Setting up axiom 49 on Cubase SX

TheTrueMaverick · Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

Greetings everyone,

I recently purchased M-Audio's Axiom 49e, and a friend of mine lent me an installation for Cubase SX to try out as I clearly wasn't enjoying the Ableton which came with the keyboard. I'm trying to get used to the program as of now, but I'm having trouble getting the sound out of the program? computer?

The program is version 3.02, so far I have followed some of the tutorials I have found on the net but they seem to talk about something I don't seem to have... Like "Bome's Mouse Keyboard" (eh?)

So far I've gone to "Device set up", changed Default MIDI ports' input to "All Midi inputs" and output for "Axiom 49 out".

Now, I went to "Windows MIDI" section but for out section, active are both NO on Axiom 49 OUT and Microsoft default one I assume that is. It was before YES, before I closed the program to reset but now back to NO. I don't even know how that became YES before in the first place...

After, just to play around, I went to "Project" then went "Add track" then "Midi". Now, it looks resonable but none of the sound is coming out...

Where is the sound library or some sort? I've gone through "Inserts" and "Sounds" but I'm not too sure what the differences are...

I've previously used Garage band and Logic Express at university, they were already set up and the sound library was easy to find.

Could someone help me out here? Is there any recommended tutorials I could see for starters? Or anyone willing to help me out, with screenshots would hugely help.

Cheers..

Alexander · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject:

I have no experience with cubase sx, but I think you'll find all information in the manual.

I do know a little about the axiom controller. Try the enigma software:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Enigma-main.html

..and create a cubase preset for your axiom.

Here's a good tutorial on how to get going:

http://www.howcast.com/videos/8176-How-To-Enigma-With-MAudios-Axiom-Keyboard-MIDI-Controller

Good luck, have fun! Smile

TheTrueMaverick · Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

Thanks for the first reply, Alex.

About Enigma, do you actually need it? I mean, when you purchase the midi keyboard, it gives you the driver you need to be able to use on the computer.

And as goes with Ableton, I eventually managed to interact between the computer and keyboard / made sound fine...

I have something called "M-Audio MA_CMID" and the readme file says the following:

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

The Enigma app is what you use for assigning sliders and stuff to midi parameters.

TheTrueMaverick · Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

I see, so that's how you set up the drum pads and things very easily?

It sounds pretty easy to use following the video given, but is it easier or harder to set it up on the cubase? Sorry, I'm not quite too following, but I assume that is it..

It yet still doesn't seem to help me getting the sound out of problem which I could quite easily in Ableton ... Confused

If there was a video or step-by-step tutorial, screenshots would be most helpful, Mmmmmm...........

Alexander · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:53 am Post subject:

Do you have a cubase manual? You need to start reading it! I can tell from your posts that you don't really know much about the software and a program like cubase is not just plug and play... it requires some basic midi knowledge.

Try:

MIDI for the Technophobe by Paul White ( ISBN: 1860744443 )

or just google 'midi basics'!

kkissinger · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

To hear what you are playing in real time, you either need to turn on track monitoring (a button on the input channel strip) or go into record mode.

There are many other links in the chain, too. You need to be sure that your keyboard is set to recieve MIDI on the same channel as the strip's setting in Cubase.

Also, you need to optimize your Windows configuration for Cubase or else things can get confusing.

Sorry, don't have an instant answer for you... all the best!

TheTrueMaverick · Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

Thanks both for getting back to me!

@Alexander: Nah, unfortunatelly. He only gave me a disk... A friend of mine suggested me to get a dvd of cubase tutorial, apparently that is pretty decent. I may have to get that...

He mentioned since I have pre-experience of logic express, said it's quite similiar and easy to use but seems not.

Although, I thought I should get the midi keyboard working first before I learn how to use the program fully you see. That's why I've been tring to make some sound out of it, so I know it works and I can just learn from there with tutorials I thought Wink

That's what I did with Ableton, it made sound with sound library so I was like sweet, then I thought the program was quite shit so haha, that's why I moved onto a different program.

@kkissinger: Yeah, I thought you could just do that in device settings and make it work sweet but mmm...

--

Just I want to be sure now, a lot of people mentioned about Reason being good for only keyboard players to make various instrumented tracks.

Is Cubase actually good for that too? Or is it more for people who actually play instruments like guitars. I play piano myself, but I want to be able to use guitar sounds via midi keyboard you see, like I did with logic express, or garageband even.

Is Cubase the right choice?

www.myspace.com/thetruemaverick

Song like that I'm saying, "Into nothingness". That's what I came out last year, with the macintosh programs.

Thanks again!

Alexander · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:26 am Post subject:

Maybe you could put audio software into two catagories, DAW and music production. Some programs are a good mix
, but most of them are either a DAW or a music production environment of any sort.

DAW are environments to mix, arrange, edit, record, music production is a place to create music, program, patch, etcetera.

Reason is a program to hook up a keyboard and make music. Cubase can do that too, but has more features to record, arrange and mix.

This is a very bold post, and it is not entirely true, but it should give you an idea of why maybe cubase doesn't work for you.

And when you deicide to use Reason, or any other program, you WILL have to read the manual! Reading manuals is a very good place to start! Very Happy

kkissinger · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:56 am Post subject:

Without a manual or prior experience with DAW software, Cubase will frustrate more than enable.

My first version of Cubase was Cubase Falcon (it ran on an Atari Falcon). It happened that the software came in just as I left for summer camp with my son. I took the Cubase manual, and spent nine days (two hours each day) reading the manual. This was time well spent.

When I upgraded to Cubase SX, I was able to start working immediately due to my prior experience with Cubase Falcon. However, Cubase Falcon only had Audio, MIDI, and Mixer tracks. Cubase SX has Audio, MIDI, Group, and FX tracks. It has a 5.1 bus, as well as Stereo and Mono busses. Also is a VST host. It also has nice integration for external (hardware) instruments and effects.

Also, to run a DAW on Windows requires you to optimize your hardware profile and software to run the DAW.

To learn this stuff is very rewarding however the learning curve is steep at first. Cubase is an excellent product but, as with all products, the rich feature set comes with a steep learning curve.

If you want to pursue Cubase, you might want to start with a Lite version -- many interfaces (i.e., Presonus) are bundled with a Lite version of Cubase.

Cubase combines MIDI and Audio Tracks seamlessly -- it is a good environment for MIDI and conventional (acoustic) recording with microphones.

TheTrueMaverick · Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

@Alex: Haha, on the other hand, the actual musicians (like people who actually can play real instruments like me, not just pressing keys and see how it comes out) told me not to use Reason. Reason sucks, apparently, haha. I seriously don't have a clue here.

@kkissinger: Thanks for that, that really cleared up that I really need to read the manual haha. I'll get the tutorial dvd that my friend was talking about.

I thought I could do that when I got the sound working on midi keyboard but would that be well explained in the tutorial? I thought it would be a little different depending on the gear you have.