MIDI playback in PT12

[gmcullan]

I'm new to Pro Tools, having recently acquired 12.8.2. I have a number of MIDI files that will load and play in Windows 10 Media Player, Garage Band, and Cubase 7. I can import these MIDI files with all of their tracks into PT12, but hitting play results in no sound. I can import/load audio files and they play back just fine.

I suspect I'm missing something quite simple. Can anyone help resolve this issue?

Thank you for your help

[albee1952]

Midi makes no sound of its own. You need to "feed it" to a VI(Virtual Instrument) plugin. The reason it makes sound when you use it in WMP is that WMP feeds it to the sound card's general midi sound generator. If you drag the midi onto a stereo Instrument track and insert a VI plugin, it should then make noise in Pro Tools. You should already have some VI plugins available(look in the Instruments category in the plugins list).

[DonaldM]

You have assign the MIDI output of each individual MIDI track to play a specific VI. You can do this a couple of ways. One way is to simply copy the MIDI track data directly to an instrument track, then instantiate a virtual instrument on that track, and it should play that part. Or, you can leave things as they are on the MIDI track, and just point the MIDI output of the MIDI track to whatever VI you want it to play. Consult the manual to gain a better understanding of how to assign MIDI INs and OUTs. You might find this video helpful in understanding how to do this.