I want to hear my MIDI
 

OK, newbie here...

I'm using the Mbox 1 and I don't have any MIDI controllers. I want to be able to make midi notes (I know how to do this with the pencil tool) and hear them through my speakers.

Once I create notes with the pencil tool how do I make a patch work with it?

Is there something I need to do in my Audio MIDI setup in order for this to work?

Re: I want to hear my MIDI
 

You need to use a sound module of some kind.

It sounds like you don't quite understand exactly what MIDI is. MIDI isn't really music/audio. It's computer instructions for how to play an instrument, or perform a certain task (like turning a knob). You could really consider it "electronic sheet music".

By pencil-ing in MIDI notes, or even recording the MIDI output from a MIDI controller, you are basically "writing" this electronic sheet music. When the computer/Pro Tools plays back that MIDI data, it is reading the sheet music, but if it doesn't have an "instrument" to play (a MIDI sound module) then it won't produce any audio.

Understand?

So... You need to use a sound module of some kind. It can be an external hardware sound module ("old school"), or more popular these days, it could be a software instrument of some kind. You would need to choose which sound module you want to use, and take the steps to either physically hook it up, or install the software onto your computer.

Re: I want to hear my MIDI
 

Does Pro tools or Mac OS X have any pre-installed software instruments that I can use?

Re: I want to hear my MIDI
 

Pre-installed? No. All new Pro Tools systems come with several software instruments that you can install, though. They are available in the "Pro Tools Ignition Pack" that comes with all new systems. They require separate installation.

There are also quite a few available for free that you can download and install. I've got a list of them on my PT Newbie website. There are also other "How To" tutorials there that you might find useful, so feel free to browse around there.

Re: I want to hear my MIDI
 

Get FREE Expand from Digi

Re: I want to hear my MIDI
 

I had PT LE 6.4 and downloaded 7.3 from the digidesign online store. Do you know if I would have the ignition pack since I don't have install discs?

Where do the instruments go once they're installed? I have a bunch of files with the .midinam extension in the deirectory: Library > Audio > MIDI Patch Names > Digidesign. Are these sounds I can use somehow?

Re: I want to hear my MIDI
 

What is Free Expand from Digi?

Re: I want to hear my MIDI
 

Xpand is Digidesign's free instrument. It is, unfortunately, too big to download. You can order the disk from the Digistore for the cost of shipping it to you ($10), and it's really worth every penny.

It also comes with the ignition pack, but since you apparently have an older version (bought used?) you do not have the ignition pack. It's a perk of buying a brand new system; it comes bundled with the whole system. New versions of the software aren't new systems, they are just new versions of the software, so they don't include the ignition pack.


Most of the "free" ones on the page that I linked you to ( this one right here... >>click me<< >>click me<<) can be downloaded and installed immediately and get you up and running in the least amount of time.

No. Those are name files for hardware sound modules. You could use them if you had the hardware sound module that relates to the .midnam file. Do you have any of the hardware sound modules that relate to the .midnam files??