229Mick

Thanks I watched that and got some good background info, but didn't see anything that applies to my specific situation?

Thanks everybody! I've finally spent some time trying to work through this and found a couple interesting things. First, if I create a new midi track and just kind of 'draw in the notes, (i don't know the terms sorry!) I do hear the piano notes at correct volume. Also, I confirmed that the parts where it 'breaks through' are not consistent in any way. I.e. I'll hear it break though while playing, jump back five seconds and it doesn't do it the second time it plays through. Also, the 'level' on the track shows the drum strikes at full volume (and less on the softer strikes etc) I also tried opening the track in 'piano roll - multiple tracks' view, where it shows two rows, velocity and CC:4-Foot Controller. In velocity it has several bars that are short or long and it appears to me that represents the actual drum strikes and their 'velocity' (?). I have the output set to a drum map that was i the list. The weird thing is if I hit play, it plays through and I hear it muted. If I put my mouse on the bars themselves and click on it, I hear the drum strike associated with it, at the right volume and clearly. So it seems like the data in the track is intact and 'right', but for some reason I can't play it back or monitor it clearly / at full volume. Any ideas? Thanks again all!

First time using a midi track, first time using a new inexpensive Alesis drum kit, and my buddy did the track so I don't know how he set it up, but I played through it and I can hear the drums and cymbals, but they sound muted and with no high highs, and then every now and then it seems to break through and I get full volume of the track. What it reminds me of is the kind of sound you get when you've got a dirty potentiometer, and at items you get a particularly strong signal and it overcomes the attenuation and plays loud and clear for a moment... I've done recordings before, from mics, electric guitars plugged into a USB input box, and used 'instrument' tracks with a cheap midi keyboard I have, and haven't had any problems, but I've never done a midi track, and it's the first time he's using the drums and I just don't know as much as I'd like to about the ins and outs of the software. Any idea what might be causing the problem or things to consider or check?