


Now, go make some noise.