Problem outputting midi through Halion/speakers

[Dominic]

Hi Everyone,
I've just returned to the world of computer recording after a few years absence and am having a problem with my setup that no-one seems able to solve and was very much hoping that someone on here might be kind and knowledgeable enough to be able to help . I was initially using a lower spec PC to that what I'm using now but have upgraded hoping this would solve the problem.
My new spec is: AMD Phenon X3 proccessor, Ge-Force 8100vm_m5 motherboard, 3GB 800MHz DDR2 Memory, I also bought 2 new Sata hard drives, I'm using Cubase LE 4, Halion-one, Proteus VX that came with the Emu Tracker Pre. All the new items installed correctly with everything listed as it should be in device manager. I have no problem with audio. I have followed all the instructions/ correct settings etc. In cubase I goto project-add track-instrument, I assign Proteus VX or Halion-one, choose a drum kit, then when I play the drum pads on the drum machine I only get the odd random note through the output bar on Proteus/ Halion one/ through speakers, it works slightly better with Halion-one as for the first few seconds of hittng the drum pads it seems to play all the notes but then in a matter of a couple of seconds of playing the sound goes quieter and then I get just the odd note, ie: I might hit the pad 20 times but only get one or two notes played through the output bar of Halion-one/Proteus/ speakers, this behaviour did seem to imply that the system (ram) was being filled up then not being able to cope but now with 3GB of ram I'm sure that this cannot be the problem. My Emu midi 2x2 input led flashes for every note I play and the cubase input level meter moves for every note, I have tried the various combinations of midi channels, omni, multi, single, everything in device setup in cubase seems in order, my drum machine is sending data as when I click record in cubase although I don't hear all the notes played cubase receives the note data and inputs all the notes graphically on the recording track, when I play the track back using Proteus it still plays only the odd random note but the strange thing is that Halion-one will play back all the notes even though when recording them it will only output some of them to the speakers. If I use the Project- add track- midi, option I can record to the track and then get the track to play the notes back on the drum machine when I activate the drum in function on the drum machine so I'm sure the drum machine (Alesis SR 16) and the midi interface is working correctly, this option does not allow me to use the sound module software or hear what I'm recording as I'm playing it. What I really need to be able to do is to record the drum machine as an instrument ideally through Proteus so that I can hear what I'm playing as I'm playing it, this should work as it's the first tutorial in the manual of the midi section that came with the tracker pre and I've followed the instructions exactly. I have started to wonder if the setup is incompatible ie: the tracker Pre might not work with the midi 2x2 but I have seen the Emu tracker pre, Emu midi 2x2 with the software I'm using sold as a bundle so surely this can't be the case. I have tried using the onboard sound to test whether it could be a USB problem but the results are exactly the same. The other thing that may be worth mentioning is that once I've opened the instrument track and its stopped outputing notes to speakers after the few seconds of playing it does'nt matter how long I leave it I can't repeat even the couple of bars unless I close the instrument track, open a new one, assign Halion/ sound etc, then it will do the same thing, output my playing through the speakers for a few bars/ seconds then the notes decay and from there on again it will only output the odd note.
This problem has cost me a huge amount of time and what is for me at the moment quite a lot of money , the setup I have would be ideal if only I could get it to work so I would really appreciate any help you can give in solving this problem.
_________________
AMD Phenom X3
GEFORCE 8100VM_M5 Motherboard
3GB DDR2 RAM
2 x 160 GB SATA Hard drives
Windows XP Sp3

EMU Tracker Pre USB souncard/ audio interface
EMU midi 2x2 midi interface

Cubase LE4
Halion one
Proteus VX

[gremlins]

Don't know if this even applies, but try going to the project window, and click on project set up. There is a start and run menu at the top. See if your project is set for only a few seconds. I have had a similar problem . Reset it for say. 10 minutes and see if it will playback.
_________________
Cubase LE4 /Tascam 1641
Windows xp/Hammond c3/leslie122
Vocev5
Fatar controller/Roland d110/emu proteusfx
Kurzweil micro piano.Korg dw8000
Yamaha emx300, Fender Showmaster, Ovation Elite

[Dominic]

