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Subject:Questions for anyone who is good with MIDI...
Posted by: scooby13q
Date:3/31/2002 10:13:20 PM
I've been trying to synchronize my digital console with Sound Forge, and it seems that the best way to do this is with MIDI. I want to be able to transfer each track from my mixer individually, so I want to have Sound Forge start recording at a set time from when I push play on my mixer or vice versa. I think this involves a MIDI sequencer, so I downloaded one, but I quickly realized that I was in way over my head. Can anyone tell me briefly if I can accomplish what I set out to do with the MIDI sequencer? Also, another thing that's been bothering me since I got Sound Forge, is that whenever I try to record, no matter what input or what sample rate or what bit depth, the sound quality isn't very good, almost as if the sound were coming through a microphone with a sleeping bag over it. I don't experience any quality problems when I use other recording programs. I've gotten a few suggestions from other users here, but so far, nothing has solved the problem. |
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Subject:RE: Questions for anyone who is good with MIDI...
Reply by: Rednroll
Date:3/31/2002 10:53:04 PM
First of all you mention doing a transfer from your "mixer". Do you mean this is the type of mixer you can record with? Meaning something like a Roland VS-880 etc.? If this is the case, it's better to refer to it as a hard disk recorder. The other problem is that it sounds like Sound Forge might not be the right tool you're looking for to do what you want. Sound Forge will allow you to lay off 2 tracks at a time from your other device you recorded on, then edit it and lay it back off, but it won't allow you to layoff all the tracks and listen to them simultaneously on your PC. Before I go into detail on how to accomplish this, I would like to make sure you have the correct tools to accomplish what you want. Getting a sequencer is not the solution, you need. Sound forge can accomplish this, by itself by syncing to midi timecode which get's outputed by your other hard disk editor. Give me your current equipment and what you wish to do and I can further assist you. rednroll |
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Subject:RE: Questions for anyone who is good with MIDI...
Reply by: scooby13q
Date:4/1/2002 8:01:23 AM
I have a Roland VS-1680. I know that Sound Forge definitely isn't the best tool for recording and mixing since it deals with basically one track at a time...I'm working on getting a copy of Cakewalk right now. Hopefully that will better fit my needs. The Roland is connected to my Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum sound card via the optical input, Aux Line 2 input (from the Master out on the Roland), and two MIDI cables. |
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Subject:Here's the steps
Reply by: Rednroll
Date:4/2/2002 1:07:04 AM
First you need to setup Sound Forge to accept midi time code (Smpte). 1. Goto OPTIONS>PREFERENCES>MIDI/SYNC 2. set the midi input to your sound blaster MIDI IN 3. Make sure the "Bound record time on SMPTE record sync" is checked. 4. Goto the "Options" menu and make sure "MIDI INPUT Sync/Trigger" is checked. Now you have to setup the VS-1680 to generate Midi Time code/Smpte. This is probably the tough part, I've had trouble trying to figure out Roland VS-880's in the past when someone has brought them in my studio to lay off tracks. Read the manual, it probably won't do you much good though, Roland rights there manuals in UNUSER FRIENDLY type of style. 1. Set the Midi Clock of the VS-1680 to "Internal" 2. Set it to Generate midi time code to one of the midi outputs. 3. Plug a midi cord from the MIDI OUT of the VS-1680 that you selected to the Sound blaster MIDI IN, you selected in Sound Forge. Now set Sound Forge up to record, by syncing to the midi time code that should be coming out of the VS-1680's MIDI OUT. 1. Open the Record Window 2. Click on the "Sync" button. 3. Check the "Enable MTC/SMPTE Input Synchronization" box 4. Check the "Start" box and enter the "time" that your song starts on the VS-1680. 5. Click the "Close" button. 6. Set the Input Format to "SMPTE NON-DROP 30 FPS" (you'll probably have to make sure your VS-1680 is generating this same format, again check your useless manual) 7. Click the "Prepare" button. Sound Forge is now waiting for midi time code to enter into the Midi IN of your sound blaster Midi IN that you selected in the "preferences" menu. Now rewind your song about 10 seconds before it starts and then hit "Play" on the VS-1680. You should see Sound Forge start reading the Time code coming from the VS-1680. When it reaches the "START" time that you entered (ie the beginning of your song), then Sound Forge will begin to RECORD. You should have now successfully, recorded your audio N-SYNC...oops...I mean the other IN SYNC. Now Edit your audio in Sound Forge 1. Goto the "Options" menu and Uncheck the "Midi Input Sync/Trigger" 2. Do whatever edits you want to...but don't add any silence before the audio. After editing you will want to lay it back to the VS-1680 back In Sync. 1. Turn the MIDI INPUT Sync/Trigger back on in the "Options" menu. 2. Push Play on the VS-1680 and Sound Forge should play along with the VS-1680. 3. Once you made sure, it's playing back IN-SYNC, feel free to hit Record on the VS-1680 and lay the track back in. Now that sounds simple doesn't it?....lol |
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Subject:AHHHH!!!
