No MIDI devices shown in preferences

[Marco Kelly]

Good day,

Recently installed cakewalk after a long hiatus from songwriting.

Installed all the software, paid for the subscription, etc.

When I try to play a midi file as test, from an existing drum loop, I hear no sound. I go to preferences to select the midi outputs; wavetable, vst, etc. but nothing is there. There is nothing shown in the input or output box. See attached photo.

I'm assuming this is a setting somewhere that I need to enable or activate, but when I try to look it up, the instructions are always to go to preferences and select the output. 

Appreciate any help.

Thank you.

Marco

[User 905133]

1 minute ago, Marco Kelly said:

When I try to play a midi file as test, from an existing drum loop, I hear no sound. I go to preferences to select the midi outputs; wavetable, vst, etc. but nothing is there. There is nothing shown in the input or output box.

What are you using to play the sounds from the MIDI data?** It sounds to me like you are not using hardware (an external sound-producing device). If so, are you using a software sound-producing device (e.g., VST)?  If so, do you have a MIDI track routed properly to that device?  There could be many reasons why you don't have sound, but that's the first thing I'd check based on the information you've given.

It might help to show the tracks involved including the track control "widgets." 

As for the lack of MIDI I/O devices, are you using a MIDI interface?  Do you have MIDI devices connected to your computer? Do you have the proper driver installed?

**BTW, is it safe to assume you know that MIDI data is not audio and that you know you need either hardware or software to produce sound from the MIDI file?

[Sock Monkey]

They removed both the TTS-1 and MS Wavetable GM synths over a year ago. Sonar is now a Daw with out a built in midi instrument player. 
 

Oddly enough Cakewalk Next has Midi instruments built in. I’ve asked a few times why they aren’t available to Sonar and never got an answer. 
 

Sonar only comes with the Studio Instruments and you have to install those separately.