Dave G

[I first noticed this anomaly when using Addictive Drums 2...] It seems that my drum keymap in the Piano Roll View is inconsistent between CbB and Studio One. For example, in CbB, the drum sounds (starting from Kick & Snares) go from C3 upward. However, in Studio One, they go from C1 upward. Addictive Drums 2 built-in keymap PDF represents the drum sounds going up from C1. I've never noticed this until now. Is this typical behavior, and if not, what are the standard GM drum map? Can this be corrected? If so, is it the culprit of CbB, SO, or Addictive Drums? Please advise. Thank you in advance!

I apologize for the confusion. In my scenario, I'm referring to the Pitch Wheel. When I draw a line within the Controller Pane for the Pitch Wheel, the resulting measure will be a few hundred off from the intended value.

I'm trying to draw lines in to the controller pane (expression, velocity, pan, etc.). For example, let's say I draw a 1/16th-step line from -2180 to 0. When I finish the controller, the final node ends up a few hundred steps off, like -2180 to -463. You can see the final level doesn't sit exactly at 0, and that final step in the Event list confirms this. This just started for me recently. Has anyone had this happen? What's the fix for this and how can I get accurate controller measures like I used to? Thanks in advance.

I'm an amateur MIDI musician who doesn't plan on "going pro" or promoting my music. However, I want it to sound its very best. I don't play instruments or record vocals; I transcribe all my notation through the Piano Roll. I've been doing much research on gain staging, and although I have a general understanding, I'm seeking more insight. This is the way I understand the gain staging process: 1) Ensure each instrument track's volume fader is at unity (0db). Don't adjust the Master or Stereo tracks. 2) Find the loudest part of the song and the most prominent instrument track. 3) Watch the meters and adjust the Gain dial accordingly, keeping around -18db. Repeat for each instrument track. 4) Bounce the tracks to audio. Apply the desired plug-ins and effects. 5) Finalize the mix by adjusting the volume faders accordingly, keeping to around -18db per track and -6 in Master. What I wonder is: What if I don't want to use gain staging? Why can't I just finish all the tracks, add the plugins-effects, and then just use the volume faders to mix? Bonus question: What if I have an instrument track that's too loud by design, and I can't lower the Gain/volume enough? I know this sounds kind of uneducated and foolish, but I would just like some clarification. Thanks in advance!

I realize that, in the TTS-1 synth, there are limited options to change the sound of the instrument. Is there perhaps a way to muffle/soften the sound of an instrument? Like, any instrument that sounds too tinny, metallic, or "twangy"? Any info is appreciated. Thank you!

I'm sorry, I think I wasn't clear. I don't mean the selection "bar" -- I'm referring to the note icon bars along the top there, next to the Tracks menu. How do I enable that note bar? EDIT: Never mind. The note bar seems to be a UI feature only available in Bandlab and not Sonar.

How do I enable the mini note selection bar at the top of the PRV as shown here?

Thank you both for your prompt answers! I'm only able to tag one of you as best answer, but both helped equally. 😊

Looking at the Console view of my project (in which I use TTS-1 synths along with others), I noticed that the TTS-1 meters are different from the others. Their meters tick marks range from 0-127, but the others are in decibels. Why are these different? And there are no numbers on the TTS meter itself, so how do I properly gain stage/mix my TTS tracks in correlation to the other synths' meters? Please see image. Thanks in advance.

I actually did change the Output Driver to the Speaker(s), and that naturally was the solution. I did watch your video. It was very informative and easy to understand! Thank you for including that, as that helped very much.

As you instructed, per the Output Drivers in my first screenshot, I unchecked RealTek and checked the first (and only the first) Speakers option. I'm getting playback now! And it sounds very clean. (Confirmed with Sonar and CbB, and in more than one project.) I don't know how I wrestled with this the past few days. I'm using WASAPI for the first time! Feels like a fluke; so if this acts up again, I'll post back here. Thanks for your tip!

[Some users have helped me with this issue in a different Topic, but I thought it deserved its own thread here.] While using WASAPI, there's no audio playback although the Track meters are moving. Previously, I've used MME and ASIO4ALL flawlessly. I've tried the following: Experimented in Sonar, CbB, and Studio One v4 (but no WASAPI option there) Switched between WASAPI "Exclusive" and "Shared" Confirmed the sample rate is 24-bit 48K in both Sound Settings and in Sonar/Cakewalk Checked/unchecked "Suspend Audio Engine..." in [Audio --> Playback and Recording] Disabled/re-enabled the Audio Engine button and exited/restarted the program Confirmed each Instrument Track is output to Master Bus, and the Master Bus is output to RealTek As you can see, I've tried everything short of reformatting my hard drive and starting all over. What else is there? I've learned that WASAPI is the suggested Driver Mode for my onboard audio configuration. I'm still in the amateur stages of my music projects, so I don't want to rush into buying an audio interface (yet) just to use ASIO4ALL. ** Screenshots of my Windows Sound and CbB Preferences are attached. Any help towards a resolution would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

I was using MME just fine before I switched to ASIO4ALL. But when I just switched to WASAPI, I couldn't hear any playback. Would you please elaborate your second statement here? "When switching driver modes" -- what other settings should I look to modify to make WASAPI work for me?

