NO MIDI data or audio in VI

[mgmazzei]

Friends,
I need some help with VI. For some reason I can't get any MIDI data into VI nor can I get any audio out. When I start up VI the program tells me that my audio and MIDI are busy. However when I check the configure page I see my Dakota ASIO and I see my MIDI IN Dakota Port 1. I am using windows.

I am using VI as a stand alone. I use Performer on a MAC connected to a MIDI time piece. Vienna with GIGA worked like a dream. If I load the PT tool up with Giga everything works great. I do not have both programs up at the same time. I load VI alone. Am I missing something? What am I doing wrong. If it works with giga how come it does not in VI? The program tells me upon start up to go to the Program Preferences... where is that located. Do I need to re configure something in the computer system? Does the keyboard on VI work if you depress on it with the mouse? Any thing in VI that would show MIDI data coming in? MIDI Channels in VI ? where are they?? any help would be appreciated.

Mike Mazzei

[Paul]

Hi Mike,

please go to "settings", as described on page 7 of the Vi manual and choose your settings for the standalone VI. The virtual keyboard in the VI works when you loaded a patch. You see MIDI coming in when the keys "move". The standalone VI doesn´t need MIDI channels, it takes all the MIDI it gets from one port.

You may have solved it by now... still hope that helps.

Best, Paul

[mgmazzei]

Paul, thanks for the quick reply.
Page 7 of the user manual talks about the Vienna Instruments .As far as I can see it does not say anything about settings or where they are. Where are the settings? I have already done the configure as described above. I know I'm missing something.

Mike

[Paul]

Hi Mike,

in the standalone version of the VI in the left upper corner you see "settings" and you can define your soundcard driver. It´s the easiest interface we could think of...

Hope this helps.

Best, Paul

[mgmazzei]

Paul, I found the settings page. It is under the options menu. I knew about this, and VI sees the Dakota card and MIDI card. Upon start up of VI I am greeted with a box that says the AUDIO card is busy or not functioning. VI dose not say anything about the midi card but it is there in the setting box. I believe both must function in order for everything to work. AGAIN, I close out VI and start up Giga with Performance Tool, everything works!!! I am receiving MIDI and the audio (digital out) is functioning. I close out PT and giga. I click on VI . VI starts up and displays a dialogue stating my audio card is busy or not functioning. I see the Strings that I loaded and I can even drag them over to the left. Perhaps the Dakota card does not work with VI??? At this point, I really don't know what to do. It sees my card but says it's busy. NO other application is up. Any help!!

Mike

[cm]

the VIs work even with the ordinary windows drivers on my office machine here, although they are of course intended to be used with ASIO (at least for latency reasons).
if the message is *device is busy* than it is what it says. some applications are *grabbing* a device actually after system boot and don't release. if then the (audio-)driver doesn't allow multi-client access you're locked.
sometimes you see different entries in the list for the same audio-card (like ASIO and ASIO-multimedia, ect) - please try different settings if available.
christian

[mgmazzei]

I don't see anything with the Dakota card that would give me options such as multi media. They only thing in VI setting is the ASIO Dakota 16 bit or 24 bit. This is my card it sees!!!! Which ever I select, the dialogue box comes up and tells me it's either busy or does not function. I looked into the card itself but I see nothing that would pertain to this problem. Would the clock source be a problem??? I have a main box that distributes word clock. That's really the only thing I can change. It's really frustrating because it WORKS in Giga with no problems. It also works with the Giovanni voice library, again a giga product. At this time I have just loaded the strings and stopped. No use going on if the main software will not function with the card. The software is on C drive were other applications reside. The samples are on a separate hard drive. ANY help would be needed. I just don't know why it will not work with my card. At this point I don't know what to do....

Mike

[Paul]

Mike,

another thing comes to my mind: The Windows MIDI driver might "sit" on the MIDI.

Please go to the Control Panel => Sounds => Audio and change the Microsoft MIDI driver to your soundcard MIDI driver.

It´s just a guess...

Best, Paul

[cm]

another idea ... (you mentioning GS sitting on the same machine) ... try to set GS to use channels 3/4 (or above) to free up 1/2 for the VI, possibly there is also another app sitting on the ASIO driver. we've noticed this with cubase and RME (although they claim their drivers to be multi client)
christian

[mgmazzei]

I will give this a try tonight. I am also updating my sound card Dakota. I will inform you of my findings. Thanks for the support.

Mike

[mgmazzei]

Well, I tried all the suggestions (thanks Paul and Christian) and I still can't get Vi to produce audio or MIDI. I talked to Brian at Frontier Designs. They created the Dakota sound card. With his help, we updated the card and ASIO drivers to 2.0. I did change the windows MIDI driver in AUDIO to my Dakota card, and made sure GS did not have 1/2 for the driver. No success on anything!!!! I just can't understand this. It seems simple.

