Can't play live through Cakewalk

[dominicwest]

Hi, total novice to computer midi recording and struggling! I have downloaded Cakewalk and LABS by Spitfire and Absynth. I can get them to play the midi of prerecorded midifiles but I can't play either instrument "live" via my midi keybpoard. The midi keyboard is plugged in OK because it does play the absynth when I play absynth direct- not thru the cakewalk. Any idea what I have done wrong?

 

[scook]

To monitor through the DAW make sure the input echo button is enabled on the track(s) receiving data from the MIDI controller (or instrument/microphone in the case of audio tracks).

This button is to the right of the record button on each track.

[dominicwest]

Thanks for your response scook. I tried with this input echo on and auto thru, but neither plays my soft synths in the DAW via my playing my midi keyboard, but I can play my Absynth via my midikeyboard outside of my Daw. Have you any other ideas?

 

[scook]

When adding a synth to Cakewalk make sure to use either an instrument track or an audio+MIDI track pair.

Maybe reviewing the MIDI tutorials in this video series will help.

 

[dominicwest]

I am clicking in a track that already has a midi instrument and can play it when it is pre-recorded ( I downloaded a Sati midi track as a demo) I can change the track to play my new Virtual instrument which is Spitfire LABS, but I can't get in there to play my own notes. If you have any more thoughts I would welcome them, meanwhile I will start doing my homework on the tutorials.

Regards, D

[scook]

If the plug-in plays a MIDI clip then it is routed correctly.

The next things to establish are the controller is  setup as a MIDI input device in the DAW and the instrument/MIDI track input drop down is set to the controller.