Keyboard Controller not working with instruments

[dezst]

I'm totally new to Pro Tools. When I create an instrument track and assign one of the plug-ins such as Mini Grand or DB 33, I can play by clicking the mouse but not using my M-Audio Keystation 49e Controller. I tap the keys and get no sound. What am I missing here?

[strangepumpkin]

First, make sure the instrument track is record enabled.

You need to make sure your Keystation is enabled in Pro Tools. Go to Setup>MIDI>MIDI Input Devices. Make sure your keystation is enabled.

You also need to make sure you have your MIDI input to the correct instrument. So, go to View>Mix Window Views and sure there's a checkmark next to "Instruments". Then go to your mix window.

You should see an Instruments section at the top of you Instrument track. The first dropdown menu can say "All" if you only have one MIDI device connected. The second dropdown menu should say the name of the Virtual Instrument you're trying to use. If it doesn't, select the dropdown menu and go to Instrument you want and select Channel 1.

Hopefully that gets you up and running.

[dezst]

Thanks Kyle
All set up and keyboard working. Sometimes still getting no sound but I think that's just my speakers which may need replacing.

[strangepumpkin]

Originally Posted by dezst

Thanks Kyle
All set up and keyboard working. Sometimes still getting no sound but I think that's just my speakers which may need replacing.

I good way to see if your speakers are the problem is to watch the meters in pro tools. If you see signal coming from an instrument track but don't hear it, you know you have a setup issue.

Also, test you speakers with different material (not pro tools). That way you don't replace them for no reason.

[ergalthema]

Originally Posted by strangepumpkin

You should see an Instruments section at the top of you Instrument track. The first dropdown menu can say "All" if you only have one MIDI device connected. The second dropdown menu should say the name of the Virtual Instrument you're trying to use. If it doesn't, select the dropdown menu and go to Instrument you want and select Channel 1.

I was just having the issue and this is what fixed it for me. Previously, I never had to manually select a channel like that. Any idea why suddenly it's not automatically selected?

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by ergalthema

I was just having the issue and this is what fixed it for me. Previously, I never had to manually select a channel like that. Any idea why suddenly it's not automatically selected?

Are you asking about PT12 or PT11 (what's in your sig file)? I know in PT11.3.2 I sometimes have to have the 'instruments' view showing in the Edit screen and select the vi and MIDI channel. This can happen if you move the vi that was on the insert slot to another track and use a different vi; the instrument track's MIDI will still point to the old vi that is now elsewheres.

[john1192]

Originally Posted by ergalthema

I was just having the issue and this is what fixed it for me. Previously, I never had to manually select a channel like that. Any idea why suddenly it's not automatically selected?

did or does the Midi input selection go away after a Restart ?? this was an issue but i think it has been resolved, maybe it came back ..

or maybe i am reading this wrong and you are looking for the Default THRU preference ?? where as soon as you choose a midi / instrument track it will play even if not Rec Enabled ..

cheers john

Originally Posted by ergalthema

I was just having the issue and this is what fixed it for me. Previously, I never had to manually select a channel like that. Any idea why suddenly it's not automatically selected?

I just had this same problem and was dumbfounded until I found this thread. I had an instrument track with DB-33 loaded up, no problems with the MIDI keyboard controlling it. A track next to it with Serum wouldn't respond to the keyboard at all. I added the Instrument view in the Mix window and sure enough, no instrument or channel assigned there. I hadn't run in to this before today. PT 2018.1

Maybe it's because Serum has 4 channels available for input whereas DB-33 only has the one? Either way, I'm definitely glad to have come across this thread!

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by bowlingotter

I just had this same problem and was dumbfounded until I found this thread. I had an instrument track with DB-33 loaded up, no problems with the MIDI keyboard controlling it. A track next to it with Serum wouldn't respond to the keyboard at all. I added the Instrument view in the Mix window and sure enough, no instrument or channel assigned there. I hadn't run in to this before today. PT 2018.1

Maybe it's because Serum has 4 channels available for input whereas DB-33 only has the one? Either way, I'm definitely glad to have come across this thread!

Do you have 'use first selected track' set in PT's prefs? The number of channels in a vi has nothing to do with this. You're talking about two instrument tracks right?

Originally Posted by musicman691

Do you have 'use first selected track' set in PT's prefs? The number of channels in a vi has nothing to do with this. You're talking about two instrument tracks right?

Got it - I think that was it. Thanks!