I can't make music software find my soundcard!

[ulrichburke]

Dear Anyone!!

I've got Cubase 4, Reason 4, both perfectly legit copies. My computer is currently an Asus Asrock motherboard with an AMD Sempron processor - I know that's not exactly Star Wars technology, I will be buying a new motherboard when I've got this prob. sorted so I know what I'm doing. I've got a gig of RAM and about 300 gig hard drive space free. And an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 Soundcard.

Now Reason 4's free tracks make loads of lovely noise, but using Reason's the BIGGEST learning curve I've ever come across - it doesn't even use notation! Cubase 4 doesn't make any noise at all. I can't get a squeak out of it. I've imported MIDI files (for testing purposes), I've tried installing ASIO For All (though I must admit I don't fully understand what ASIO is/does). I've tried all the output settings in Cubase, and I've never gotten a squeak out of it. I've set the output to General MIDI, thinking if I made it play back through Windows sounds it would be a start at least. No joy.

I wish I could be more specific, but if I could I'd probably able to fix the problem myself. I don't know any more than what I've put - I'm getting no sounds and I don't know why. I've checked the notation module of Cubase - I love notation! - and there's loads of notes, they just don't make any noise.

Anyone got any ideas of anything I could try? Please?

Yours hopefully

ulrichburke

[sparqee]

My first question is; what are you trying to control with your Cubase midi track? Midi itself makes no sound, it simply controls an external synth or a VSTi. If you want to use a midi track in Cubase to control Reason then you need to use ReWire. The Cubase manual should explain how to set that up.

A simpler option for getting started with midi is to load up a VSTi in Cubase and use a midi track to control the VSTi. Cubase comes with a couple of VSTi's and in Cubase 4 I believe you use what is called an "instrument track" which basically combines a midi track with the VSTi of your choice. Again the Cubase manual should explain how to get this going.