My worry is that I seem to be the only one with this problem. That is not a good position to be in. I really want VI to work, but I fear we are all running out of suggestions.

I closed VI and opened GS. After proper configuration GS works with no problems. I get audio and MIDI info. I close GS and open VI. VI tells me that the AUDIO is busy or not functioning. I do not receive any dialogue box about MIDI, just the audio. However NO MIDI or audio works.


What should I do at this point ??????

[herb]

Hi Mike,

is it right that you have tried to setup only the stand alone version on a PC?
At this point I would suggest to try out any VST host application.
Here you have to setup midi and audio with this host programm, and not with the VI directly.
For some VST hosts you should be able to find try out versions.

If this is also not working, I fear that there is a general compatibility problem with the audiohardware and the drivers with VST applications.

Did you ever used any other VST application on this PC?

best
Herb

[mgmazzei]

Hi Herb
The only other major application on this PC is Giga 3. Which , of course works fine with the card. There are other small applications which I received from Carillon, the company which created the PC rack. The PC is a rack unit strictly for Giga or other sound sources. The card goes from the PC unit digitally to my Pro Tools HD system. A MAC G4 runs my PRO Tools system. I like to keep everything separate.

If the VST application is not too expensive I could purchase it and install it on the PC. I believe then the card would work with that application instead of VI directly. I an not sure how the VST works so I will need some instruction.
Brian at Frontier (the company that makes the Dakota card wanted a demo of VI). He could not help me that much since he was not familiar with your product.

Currently I have only installed the strings due to this problem. What VST applications are available for the PC???


The rack unit is a Pentium 4 / 3.40 with 2 gig of RAM.

Thanks for all the support I'm drowning over here!!!!

Mike

[Paul]

Hi Mike,

there are several VST hosts available, and apart from Steinbergs VSTack they all offer a free trial version.

Here some links:

Forte: http://www.brainspawn.com/products/forte/
Chainer: http://www.xlutop.com/html/chainer.html
Plogue Bidule: http://www.plogue.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=35
Steinberg VSTack: http://www.steinberg.de/ProductPage_sbdff5.html

We are working a lot on VSTack, but also include all other hosts for testing, so far no problems with any of these.

Best, Paul

[mgmazzei]

O.K. Let's see if I have this all straight. I purchase VSTack. I like the company and the price is perfect. I install this rack. Are you sure I don't need anything else, such as another software. All I need is this one correct????? now VI is a VST. Is this like a plug in? Would the VI interface remain the same? We are using their software to run your VI correct??? What are the pro's and con's of the VST? What can this do that a stand alone can't?

What about install of the Vienna VST plug in/ I remember this during stand alone install, but I ignored it. I might need some instructions on this topic

This just might be the way to go. I can download this VSTACK ASAP but I just want to make sure if this is all I need to get VI up and running. At least I can see if the Dakota card will work with VSTACK. I believe it should.

Thanks

Mike
So sorry to be a pain for this.....

[Paul]

Hi Mike,

a VSTi can do exactly the same as the standalone instrument, but it is used as a plug in (and it´s nothing to be afraid of [:)]). I´d simply run the latest installer once again and install the VSTi.

Attention: Please do so AFTER installing the VSTack, otherwise you won´t have a vst plug in folder (this is where VSTack is looking for it, and this folder is automatically installed by VSTack. It is also automatically recognized by the VSTi installer of the Vienna Instrument).

Peter Aleander was so kind to post a step by step installation procedure here:

http://community.vsl.co.at/viewtopic.php?t=7856

Hope this helps.

Best,

Paul

[mgmazzei]

Paul,
when you said -- I´d simply run the latest installer once again and install the VSTi. Should I delete the VI program? Should I start over again with VI--- AFTER I install VStack. If so, should I go into windows where it says "install and delete programs" and delete the VI program. I guess it would be best to get rid of the VI and install a fresh program. Is that what you mean????? Will that cause any problems? I am already registered and have the dongle on the PC.

I will download the VStack program and install it but I want to make sure you want me to FIRST delete VI. any special instructions..

Thanks again for all you do.

Mike

[Paul]

Hi Mike,

sorry for not being precise. Uninstalling the VI software is the safest way of course, then install the Vi software again. I have found no trouble installing over the old version, but maybe I´m just lucky...

I will check that with our developers before I give an "official" statement.

And that´s the right order:

1) uninstall the old VI via the Control Panel => install and delete programs
2) install VSTack
3) install the VI again, you will be given the VST plug in folder that VSTack created.

Best, Paul

[mgmazzei]

O.K. Paul I will give this a try. I will let you know how everything turns out.
Thanks again

Mike

[mgmazzei]

Success IT works!!!!!!! VStack saw my card and I am up and running VI. Both MIDI and Digital!!! Thanks to all for not leaving me.

Thanks and God Bless

Mike