MIDI Playback

[Rubber5oul]

I loaded a MIDI track onto Live Lite 7 but can't hear any sound on playback.It loads, it splits it into tracks and the wee lights flash like there should be sound, but there isn't any. I've no idea what I'm doing and I couldn't make head nor tail of the manual. Any ideas?

[H20nly]

It could either be something not set in your Live Preferences (MIDI tab) or you need to select the right channel and playback device on your track (keep your eyes mostly to the right side of the screen).

What do you mean loaded a MIDI track? - just created a new MIDI track?

If you createed a new MIDI track and didn't assign a Live instrument to it then it will just be a blank slate - like speakers without a stereo.

Try the MIDI tutorial in Live. It should be pretty short and will probably get you rolling...

[hacktheplanet]

MIDI is a control protocol. Think of MIDI notes like sheet music. You won't hear anything unless you have an instrument to play.

[Rubber5oul]

I downloaded a track from a free midi website - ZZ Top, just got paid - and was goiong to remove all but the drum and bass. When I open it with Windows Media Player, there is sound. It also plays in Audacity. I'll give the tutorial a go, see if that helps.

[SubFunk]

It plays in mediaplayer, etc because it assigns a general midi soundbank automatically to a midi file. As pulsoc said, midi is only a 'data' file, in Live you need to load either a plugin instrument or assign over the corresponding midi channel an external midi synth to it. Otherwise you want hear any sound.

Hope that helps, maybe wikipedia MIDI to get a general idea and understanding of what it actually is and how it works...

Midi does not contain any audio whatsoever, it can only trigger audio.

[Rubber5oul]

Now I get it. Thanks guys.