Simple MIDI Question from beginner

[Tia777]

Hi All,

I hope this is a simple question for people more experienced than me.

I am having difficulty in generating MIDI data. This is my first time setting up MIDI. I have tried Youtube tutorials, ProTools 101 book, Google searches, still no luck. Here is exactly my setup & what I have done so far ( Sandra report is also below )

Equipment:

Pro Tools 8 with MBox Mini 3rd Gen ( no MIDI i/o )

MOTU 2X2 USB MIDI Interface with A&B IN & A&B OUT, THRU Button ( I do not have the THRU button pressed )

Old, cheap Casio CTK-496 Keyboard with MIDI IN/OUT. It does not have MIDI Thru option on the keyboard itself.

What I have done so far:

1.Connected MIDI OUT on Keyboard to MIDI IN A on MOTU MIDI USB

2.Connected MIDI IN on Keyboard to MIDI OUT A on MOTU MIDI USB Interface.

3.Connected USB cable from MOTU MIDI USB to laptop USB port

4.Installed latest driver from MOTU website for this USB Interface

5.In ProTools, went to Setup/MIDI/MIDI Studio

Named Instrument “MOTU 2X2”
Selected Manufacturer Casio
Left Model Blank ( not an option )
Selected Input Port: Fastlane: Port A
Selected Output Port: Fastlane: Port A [emulated]
Did not check the box that says “Show Duplicate Emulate Outputs”
Did not select any channels

6.Went to Setup/MIDI Input Devices – this shows “Fastlane: Port B” and “MOTU 2X2” both checked. There are no further options on that window.

7.In ProTools/Options, unchecked MIDI Thru

8.Created new MIDI track, Input is “All”, Output is MOTU 2X2, Channel 1. FYI I know this MIDI track will not create sound, I’m just trying to get any MIDI data to start with. In both prerecord and record, I get no levels/no data when playing keys. And yes, I armed tracks correctly ( armed both the track and control window ).

9.Tried to select MIDI Thru & turn on MIDI Thru button on my MOTU USB MIDI Interface


Questions:

Is this problem because my keyboard is junk?
Should I try MIDIOX? ( I read online it can diagnose whether you have MIDI signal )
Would purchasing a new/better/different MIDI keyboard fix my problem?

Many thanks! It's going to be great once I can get MIDI working :)

Tia


SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : Dell Studio 1737
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : User1-laptopPC
User : User 1

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6400 @ 2.00GHz
Speed : 2GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 Cache : 2MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Computer
Mainboard : Dell 0P792H
BIOS : Dell A05 02/11/2009
Bus(es) : X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM

Chipset
Model : Dell GM45 Mobile Controller Hub
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Total Memory : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
Shared Memory : 32MB
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 400MHz (800MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Hynix (Hyundai) HYMP125S64CP8-S6 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)
Memory Module : Hynix (Hyundai) HYMP125S64CP8-S6 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)

Video System
Video Adapter : Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family (10 SM4.0 533MHz, 32MB DDR3 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
WDC WD3200BEVT-75ZCT2 (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 298GB (C:) (D:)
SAMSUNG HM250HI (250GB, USB2/SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 233GB (F:)
TSSTcorp DVD+/-RW TS-T633A (7.8MB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : 7MB (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
RECOVERY (D:) : 10GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD3200BEVT-75ZCT2 (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
OS (C:) : 288GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD3200BEVT-75ZCT2 (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
USBMIDI (E:) : 2MB (CDFS) @ TSSTcorp DVD+/-RW TS-T633A (7.8MB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Verbatim (F:) : 233GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HM250HI (250GB, USB2/SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Dell (ICH9M) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : Winbond W83687THF
Audio Device : Dell (ICH9) HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Integrated Device Tech 7675h
Audio Codec : Intel 82GL40 [Cantiga] High Definition Audio HDMI Service
Disk Controller : Dell (ICH9) Mobile SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : Dell SD Bus Host Adapter
USB Controller 1 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : Dell (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 6 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 7 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 8 : Dell (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Dell R5C832 IEEE-1394 Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet (Ethernet, 100Mbps)
Wireless Adapter : Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows Vista Home 6.00.6002 (Service Pack 2)
Platform Compliance : x64

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 3.8

[albee1952]

You need to disable the wifi when running Pro Tools. anyway, back to the midi issue, I think you may be over-complicating this thing, unless you really want to use the sounds in the CASIO I would simplify. Run a midi cable from the CASIO midi OUT to the MOTU midi in A. Connect the MOTU to the same USB port all the time(drivers are installed per port, so if you use a different port, the drivers will get re-installed, which might fudge up the registry). Have you disabled the Power Management feature on all USB ports(aka Root Hub in Device Manager)? That needs to be done anyway. Then I would go into PT>Setup>Midi>Midi studio and make sure the CASIO is a listed device. Make sure its input is set to the correct MOTU port, and for now, I would keep all the midi channels buttons lit(showing blue). There is no need to get any more fancy until you start adding several midi devices. Now, create a stereo instrument track and insert an instrument plugin in the top insert slot. Click the record-ready button and play the CASIO. You SHOULD get sound from the VI if you have speakers or phones attached(and the MIX knob not turned all the way to DIRECT). You don't want to push in the MID thru button on the MOTU as that is just for passing midi with the computer turned off.

BTW, I don't see an approved recording drive on your system...........

[DigiTechSupt]

It appears you have everything set up correctly and all you need to do is re-enable MIDI Thru in Pro Tools.

7.In ProTools/Options, unchecked MIDI Thru

[Tia777]

Thanks albee1952!! Thanks Avid Tech Support!!

I have a MIDI signal now. I did the better, more simple routing albee1952 suggested & enabled MIDI Thru.

Also, thanks albee1952, I disabled wifi, adjusted power settings for USB ports as good housekeeping.

Thanks again and have a fabulous day.

Tia

[The Weed]

Tia,

albee is correct, you do not have a proper recording drive. You need a 7,200 RPM drive rather than the 5,400 RPM drive you have for recording your sessions right now. The forum consensus is a Western Digital Caviar Black 32 or 64 mb cache drive. And hooking the drive up eSATA would be best.

There are other optimizations you can make. Please see the General Troubleshooting thread along with the link in the thread to the Avid Knowledgebase article for optimizing Windows Vista.

Cheers,