MIDI out?

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
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seraphimdemonic
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:40 pm

MIDI out?

Post by seraphimdemonic » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:45 pm

I have an Axiom 61.

As is the case with Ableton 4.1.4, when my output is set to Microsoft GS Wavetable, there is an obvious latency problem...
But with my audio driver set to ASIO through my Presonus Firebox, I was wondering if it was possible to use the Firebox's soundcard for sound through monitors/headphones hooked up to the Firebox.

When I set the output to Firebox MIDI out (the only option there is for it), I can't hear any sound through the headphones. Is it even possible to use the Firebox as an output so that I can achieve a lower latency?

Or am I forced to buy a soundcard specifically for the Axiom 61? If this is the case, what is the best inexpensive soundcard if that's what it has to come down to?

divonic
Posts: 430
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:40 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Post by divonic » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:29 pm

I'm not sure what you are asking.

You DO NOT need another sound card.

Don't mess around with the Microsoft GS wavetable.

how is your Axiom connected to your computer? USB? MIDI?

YES you can use the Firebox to listen to sounds created in Ableton Live.

Ableton will recieve the midi data from your keyboard and if you have a software instrament on a midi channel. you set the output from that channel to an output on your firebox. make sure monitoring is set to in. then play the keyboard.

BTW the Axiom does not have any sounds of its own it is just a controller keyboard. it controls other instraments wheather Hardware or software.

It seems You have everything you need to make music. you just need to set everything up right.

seraphimdemonic
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:40 pm

Post by seraphimdemonic » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:38 pm

Thanks for the help.

The axiom 61 does have a variety of sounds, up to 128. From piano, organ, drums etc.

Anyway, I guess what I'm asking is how I use the firebox in conjunction with the Axiom in Ableton. The keyboard is hooked up through USB to the computer.
My firebox is connected by firewire to the computer of course.

In Ableton, this is what I have.

MIDI from: USB Axiom 61 In1
All Channels
Monitor: ON (not auto)
MIDI to: and this is the part that I'm confused about. Should it be the Microsoft GS Wavetable?
Should it be the Presonus MIDI out?
Or the USB Axiom 61 out?

If it's routed through the presonus, I thought it would be presonus midi out. But when I do that, I can't hear anything when the keyboard is played through the headphones (which are hooked up to the presonus)

What am I doing wrong?

divonic
Posts: 430
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:40 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Post by divonic » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:40 pm

Oh yeah: Please describe how you have everything set up:

do you have?
-powered monitors? (connected to the main outs on the firebox)
-passive monitors? (connected to an amp that is connected to the main outs on the firebox)
-speakers? (connected to a HI-FI reciever which is connected the main outs of the firebox)
-headphones? (conneted to the headphone out on the firebox)

is the firebox connected to the computer via a firewire port?

how is the axiom connected to the computer?
- USB (connect the USB out from the axiom to a USB port on you computer)
- MIDI

Have you loaded the drivers for the Axiom and the Firebox? did you load the mixer software that came with the Firebox?

seraphimdemonic
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:40 pm

Post by seraphimdemonic » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:42 pm

I'm getting powered monitors this week (which will be hooked up to the firebox)
For now, I'm just using headphones. They are connected to the headphone out on the firebox.
Yes, the firebox is connected via firewire.
And, just in case you didn't see, the axiom is set up through USB.

seraphimdemonic
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:40 pm

Post by seraphimdemonic » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:02 pm

The thing is, when I have the Output set to the Microsoft GS wavetable, I can hear the Axiom 61 just fine through my computer speakers.
It's only when I try to set it to the Presonus MIDI out (channel 1) that I can't hear anything.
I did try what you said though, by adding an instrument to the track. That didn't seem to work.

But when I dragged an instrument on it, it changed some things around:

It's now saying:

Audio To:
Ext. Out
Master
1-audio
2-audio
Sends only

The next drop menu gives me
1/2
1
2

I tried them all, they still don't produce any sound coming through the firebox.

Basically, the only reason why I'm doing it like this is because even though I can hear the keyboard with the output set to Microsoft Wavetable, it's given me 10ms latency, which is too much to accurately play. I'm just trying to reduce my latency.

twistedkeys
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:38 pm

Post by twistedkeys » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:27 am

Try this setting:

On a midi track, add an instrument. Set the following settings in midi track i/o section:

MIDI From:
All Ins (or USB Axiom 61 In1)
All Channels

Monitor: Auto

Audio To:
Master


Now, activate the "Arm Session Button" (very important, this is the circle button below the Solo button in the Mixer section of the midi track). Play something on Axiom. You should hear a sound. If you don't hear a sound, make sure that the Master Out setting in the Master track is set to 1/2.

If you are using the headphones connected to firebox, make sure that the "Playback to Phones" is set to 1/2 in the Presonus Firebox Mixer application.

Later,
=TK

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