Keyboard wont make sound in MIDI-USB

[stephendanielson97]

I'm new to Pro Tools, and I can't figure out why my Yamaha M08 keyboard won't make any sound when it's hooked up with a USB. I'm trying to record in MIDI so that I can use Virtual Instruments instead of the preset sounds on the keyboard. I downloaded the appropriate driver (I know because the keyboard was making sound when I had Pro Tools First, but when I upgraded to the full version of Pro Tools 12 it stopped working). I also tried:

- Making sure the MIDI Thru box is checked in Options
- Making sure my device is recognized in Input Device Drivers and that all the boxes are checked
- Making sure the Track Enable button is on on my Instrument Track
- Making sure my Device Driver is recognized in my Device Manager on my computer
- Using MIDIOX to detect the signal of my keyboard (it does)
- Making sure my keyboard is on lol
- Making sure MIDI editor is working on its own
- Making sure my playback engine is set up correctly
- Making sure i can still record in audio by plugging my piano into my interface

There aren't any levels shown when i hit the keys. I'm fuming at this point, but I'm sure that it's some noobie mistake I'm making so please help me figure this out so that I can regain my sanity thanks

[stephendanielson97]

Correction: I'm actually using Pro Tools 2020, don't know if that changes anything though

[Darryl Ramm]

Are you trying to record MIDI to a MIDI track?... if so you won't hear anything.

If you want to record MIDI and hear something you normally work with an instrument track. With a VI inserted on that track. Many people doing VI work never wort with an actual MIDI track.

If you are also recording audio (to an audio track) you need to record arm the track and select the correct input. And on recent macOS you have to enable pro Tools to have "microphone" access. Have you separately got recording audio to an audio track working? These are completely separate things, work them out separately. Work in a trivial test session if that makes things easier to follow.

We have no clue here how much experience you have working with Pro Tools. If you are new to this you should try finding a tutorial on working with virtual instruments in Pro Tools on YouTube or similar and follow that to start with.

[stephendanielson97]

I'm working with an instrument track to record MIDI, and i already know how to record with audio. Audio is working. I've scoured the internet for every tutorial on this that there is and come up with nothing, it seems like it must be a configuration or a routing issue but everything seems to be set up. Maybe there it is an issue that has to do with MIDI Studio Setup?

[Darryl Ramm]

Is MIDI being recorded to your instrument track at all?

When stuck with MIDI/VI you should work with the MiniGrand VI.

Can you hand draw midi events in the instrument track and get that to play?

[stephendanielson97]

Yes i can use midi editor draw out a track so that it plays. I can't record anything in real time on that track though. The keyboard isn't recognized, there is no signal when i hit the keys. I do have the appropriate driver installed, though, and my instrument is recognized in MIDI Input Devices

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by stephendanielson97

- Making sure the MIDI Thru box is checked in Options
- Making sure my device is recognized in Input Device Drivers and that all the boxes are checked
- Making sure the Track Enable button is on on my Instrument Track
- Making sure my Device Driver is recognized in my Device Manager on my computer
- Using MIDIOX to detect the signal of my keyboard (it does)
- Making sure my keyboard is on lol
- Making sure MIDI editor is working on its own
- Making sure my playback engine is set up correctly
- Making sure i can still record in audio by plugging my piano into my interface

And track rec enable button?

[stephendanielson97]

A lot of people seem to be having issues with their keyboards not making sound when they are being recognized as [Emulated], it could just be a problem with the DAW. If it is then I have no idea why it hasn't been fixed yet, since posts from 2014 seem to be expressing the same frustrations as I am. Like I said, Pro Tools First was working fine while I was using it, once I upgraded though everything failed. If anyone has a current answer for this, it would be greatly appreciated.

[stephendanielson97]

Figured it out! You have to right click on the Pro Tools app, select Properties, go to Compatibility, select Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 8 (I also selected the "Run this program as an administrator" box in Compatibility) and THEN run the program (I right clicked and selected "Run as Administrator just to make sure because I don't trust anything anymore). This was an incredibly stupid problem that took days to solve, I sincerely hope that Pro Tools patches this error since it seems to have been an issue for a while now. Hope this helps anyone as confused as I was!