Using Ni Combos as MIDI instrument in Sonar?

I'm trying to get the Plexi Combo software to work as a midi instrument in Cakewalk Sonar 7.02, and thus far have not had much success.

I've used other NI instruments (B4 and Bossendorfer) with no difficulty by using the "Insert|SoftSynth" approach", but that didn't seem to work with Combos.

As per the manual, I tried just adding a MIDI track and setting the output to PlexiCombo, but still no sound.

When I try playing my track, I can see activity in the on-screen VU meters, as if something is playing, but I'm just not getting any output.

Am I missing something obvious here? Thanks.

JOe

 

Welcome =)

Right click in the FX bin of an audio track and choose insert soft synth there. Do not use the synth rack.

Then, create a MIDI track and have the output go to your combo. Done.

ew

 

Hi there,

Thanks for the tip, but unless I misunderstood, it doesn't appear to work. I tried this 2 ways:

First, I removed all of the softsynths from my rack. Then I created a new audio track, and in the effects column, I added NI PlexiCombo as an audio effect (as opposed to a softSynth). Then I created a new MIDI track, and tried to assign the output to PlexiCombo, but it did not show up as an option, nor did it appear in my synth rack.

Second, I proceeded as above, but instead of adding an audio effect, I added a SoftSynth to the audio track. In this case, PlexiCombo DID show up as a possible output in my MIDI track, so I assigned it accordingly. (At this point, it also showed up in my synth rack). Now the result was the same as before -- VU meters indicated output, but no sound.

I checked in my control panel to ensure that the default audio output is pointed to the right device (my sound card). I tried starting up the NI Combos stand-alone application and scouted around for any place to assign output. Sound card is set to my expected sound card. Routing/Outputs is set to the appropriate outputs (Front). I didn't mess with Routing/Inputs.

Under MIDI, all of the available output interfaces were set to off. I tried enabling the ones that point to my soundcard's internal synths, but that had no effect.

When I play the application's "Demo Player," it works fine, so I'm assuming that my hardware is set up okay.

Any ideas?

Thanks again.

Joe

 

Yeah, the second way you did it was right. Now, what about your ins/outs in Sonar? Are those configured correctly?

ew

 

Let’s see:

In Options|MIDI Devices I have no available inputs. Under outputs I have SynthA and SynthB (Soundblaster) checked, and Microsoft GS Wavetable unchecked.

Under Options|Audio, input drivers are all Creative ASIO variations, all checked. Output drivers, ditto.

Anywhere else I should be looking?

 

Hold on here... it sounds as if you're trying to use Combos as an instrument. It's not an instrument; it's an effect. You run audio through it...

ew

 

Ah, I see. Now it makes sense! Thanks for saving me a bunch of time. I guess I was expecting it to work like B4 . . .

Joe