Setting up Axiom 25 in PT10 Win7

[tpann]

This is kind of a noob question, and I apologize if there are resources out there,... I just can't find them.

I'm using PT 10 on Win7 64 with an Axiom 25 and an MBox 3G. I can use the Axiom just fine in an instrument track. I have Axiom connected via USB AND midi cords to the Mbox and I actually don't know which of those interfaces the Axiom is communicating through.

I want to be able to use a MIDI track with the Axiom and this is where I assume I need to do some setup. I have seen tutorials about how to set up MIDI in the MIDI studio, but these have been for Macs and they always show the person opening the MIDI Studio and voila! There are a bunch of devices that show up automatically. When I open the MIDI studio, nothing shows up. I don't even know if I'm supposed to create the MBox? I tried that and nothing seems to happen. I tried to create a new instrument for the Axiom and M-Audio is not even listed as a manufacturer.

So I'm not even getting my propeller to spin let alone getting this thing off the ground.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[tpann]

OK, so I've made some headway here so my question has changed. It's still a noob question but now that I've figured a couple of things out it's a little less nooby.

It appears I don't need to do anything in the MIDI studio if I'm just working with the Mbox and the Axiom 25. I created a MIDI track and assigned USB Axiom 25 > all channels as the input, and Mbox Control channel 1 as the output.

So I arm the track and hit record, and I am actually playing notes onto my track. I realize these are not audio, but rather data, and I understand that's why I'm not hearing anything. The information is there, I just need to somehow translate this data into audio.

So that's my question: What do I do next to convert the stuff I'm playing on the Axiom into audio? I'm thinking Xpand or something but since there is no spot for inserts, this is where I get confused.

[sunburst79]

Use a instrument track with a instrument plug on it.

In Pro Tools Instrument Tracks are for playing MIDI Virtual Instruments and generate audio.

MIDI tracks are for recording a Performance from a MIDI controller or driving a external MIDI module like a drum machine

[tpann]

OK, thank you. That clears things up for me. I guess my biggest confusion was what you imply here -- I'm not clear on what you use a MIDI track for.

For the record, I have been using an instrument track with the Axiom but thought that for some reason I would gain more control (or something) using a MIDI track.

[smoothbassman]

Originally Posted by tpann

OK, thank you. That clears things up for me. I guess my biggest confusion was what you imply here -- I'm not clear on what you use a MIDI track for.

For the record, I have been using an instrument track with the Axiom but thought that for some reason I would gain more control (or something) using a MIDI track.

Yeah if your triggering internal synths in the session, instrument tracks are king. If you have outboard gear you want to trigger use a midi track.

Example: I have a Triton rack and a Motif in the studio. I trigger the sounds on the synths 20 feet away sitting right at my desk with an Axiom. The output channels for the keyboards are routed back into the studio thru the analog ins but I record just the MIDI data on the 1st pass, from the Axiom. Once I get the arrangement right I commit the audio to disk an disable the MIDI track but keep it around if I want to audition different sounds with that data later on.

PT is not as MIDI friendly as other DAW's I have used. Hope PT11 addresses some of the shortcomings.

[sunburst79]

Also I re read your original post and you only need one type of MIDI cable connecting the Axiom. I can't say that having two connected is good or bad. I'm a fan of simple and used USB.