Cakewalk not acknowledging all USB MIDI channels from Korg Krome EX Workstation

[Tovel]

I created about 15 songs on the Korg Krome EX workstation with 5 or so tracks per song. I have recently become aware of Cakewalk and wanted to use it to export each individual track to mp3.

I am connecting straight from my Korg via the USB-MIDI out. At the start, the issue I was running into was only 2 of the tracks are detected by Cakewalk even though I could clearly see the MIDI tracks on the Korg sequencer. Both tracks happen to be percussion tracks. The bass, piano and synth tracks are not coming through. As it turns out, it had nothing to do with percussion vs. non-percussion tracks.

Now I'm seeing that if I change songs in my Korg, the functional midi channels change even though I am using the same channels over and over again. Channels that previously were received by Cakewalk no longer are and vice versa. Then it flips again when I go to the next song. I’ve tried 2 different USB ports.  Two different USB cables. The Krome EX driver shows up with the choice of all 16 available channels present. It’s just weird. Still not fully functional.

In Cakewalk, I set up the MIDI input and output device as Krome EX. If I don't set the MIDI output, Cakewalk warns me that I may not be able to hear the playback with out a MIDI out. Everything that I am reading and experiencing (at least partially) tells me that I don't need a MIDI control surface because the Korg Workstation will suffice.

I already checked to make sure the tracks are assigned to the correct MIDI channel number already.

I didn’t think I needed plug-ins to just record midi files. According to the Korg Krome EX manual (and the fact that all 16 channels are selectable in Cakewalk) this is supposed to be supported.

I’ve been recording songs on the Korg for just a couple months and only installed Cakewalk yesterday. So any explanation/pointers would be welcome. What am I missing here? Is it the Korg or is it Cakewalk? Both MIDI and USB are common standards but it seems there is an interface issue? or do I have a lack in understanding how MIDI is supposed to work?

 

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Tovel

[SirWillyDS12]

Are your midi tracks in your Korg set to Both or External? If they are set to Internal your Krome will not transmit them to your midi out to your PC... To listen to them from the Krome and record them into Cakewalk at the same time they would need to be set to "Both"...

[User 905133]

58 minutes ago, Tovel said:

I created about 15 songs on the Korg Krome EX workstation with 5 or so tracks per song. I have recently become aware of Cakewalk and wanted to use it to export each individual track to mp3.

I am connecting straight from my Korg via the USB-MIDI out. At the start, the issue I was running into was only 2 of the tracks are detected by Cakewalk even though I could clearly see the MIDI tracks on the Korg sequencer. Both tracks happen to be percussion tracks. The bass, piano and synth tracks are not coming through. As it turns out, it had nothing to do with percussion vs. non-percussion tracks.

Now I'm seeing that if I change songs in my Korg, the functional midi channels change even though I am using the same channels over and over again. Channels that previously were received by Cakewalk no longer are and vice versa. Then it flips again when I go to the next song. I’ve tried 2 different USB ports.  Two different USB cables. The Krome EX driver shows up with the choice of all 16 available channels present. It’s just weird. Still not fully functional.

In Cakewalk, I set up the MIDI input and output device as Krome EX. If I don't set the MIDI output, Cakewalk warns me that I may not be able to hear the playback with out a MIDI out. Everything that I am reading and experiencing (at least partially) tells me that I don't need a MIDI control surface because the Korg Workstation will suffice.

I already checked to make sure the tracks are assigned to the correct MIDI channel number already.

I didn’t think I needed plug-ins to just record midi files. According to the Korg Krome EX manual (and the fact that all 16 channels are selectable in Cakewalk) this is supposed to be supported.

I’ve been recording songs on the Korg for just a couple months and only installed Cakewalk yesterday. So any explanation/pointers would be welcome. What am I missing here? Is it the Korg or is it Cakewalk? Both MIDI and USB are common standards but it seems there is an interface issue? or do I have a lack in understanding how MIDI is supposed to work?

 

 

Quote

Note: The USB connector of the KROME is only able to transmit and receive MIDI data.

I am not familiar with your keyboard. I took a quick look at the manual.

To me some things are not clear.  It seems like you are trying to get the midi data from the korg into Cakewalk. If I understand what you are doing, you seem to be saying you want to use Cakewalk to export music to mp3.

If that's the case, how are you getting the audio into Cakewalk?

[Tovel]

5 hours ago, SirWillyDS12 said:

Are your midi tracks in your Korg set to Both or External? If they are set to Internal your Krome will not transmit them to your midi out to your PC... To listen to them from the Krome and record them into Cakewalk at the same time they would need to be set to "Both"...

You are spot on. Thank You for your answer. I just figured this out about an hour ago and now see your post.

SOLVED: It was the Korg. For whatever reason, when the songs are setup some midi channels are set to INT. Which is not an option from below.

From the Manual. (So no one else thinks it’s a Cakewalk issue)

EXT, EX2, BTH: During playback, the MIDI data recorded on that track will be transmitted from MIDI OUT to play an external sound module. When you use the KROME's keyboard or controllers, MIDI data will be transmitted to play and control the external sound module selected by Track Select. (The MIDI channel of the external tone generator must be set to match the MIDI Channel of KROME tracks that are set to EXT, EX2 or BTH.)

If Status is set to BTH, both the external tone generator and internal tone generator will be played and controlled.

 

@User 905133 I was just trying to record the MIDI out into cakewalk. Korg Krome EX saves songs in a proprietary .SNG file format of which there is no conversion to simple MIDI. Thanks.

Edited September 25, 2023 by Tovel

[John Vere]

Way back in the Atari days my midi software saved in a .SNG format. I found out later on that all I had to do was change the file extension to .MID and it worked. I still have those files. 

And a little tip. There's no real reason to save any audio as an MP3 file. Use Wave 48/24 for best quality. MP3 are just a way of compressing the music for the internet which is now outdated thinking.