Yamaha KX 49 & Composer problem

[thorben]

Hi Sherry,

No need to excuse yourself, I'm happy that you will help.

I did a "manual" uninstall, after that I removed all references to notation in regedit and on the hard disk.

I rebooted, and did a new install, after another reboot I started Composer, but nothing happens on the screen. In task manager I can see that composer.exe is running.

Regards
Thorben

[Sherry C]

Hi Thorben,

This sounds like an issue that was taken care of in a maintenance release... can't remember how long ago. Sometimes the application would be minimized (for reasons we never figured out completely), and even on starting, would automatically minimize. This behavior should only occur with (1) older versions of Musician or Composer (the current version is 2.6.3) and (2) older OSs (operating systems) than Win 7. If you don't have the latest 2.6.3 version of Composer, you can visit the Redownload Page to have your download link emailed to you.

If you have an OS previous to Win 7, and the problem still occurs, take a look at the task bar along the bottom of your screen. Do you see the Composer icon in the task bar after you've started it? If so, then right-click it, and select "Maximise". That should bring Composer back up to full screen. (This trick works for any Windows application.)

Here's hoping...
Sherry

[thorben]

Hi Sherry,

I was installing 2.4.2, but when I installed 2.6.3 it worked like a charm.

Thank you so much for your help.

Now back to the original issue, how do I configure the Virtual Midi cables to work with Composer. The KX 49 works fine with Synthport and ASIO4All and I have installed Maple Midi, but I just can't work out how to set it up.

Kind regards
Thorben

[thorben]

Originally Posted by thorben

Hi Sherry,

I was installing 2.4.2, but when I installed 2.6.3 it worked like a charm.

Thank you so much for your help.

Now back to the original issue, how do I configure the Virtual Midi cables to work with Composer. The KX 49 works fine with Synthport and ASIO4All and I have installed Maple Midi, but I just can't work out how to set it up.

Kind regards
Thorben

I GOT IT WORKING.

Thanks for your help, it's now working without delay.

Regards
Thorben

[Sherry C]

Originally Posted by thorben

I GOT IT WORKING.

Thanks for your help, it's now working without delay.

Great!

Sherry

[mgj32]

Hi Sherry,
I think I can do the configuration of Maple Midi, Synthfont and Composer as you describe it above.

My question is: where does my Audigy 2 ZS fit into the setup?

Synthfont is already set to play through the sound card. Would I have to change anything there? Or would that be a setting in Maple Midi?

I guess more than 16 channels couldn't be worked into the scheme of things, though Synthfont, if I am understanding correctly, uses only 16 channels and creates something like pseudo channels for the other 16. But I'll worry about that once I get setup to play through Synthfont.

all best,
mgj

[Sherry C]

Howdy MG,

Originally Posted by mgj32

My question is: where does my Audigy 2 ZS fit into the setup?

You should be able to use it in conjunction with SynthFont to get your multiple channels

You would use the Audigy as one MIDI device, and SynthFont as the second device. Synthfont will use the audio "side" of the soundcard to produce sound as well. This should give you 16 channels per device (1-16), for a total of 32. At least it should work that way in theory

You would load whatever soundfonts you want to use for each device, and then in Composer, use Staff/Setup to select (1) the device AND (2) the channel for each staff. For example, for the 1st violins, you could use "Audigy / channel 2" and then for the timpani use "Maple 1 / channel 2". (I used the example "Maple 1" because the device name that shows up in Composer will be the "virtual MIDI cable" name rather than "Synthfont."

When you run this setup, be sure to start SynthFont first, and click the "Activate MIDI input" button. Then start Composer, and it should detect everything automatically.

Here's hoping
Sherry

[Sherry C]

Hi Thorben,

Glad we got the one problem solved!

For MIDI cables: You can kind of think of them in a similar fashion to physical cables, but with the caveat that each cable has to have a defined directionality. By that, I mean that each cable (eg. Maple 1) should be set only as an "In" or an "Out" for any given MIDI device. I'll use "Maple 1" as the example MIDI cable below.

To use SynthFont with Composer as a MIDI Playback Device, using "Maple 1" as the virtual MIDI cable to connect them:

Since you've already installed SynthFont and Maple MIDI, as well as Notation Composer, all that is left is to configure them.

Be sure that SynthFont is running before opening Composer. This assures that the connections will all be made correctly. (Sometimes it works ok to open it after, but sometimes not.)

In Composer:
1. Click on Setup/MIDI Device Configuration.
2. Then Port/Select Ports.
3. In the Left hand "Input ports", uncheck the Maple 1.
4. Click "Ok" to exit and save.

This step above effectively sets the "directionality" of the Maple 1 virtual cable to go Out from Composer, and In to SynthFont.

Now, in SynthFont:
1. Edit/Options
2. IO Ports, and click to select Maple 1 in the upper-left hand "Select MIDI Input ports" box.
3. Click "Ok" to save the selection.
4. Now click the "Activate MIDI Input" button on the tool bar.

Now when you play a song file in Notation Composer, it will use the soundfont that you have open in SynthFont to play the song. Likewise, if you play your keyboard, routed through Notation Composer, it will also use the soundfont in SynthFont.

The cool thing about soundfonts is that there are a boatload of really nice ones available free on the internet. We have an information page at http://www.notation.com/Articles-Soundfonts.htm that might be helpful in getting some really good instruments, as well as interesting pads and such, or even tutorials on how to create your own soundfonts

Hope this helps!
Sherry