Yamaha KX 49 & Composer problem

[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

[mgj32]

Hi Sherry,
Thanks. It sounds quite logical to use Audigy as one sound device and Synthfont as another. I wonder if it might get around the problem of the computer crashing when I try to use Audigy's synth A and B in the same way. For now I'll try the SF, Maple, Composer set up. After finishing the Christmas Symphony revision, which I am finding I intended more changes/additions than I had remembered, especially in the finale, I will do some experimenting, using Audigy synth A and Maple (or virtual midi cable) as the midi devices.

Alll through "The Search for Nelly Gray," I've been able to find instruments not playing when another is. For example, the piano and banjo never play together so their staves can share a channel. It works pretty well, but I've found it wise to do a sound change on each staff--that is, make both staves either piano or banjo. But of course there is a limit to how many instruments this method would work for, depending on the composition. So here's hoping your hope works out.

all best,
mgj

[mgj32]

Hi Sherry,
The 'Christmas' Symphony done and the Ned/Nelly aria nearly so, I have installed Maple Midi. I am going to need more than 16 channels, no matter how many sound changes I could do in the Sax/Violin Concerto (yes, that is started.)
When I open select port in Composer, on the left (Input ports) I find Maple Midi 1,2,3,4, and SB Audigy Midi IO.
On the right (Output ports) I find Mapel Midi 1,2,3,4, plus MS Wavetable, SB Audigy Midi IO, Audigy Synth A, and Audigy Synth B.
All the Maple Midi ports were checked, both sides, as was the SB Audigy Midi IO and Synth A.
I tested all and the scale plays for all the Maple ports AS LONG AS both sides are checked.
Before I continue, I am wondering what should be checked on each side and which not.
Synthfont IO Ports, on the left side, gives me the four Maple ports and SB Audigy 2 ZS IO. Apparently I can select 2 of them. I have checked Maple 1 and SB Audigy IO. Maple adds >slot 0..15, while SB Audigy IO adds >slot 16.. 32.
That is as far as I've got. I wonder if it is anywhere near correct.
all best,
mgj

[Sherry C]

Hi MG,

It sounds like your musical endeavors are really coming along! My apologies for the lag on getting back to you from Christmas as well as here. Suffice it to say things here have been busier than I'd like in some ways.

For the virtual cables, it's important to have them only going one direction from Composer as well as the device they're plugging into. For Notation Composer, your Ports (Setup/MIDI Device configuration/Ports/Select Ports) setup should look similar to the following:

Ports.png


The reason being that if you have both "in" and "out" selected, you can get a feedback loop that can cause your computer to act like it's running on vacuum tubes (or wired to rocks). In other words, it can slow your computer to a painful crawl, so that you can't do anything. By making sure that each connection is only going in one direction, you avoid the possibility of the feedback loop.

After you do this, you'll see that change reflected in your MIDI Device Configuration as having the Maple MIDIs only show for "out" and not "in".

Hopefully that will get you going If not, just let me know.

ttfn,
Sherry

[mgj32]

Hi Sherry,
Your set up instructions and the graphics are very clear and look like they should work. But either I'm screwing up somewhere or the Audigy 2 ZS sound card isn't made for use with a virtual midi cable.
Where I am. In Synthfont input ports I have Maple Midi 1-4 listed as well as SB Audio 2 ZS IO (C880). I have checked Maple I for slots 0-15 and the SB Audigy... for slots 16-32.
In Composer on the left I have Maple 1-4 and SB Auidio 2 ZS Midi IO (C880). Nothing is checked for imput ports. On the right Maple 1-4, MS Wavetable, Audigy Synth A and Synth B and the Audigy MIDI IO. I have everything checked by the Audigy MIDI IO. I have also checked this on the right, unchecked MS Wavetable, Maple 2-4, but with no better results.
When I test playback only Synth A and B work. No sound from Maple 1. However if I check Maple 1 on the left, also, then the scale plays but with the green light flashing on both Maple 1 and Synth A.
Maple 1 produces no sound in Synthfont, either. If I load a midi file, select a chanel and select Mapel I for midi out, ia message pops up saying "could not open midi port." Then SF bank reverts to merlin creative and it begins to play.

I hope you can point me to something to try. In the meantime, the Sax/Violin Concerto well started, will accumulate a whole lot of sound changes.

All best,
mgj


I noticed that Maple is listed in Composer as an External Device, but if I click the properties of Maple 1, there it is, listed as a Mini Output Device, with the sound font banks listed, just as in the sound card's SF bank manager and Composer, and as the default in Synthfont.

The only thing I can think of to try is to configure New External Device, with the same check (midi output device) as is already in properties, then add the same banks as are there. Since Composer already recognizes it under properties, that doesn't sound necessary.