Problem detecting Recording device

Sherry C · #1 07-25-2009, 05:07 PM

Howdy John,

Thanks for trying out Notation Composer!

Composer won't automatically populate the "Detect Recording Device" until you actually play the device. Try opening the Quick MIDI setup dialog, and then play your keyboard. You should see it come up in the field then. We try to keep this flexible so that you can automatically use any of a number of MIDI input devices without having to manually switch between them.

You can also take a look at Setup/MIDI Device Configuration (the "big" one, not the Quick one) and you should see your keyboard listed as both an "In" and "Out" device.

Also, have you tried doing any recording into Composer? You can either "Create a new song" or open an existing song and just hit the "Record" button. A new staff will be entered which will be highlighted in pink, and as the beat cursor moves through the score, you should see piano roll bars in the highlighted staff as you play your MIDI instrument. After you hit the "Stop" button (or the Space bar on your qwerty keyboard), the piano roll bars will transcribe to notation.

If none of the above is helpful, let me know and we'll explore some more.

ttfn,
Sherry

johnbuff · #2 07-25-2009, 05:13 PM

Wow Sherry, quick response. Unfortunately, yes, I've tried all of the things you mentioned. Sorry I wasn't clear enough in my origional posting...have followed the setup instructions to the letter.

Sherry C · #3 07-25-2009, 05:31 PM

Howdy John,

Hmmm... does your keyboard show up in the Setup/MIDI Device Configuration as an "In" device at all? Or does it just show up as an "Out" device?

Also, what kind of keyboard, and what kind of MIDI interface unit do you have? Or is it a direct USB cable connection? I'm asking because as much as I like M-Audio, their Uno units have had a lot of problems with the MIDI "in" side, and that's been one of our (and other MIDI applications) biggest causes with folks having recording problems.

ttfn,
Sherry

johnbuff · #4 07-25-2009, 05:56 PM

No, my keyboard does not show up at all. Its a Kurzweil PC88mx. The cable I'm using is a CME u2midi usb cable.

Sherry C · #5 07-25-2009, 07:55 PM

Howdy John,

Since you're using the CME as the interface between your keyboard and computer, that (or some other name for it) is what will show up in your MIDI device configuration dialog.

If the device is not showing up at all in your MIDI Device Configuration, try switching the "In" and "Out" plugs of the CME cable into your Kurzweil. MIDI cables in general can be really confusing because the way they're labeled, they often want the "In" cable to go in the "Out" plug and vice versa.

If that doesn't turn out to be the issue, let's take a look at your MIDI Device Configuration. If needed, please take a screen shot of it and post it in your reply. But let's hope it's just that the cables are backwards. I did that myself in setting up my own MIDI keyboard

ttfn,
Sherry

johnbuff · #6 07-26-2009, 11:17 PM

Hi Sherry -
I had to laugh regarding your comments about plugging the midi cables into the keyboard - that was exactly the first thing I thought of at the start! I guess in some ways our minds think alike.

I'm having trouble attaching a screen shot of the configuration page - but for what its worth, its just the basic default page where it lists my pc internal port and the internal synthesizer. I'm unable to create the external port and attache it to my keyboard/device.

(As a side note, I have been able to load the software onto my work-related pc and it works great. I do, though, would love assistance getting it to work on my my personal laptop).

Sherry C · #7 07-27-2009, 09:57 AM

Howdy John,

Glad to know we're on the same wavelength here

Thanks for the added info. There are a couple of things we can check out now that we know Composer isn't seeing anything at all from your MIDI device.

On some devices, there is a switch, either physical or electronic (setting), for "MIDI mode". I'm not sure about your Kurzweil unit, but please do check in your user's manual to see if there is such a switch or setting. Some units have something like "Audio only", "MIDI on", "MIDI through" etc. If your unit has such a switch or setting (many users have had to make such settings because for some reason the default is "off"), try changing it.

If all seems to be as it should be and you're still not getting any recognition by Composer, then please try out a small program (not developed by us) called RedDot Forever, available free at http://sourceforge.net/projects/reddot/ This program's sole purpose in life is to record .mid files. If it detects and records from your Kurzweil, then we'll delve deeper into why Composer is not detecting it. If RedDot doesn't pickup your MIDI device, then we'll have to look more to the Kurzweil and/or the CME cable interface.

ttfn,
Sherry