Thank you for the wealth of information! Would you please explain to me the advantage of WASAPI (Exclusive/Shared?) over ASIO4ALL? I thought it provided better performance and lower latency? I'm still an amateur with this, and I just seek an elaborate answer. I'm prepared to omit ASIO4ALL from my arsenal if highly suggested. I tried switching from ASIO4ALL to WASAPI, and now I cannot hear playback from my TTS tracks. (Also I used to use MME in the Driver Mode.)

Very cool! All good information. Thanks!

I'm so confused. Upon experimentation, it's hard to confirm whether the instrument sounds played in the MIDI track using the Microsoft Wavetable are the same as these patch sounds from yesteryear. Some sound the same, but slightly different. This may be a wash, but it was an interesting experiment! I still plan on using TTS-1, but it also encourages me to find other "synthtruments" that fit these tracks. I'm going to go ahead and close this and move along. Thanks for your assistance!

Thank you, Scook and Abacab for the replies. I've created a MIDI track as such and I'm able to sample the patch set through there, but still can't confirm that what I'm hearing is pre-TTS-1/Microsoft GS Wavetable. I still currently have WASAPI and Wavetable set in Preferences. Is there any way to set my project back to ASIO4ALL and still be able to access the Microsoft GS Wavetable on this one MIDI track (for testing)? I totally intend on replacing these instruments with other synths, I just wish to start out with what I used back then.

EDIT: Selecting WASAPI accordingly and using the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, I seem to have hit a snag. In the song in question (in which there are five TTS-1 instrument tracks), Cakewalk is playing the Distortion Guitar track as a piano, and the other tracks are not being played at all. EDIT 2: After exiting Cakewalk and reloading the project, confirmed WASAPI and Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth are still active. It seems every TTS-1 track is "playing" (volume meter is active), but no instruments are heard. (Additional detail: I currently do not use a soundcard, I use onboard audio.) Why am I getting no playback on the Microsoft Synth? Any ideas? Thanks. 😊

This is awesome. Thank you for the information, as I'll be sure to look into this. In relation to what you said, I do believe I was referring to the Microsoft Wavetable synth. And, for sure, my sound card at the time was the Sound Blaster AWE32.

In the mid-90's, I composed several MIDI files via GM1 synth, manually drawing notes into my DAW/sequencer's piano roll (no live instruments). Eventually, after converting the MIDI's to MP3, I had foolishly discarded the .MID files because I thought I was done with them... So now, if I wish to remix my MIDI files, I have to start them over from scratch and transcribe them into my DAW from memory. Doing this, I wish to use those original instrument patches (at least temporarily) as I remember them. However, as GM/TTS-1 has evolved over the years, I can't remember some of the instrument patches I used (and some don't even sound the same). So I ask: in remixing my classic MIDI files from the 90's, is there any possible way to hear the General MIDI synth instruments the way they sounded "back then"? Or is this dependent on the sound card I used at the time (if Win10 supports it anymore?) Any insight would greatly help. Thank you!

I noticed that, up in the track view area where the track bars are, some of the areas along the right are shaded (gray) in patterns, some areas more than others. I used to think that was because of the amount of data (i.e. notes, events) in a certain area, but it doesn't seem consistent. What does the shading indicate, and why are some areas shaded more heavily?

I'm trying to figure out in some of my projects whether the notes on my Piano Roll View appear rounded on the corners or squared off. Here's an example: I think I like the notes better squared off, as it's easier to see their placement on the gridlines. Is there a function/setting in the DAW that dictates how the notes look as such in the PRV? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Thank you for your input on this, Chappel. I'm currently trying out the AD2 Demo, and I'm quite pleased so far. However, it seems as though some of my key mapping is missing. I can sample every preset in the AD2 browser screen, but on my DAW Piano Roll, I'm only able to play some drum pieces (usually kick drum, sometimes the snare and a few cymbals). Some presets play more notes on the PRV, and some play only a few. Also, on the AD2 browser screen, some of the visual drum kit's pieces are greyed out. This is quite troublesome, because I compose entirely in the Piano Roll. I can't compose if my drum sounds are 95% absent. Are you familiar with this issue? Or are some of these keys missing because it's a demo?

I just noticed that Addictive Drums 2 is on sale this week! I'm highly interested in purchasing a custom AD2 pack, but I have a few questions first. 1) How easy is the install/registration process? Does this involve registering and installing multiple services just to use AD2? (I've seen this strategy before and it doesn't please me.) 2) What is the value for my money? I find the package(s) details/verbiage a bit confusing. How many *actual* drum kits are bundled in each package? Are those "presets" (what are presets?) or actual kits? 3) For one who composes mostly rock, pop, ballads, and alternative, what AD2 drum paks would you consider most sufficiently cover such mainstream genres across the board? (After all, I'm competing with Session Drummer 3 and SI-Drum Kit.) In the meantime, I'm going to install the AD2 Trial just to get a look. Thanks in advance.

I would really like an answer from some of the more knowledgeable people here to explain this to me and further educate, if possible. Perhaps this post should be moved to the Q&A? Please advise.