Reply by: scooby13q
Date:4/4/2002 3:01:47 PM
As usual, the VS1680 and Sound Forge aren't getting along. I set everything like you said, checked the manual for the VS1680 (I understand most of the stuff in the MIDI section...the whole half of a page), and Sound Forge just sits there in "prepared" mode. This is getting really really frustrating. It simply shouldn't be this hard. Is there any way to check to see if Sound Forge is receiving any MIDI or if the VS1680 is even sending anything? I don't have any other MIDI devices. Also, the only part that I didn't know was which MIDI port to set as the input. There is a choice for "MIDI port I" and "MIDI port II". I had no idea which was which, so I tried both of them with every combination of settings that I could think of. |
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Subject:RE: AHHHH!!!
Reply by: Rednroll
Date:4/4/2002 8:12:18 PM
The best way you can monitor in sound forge to see if you are receiving midi timecode is to enable the "midi input sync/trigger" in the options menu. Goto "View" menu and enable the "Time display". Now right click on the time display and select "sync/trigger" status. It should now read "WAITING", which means it's just sitting there waiting to receive timecode. Hit Play on the 1680, if no time starts to display on the time display, then sound forge is not receiving time code. Here's the steps to go through on a VS-880 to make it generate timecode. I'm sure it's the same on a 1680. VS-880 Settings: Press SYSTEM until "SYS Sync/Tempo ?" is displayed. Press YES/ENTER. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select Source = INT (if it is not already selected). Press PARAMETER>> until "Syn:Gen. =" is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select MIDIclk. Press SYSTEM until "SYS MIDI PRM ?" is displayed. Press YES/ENTER. Press PARAMETER>> until "MIDI Thr =" is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select Out (if it is not already selected). I'm not sure about the midi connections on the sound blaster card, I use a MOTU midi interface. It comes with it's own software, which tells you if midi is received or not. Just setup the VS-1680 as described above and start plugin in to all the midi connections until you see sound forge start to do something other than "waiting". |
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Subject:RE: AHHHH!!!
Reply by: davec
Date:4/5/2002 1:28:57 PM
Hi, I have just recently purchased SF so I am very new to all this stuff. I have an Akai DR8 which I want to sync up with Sound Forge.I have followed all the instructions in the PDF manual, which you also went through with the VS 880 problem. The SMPTE code is registering on the toolbar, but nothing is happening. SF remains static. Everything seems to be ticked/set up as instructed, and there is obviously code getting through, but SF refuses to budge. Any ideas please? Dave |
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Subject:Thanks again for the help
Reply by: scooby13q
Date:4/5/2002 2:49:51 PM
Just wanted to say thanks to the folks who've tried to help me out with this so far...unfortunately, I still think there's a problem in sending the MIDI. I followed all the instructions in that last post, but I still had no luck. For the time display, I don't see anything in the box. It doesn't even say waiting or anything, just a blank box with a title bar. I'm going to try to contact Creative's customer support about which MIDI input to use. I really wish this would start working...it would make my audio projects so much easier...=( |