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No sound when I use my midi controllers


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1 hour ago, Michael Blum said:

New problem. Just started a new project. Connect midi before starting Cakewalk. Open Cakewalk. Pull over VST instrument I want to use (from Cakewalk) and nothing. Not registering anything in Cakewalk plus no sound. 

Please help. Michael  [Emphasis added]

Is your MIDI device powered up before you power up your PC?  Sometimes (with some gear) that makes a difference. 

Is the device accessible to other software? I often use MIDI-OX to check for incoming MIDI data, but you can use other things as well.

Is the device/interface and all of its ports shown under Preferences? Is the device you are using checked?

Is there any other software using the device/port? Is there any pop-up message saying a device/port is no available?

Maybe you could clarify what you mean by "Pull overt VST instrument."  There are a number of ways to Insert a software synth/instrument, etc.

Does "Not registering anything" mean that the device appears and is selected in preferences but MIDI data is not being recorded either on a MIDI Track or an Instrument Track?

Sorry for all the questions, but these are the kinds of things I do when diagnosing an issue.  Maybe you did some or all of them and maybe other diagnostic things, but I couldn't tell from what you wrote.

Edited by User 905133
added a missing word ("an")
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I have a Keystation 49es and about 1 in 20 times of starting up my computer there is no sound from my controller. I have the green lights on showing it is on but when i strike the keys it makes no sound. It shows the keys being hit on the computer screen in the synth app but no sound. I have to restart the computer and it is always working again. I don't know what my specific issue is but that does happen to me. Not sure if you see the keys being active on the screen or on your interface but just not getting sound or not. That is a way to trouble shoot and narrow down what is causing it, as mentioned above.

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1 minute ago, Screaming For Attention said:

I have a Keystation 49es and about 1 in 20 times of starting up my computer there is no sound from my controller. I have the green lights on showing it is on but when i strike the keys it makes no sound. It shows the keys being hit on the computer screen in the synth app but no sound. I have to restart the computer and it is always working again. I don't know what my specific issue is but that does happen to me. Not sure if you see the keys being active on the screen or on your interface but just not getting sound or not. That is a way to trouble shoot and narrow down what is causing it, as mentioned above.

As a long-time Cakewalk/SONAR user I am not familiar with the Keystation series, but if it is a controller it probably doesn't make sounds until you send  data (e.g., MIDI data) to something that does make sound (a hardware or software sound-producing device such as a sound module, a software synth, etc.).

In a word, YES, troubleshooting and narrowing down why your "synth app" is not making sounds can definitely be done, but it depends on a number of factors (some of which are mentioned above).  With more information, other users might be able to help. 

Assuming by synth app, you mean a standalone software synth / virtual instrument, I sometimes get that.  Usually in my case, Windows has not seen my usb keyboard. Not sure if that's from a lengthy Windows boot process, from a failed device manager process, a Windows so-called energy-saving feature.  

My go-to diagnosis tool for years has been been MIDI-OX (personal preference).  That will tell me if the computer is receiving MIDI data from my controller.  If it isn't, often power cycling my controller will trigger Windows to see the device (or take it off energy-saving mode).

Over the past several months I have switched settings in the softsynth (e.g., audio driver) and that has triggered Windows to see the device.

There are other things I sometimes do, but for me, these are often successful without requiring rebooting the entire PC.

Maybe these methods will work for you. Based on your "1 in 20 times" experience, I'd say you probably shouldn't need to reboot the PC; but everyone's system is different.

Hopefully this helps before your damage your vocal cords from too much screaming.

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