Thanks for replying gremlins,
I tried what you suggested but unfortunately I still have the same problem. I can play back what I have recorded through Halion just can't hear what I'm recording while I'm playing it, other than for the first few seconds. Even when I'm not recording (just playing) the sounds diminish in volume after a few seconds and then I just hear the odd note every now and again. I just can't work out why Halion won't apply the sound to the data while I'm playing the drum machine when it can do so when I play the notes back from the track. The midi data is being transfered to the track perfectly and I can record the data for any length of time, I just can't hear what I'm playing while I'm playing it. I've tried various settings in windows aswell but nothing seems to work.
_________________
AMD Phenom X3
GEFORCE 8100VM_M5 Motherboard
3GB DDR2 RAM
2 x 160 GB SATA Hard drives
Windows XP Sp3

EMU Tracker Pre USB souncard/ audio interface
EMU midi 2x2 midi interface

Cubase LE4
Halion one
Proteus VX

[gremlins]

one thought , although I am using a Tascam 1641, Are your monitor {orange lights } on in the track. Try turning them off.
Also cubase can record midi data, but it can't export it until it is converted to audio data. Don't know if this is relevant. I am just a newbie with only about 3 years with the program. I'm told it gets easier.!!! one other thought have you set the outputs in the devices menu?
_________________
Cubase LE4 /Tascam 1641
Windows xp/Hammond c3/leslie122
Vocev5
Fatar controller/Roland d110/emu proteusfx
Kurzweil micro piano.Korg dw8000
Yamaha emx300, Fender Showmaster, Ovation Elite

[Dominic]

Yes Iv'e tried switching the monitor button on and off, my settings in devices are all ok too but I still have the same problem. I think the problem may not be in cubase/ cubase settings as when I've launched Proteus VX as a stand alone program I still get the same problem with missing output, as far as I'm aware I can't launch Halion one as a stand alone program to test it in the same way?. When I use Proteus and Halion one from within cubase I've noticed that Proteus is slightly worse affected then Halion. I'm guessing theres something that both these programs require that is not right somewhere, it's just a matter of finding out what it is.
_________________
AMD Phenom X3
GEFORCE 8100VM_M5 Motherboard
3GB DDR2 RAM
2 x 160 GB SATA Hard drives
Windows XP Sp3

EMU Tracker Pre USB souncard/ audio interface
EMU midi 2x2 midi interface

Cubase LE4
Halion one
Proteus VX

[Dominic]

Update,
I still have not solved the problem, I see quite a few people have viewed this topic but only one person has come forward with any suggestions. I've been trawling through these forums for hours per day trying to find some clue as to what might be causing this problem but have not found anything that works, . I've tried all the settings I can think of in windows to decrease the load on the proccessor, performance settings, reduced graphic settings etc. I've tried various settings in prefferences/ devices/ you name it in cubase but all to no avail. I can't see any other option but to start saving up and buying new hardware piece by piece untill I get a setup that works, I can't even return/ exchange any of the stuff I have bought as everything on it's own seems to work!. I've been in contact with EMU ( manufacturers of my audio/ midi interface) but they don't seem to know what the problem is either. If there is anyone who might have some idea what might be causing this problem then I would be so grateful for your advice.
_________________
AMD Phenom X3
GEFORCE 8100VM_M5 Motherboard
3GB DDR2 RAM
2 x 160 GB SATA Hard drives
Windows XP Sp3

EMU Tracker Pre USB souncard/ audio interface
EMU midi 2x2 midi interface

Cubase LE4
Halion one
Proteus VX

[jdj912]

Hi Dominic,
Did you ever find a solution to this problem. I think I have the same issue that you had(have). I have a midi drum pad that I use to "record midi" but it only triggers random sounds w/ the "rock drum kit" in Halion one regardless of what not is being triggered, w/ or w/out a drum map no matter what drum map I've tried. The Halion one will sound whole sounds if I trigger it from the virtual keyboard in the midi key editor though. I really hope you figured something out, because I haven't found many instances where people ran into this.
_________________
HP Pavilion dv4
AMD Turion II 2-core @2.3ghz
4G RAM, 350G - 7200rpm HD
Windows 7 Home Premium -64bit
Alesis IO-2 usb
Lexicon Omega usb interface
Cubase LE
Cubase LE-4
Alesis SR-16
Yellow Tools Independence Free

It's never too late; right?