Usb keyboard problem. Input light flashes, but not the output light, and there's no sound

Joezoot wrote on 10/9/2014, 12:33 PM

Hi,

I tried the search, so don't kill me ;)

I have a new laptop with Windows 8.1 64, Samplitude Music Studio 2013, and a M-Audio Keystation mini 32.

With my old laptop, with Windows 7 it worked fine, with the new one, not so much.

I just noticed though, that when I try to record a track the midi input light actually flashes when I press keys on the Keystation. The output light stays black, and there's no sound, and Samplitude doesn't record anything.

I can play back stuff I recorded on ny old laptop, but I can't create anything new with my Win 8 computer. I use ASIO4ALL as well, if that helps.

I guess - and hope - the problem is in a setting somewhere, and hopefully somebody here can help me :) Try to answer in a not to tecky way, I'm no computer expert :)

Thanks in advance!

JoeZoot

Comments

browj2 wrote on 10/9/2014, 1:20 PM

Hi Joe,

I usually have the same problem. I presume that you have set up everything for midi in the Program settings, including selecting the Global recording device under the MIDI page?

Then with an instrument selected on track 1, say a Vita piano of some kind, did you try clicking on the Record button and trying the keyboard? I get no sound from my keyboard until I do this. Strange and annoying, but that is the way it is.

This probably has nothing to do with your problem since you can hear sounds, but often I change from speakers to headphones, and I don't get any sound. So I have to make sure that everything is set for the headphones. Try right-clicking on the big record button and checking that Monitor is on under options, then click on the Info button beside the pop down Record Device and File Path (lower left). My headphones seem to get switched off and I have to turn them on here. Check that whichever you have works.

I have an M-Track M-Audio and it comes with its own driver. When I plug it in along with my keyboard (different USB ports), I get another set of problems before getting everything to work. I monitor throught the M-Track.

browj2 wrote on 10/9/2014, 1:23 PM

Additional: I just noticed that I got no sound from my keyboard except when it was recording. So I opened the on-screen keyboard and pressed a key. Then my external keyboard worked ok. This may be your solution.

Joezoot wrote on 10/10/2014, 5:01 AM

Hi browj2,

This is what happens when I try what you said:

If I open a new track on a song with previous recorded midi tracks: Nothing. No sound, no reaction.

If I open one of the recorded tracks, I can get sounds when I click the on-screen keyboard, both when I record and when I don't. Nothing gets recorded though.

And today, the midi input light doesn't flash when I play the Keystation...

Mikael

Joezoot wrote on 10/12/2014, 4:49 AM

I tried downloadiing the MiniMogue VA vst synth, wich you can play around with on your computer without the DAW running. It works when I play the laptop keys, but nothing happens when I play the Keystation.

I tired it on my girlfriends laptop as well, same thing.

Mikael

Joezoot wrote on 10/12/2014, 8:43 AM

Problem solved!?

I clicked "MIDI thru active" in the Track Options settings, and now it seems to work!

Mikael

browj2 wrote on 10/12/2014, 9:57 AM

Hi Mikael,

Glad to hear that you have resolved the issue. I was stumped. This is one to note for the future.

Joezoot wrote on 10/12/2014, 11:26 AM

I'm happy too :)

I noticed it when I played around with the MiniMogue VA - wich I could play with the computer keys - and looked through the settings. I picked the Keystation as both input and output, and then I saw the "MIDI thru active" box. I clicked it, and voilá, so I tried the same thing in Samplitude, when I found it...

So, you have to do it seperately for every track, but that's no biggie, now that I know. Now I "just" have to wait for inspiration...

Mikael

browj2 wrote on 10/12/2014, 10:40 PM

Hi Mikael,

Strange, you shouldn't have to do that. Do you have the Keystation indicated as the Global record device on the MIDI page of the System options? Not sure exactly if this is needed but I have my keyboard as the record device.