Issues selecting instrument while using MIDI controller

[Grace Greene]

Hi all, 

 

Firstly I want to apologise for my lack of knowledge on this and the subsequent muddiness of terms I use to describe things, I am quite new to this..

I recently just got a MIDI cable to record my keyboard into Cakewalk, but have encountered some issues. I would like to add an organ into my song, but am only able to use the MIDI to control the piano, drum, string and bass presets. 

Based on other videos I have watched while trying to fix this issue (linked below) it appears there is possibly something glitched out on my Cakewalk.. For me, there are very different options showing up for me than in this video.. I have no 'default TTS-1' available. Furthermore, where this YT video displays many differing patches, mine only display numbers, which I went through and all produced the exact same electric piano effect. 

 

Moreover, I am wondering if it is possible to simply record the audio I am producing with my keyboard onto Cakewalk using MIDI, rather than just using it as a controller for a virtual instrument. Perhaps that would be an easier solution to my problem.. 

 

If anyone could instruct me on how to fix this, and even show me how to get an organ specifically that would be very appreciated!!

 

VIDEO: 

 

[User 905133]

Quote

If anyone could instruct me on how to fix this, and even show me how to get an organ specifically that would be very appreciated!!

(1) TTS-1 is no longer distributed with Cakewalk by Bandlab (CbB). 

(2) The video doesn't really call attention to the importance of MIDI Channels.  

Some background which you might already know. MIDI is a communication protocol.  Your controller tells hardware and software devices what to do using MIDI Commands (Instructions).  Basic MIDI data (e.g., notes on/off, controller changes) are channelized on up to 16 MIDI channels.  TTS-1 uses the 16 channels for up to 16 different sounds.

But without a multi-timbral sound device (such as TTS-1, or a hardware sound module), you can still use Cakewalk to record on different MIDI channels and/or to play back recorded MIDI data on different channels routed to different sound sources.

Without going into a lot of detail that you can get from tutorials, documentation (manuals, online help), etc. you can add an organ if you have a device (hardware or software) that makes organ sounds, such as an organ (or multi-purpose) plug-in / virtual instrument.

There are other sections in the forum where different software synths/instruments are discussed.  There is also a section devoted to tutorials, including some series that many new users have found very helpful. 

[Grace Greene]

Thank you so much for your help! Just a quick question -so i can add an organ, but cakewalk doesn’t provide it and I will have to outsource the virual instrument? 

[User 905133]

1 hour ago, Grace Greene said:

Just a quick question -so i can add an organ, but cakewalk doesn’t provide it and I will have to outsource the virual instrument? 

As a consumer of music products I have been using Cakewalk Software since the days of MS-DOS when it was a sequencer--that is before there were software synths, virtual instruments, etc.  

4 hours ago, Grace Greene said:

I recently just got a MIDI cable to record my keyboard into Cakewalk, but have encountered some issues. I would like to add an organ into my song, but am only able to use the MIDI to control the piano, drum, string and bass presets. 

If your keyboard has an organ patch, you could take the audio output and record that, unless your keyboard is really a controller and doesn't have any sounds.

If you are using Cakewalk by Bandlab (sometimes called CbB by users--a free version of the older pre-Bandlab SONAR software) there are an amazing amount of software instruments (including some that have organ sounds) available for free or for a cost.  You could also use either a sampler or sample player. I guess you would call that outsourcing.

If you are looking for recommendations for a specific kind of organ emulation, it doesn't hurt to ask for opinions.  Also, there are many videos where YouTubers do tutorials, comparisons, "best" lists. There are also web bloggers who have webpage-based lists.  Obviously, people have different tastes, needs, preferences, so where manufacturers offer free demos, you might want to try the demo out before purchasing one. 

[User 905133]

PS: Once you find an organ emulation [softsynth, plugin, VST] you want to try, the basic process to use it is: run the software installer, run Cakewalk's VST Scanner (under Preferences), then insert it as an instrument track.   

[57Gregy]

2 hours ago, Grace Greene said:

Thank you so much for your help! Just a quick question -so i can add an organ, but cakewalk doesn’t provide it and I will have to outsource the virual instrument? 

What keyboard are you using? If there is an Instrument Definition available for it, that would make selecting patches on your keyboard easy and quick.
Plus, there are a number of threads littered about the forums concerning the lack of TTS-1 and where to get other instruments, free or otherwise. Check out the Instruments & Effects forum here.

Welcome to the forum!

[57Gregy]

Jeez, we're already in the I&E forum!