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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 189
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 189 |
Morning, all! I'm sure this is very rudimentary, and I'm almost (almost!) embarrassed to ask: My basic set up is: input keyboard/PC/external hard synth/RD to ext speakers. It works fine. I've never really used 'Thru' until now. I find there is obviously a working connection, i.e. if I have a song open, but not playing, I can vary the Thru patch at will, I play on the input keyboard, it comes out the synth. But if I then start the song playing, and play live with it, there is no 'Thru' sound. Stop the song, strum the keyboard, there it is fine again. I've run 'search' on 'Thru' right through the Pdf manual, and tried/checked one or two things as a result (it's not the Conductor setting, for example), but still no joy. What am I missing here, please ? Ian G. 
Late-developing enthusiast for jazz / blues. Principally pianist
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507 |
Ian, try this: Prefs=>midi driver & toggle off the "use VST synth." If that doesn't work, leave it on and toggle the switch just beneath it. Also in the Alt-F2 dialog, and in the overrides dialogs, make sure the thru switches are enabled (though from your description, sounds like they are.) Also check thru volume as the song plays just in case a setting in the song itself has zeroed it. If none of this works, problem may relate to the type of driver (MME vs ASIO). Post back with details and someone should help. Pretty sure there are other threads on this issue, but can't find one myself at moment.
HTH, Ron
EDIT - The problem may be fixable by configuring the proper driver properly but still give a latency problem. It shouldn't with a hardware synth, but if it does, or if all you want to do is play along, then you might try disabling thru and setting the synth local *on*. (Rachael's advice to leave it off is the normal mode for an external controller/sound source, but depending on needs, this could be a simple alternative that sidesteps thru issues altogether. Just a thought.)
Last edited by rkl122; 03/20/09 08:28 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616 |
I have a similar setup and works OK. I'm assuming you are using the external synth as a sound module and not the VST/DXi synth.
Some ideas...
- BIAB Midi driver setup. Both Midi In/Out are set to my external synth (USB Audio in my case). Choose your synth from the dropdown at the right and uncheck 'Use VST/DXi'
- Local On in the external synth is set to OFF
- Check your Thru patch for the song using 'Save Song with Patches and Harmony'. Make sure the box is checked.
- Try some different instruments (if you haven't already)
Rachael
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 189
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 189 |
(I' m a bit miffed with the site: I've just drafted quite a long and careful reply to the thread, and when I clicked to load it, I got an error message that 'my form is no longer valid', and the whole thing is lost. I wasn't that long !)
To say it all again, maybe a bit more quickly:
I've worked through ewverything Rachael and Ron suggested (thanks !) except maybe what Ron meant by the overrides (no reference to Thru in opt.pref.overrides ?)
I've worked a second time, carefully, through the various possible variations in Midi Drivers/Midi Options and Channels. I've set to 'boost Thru velocity' right up. Through out it all the situation remains stubbonrly that when Biab is at rest I can vary the Thru patch, play live on my input keyboard, and hear it from the synth; when I set the Biab song rolling, I can hear everything else from the synth, but not Thru.
I don't use Asio, and everything is 'hard' so latency is not an issue.
Also, 'Thru' works perfectly in two other applications, from the same setup , both for recording and playalong, without needing specific adjustment.
It must be something very simple. But what ?
Ian G.
Late-developing enthusiast for jazz / blues. Principally pianist
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507 |
Quote:
(I' m a bit miffed with the site: I've just drafted quite a long and careful reply to the thread, and when I clicked to load it, I got an error message that 'my form is no longer valid', and the whole thing is lost. I wasn't that long !)
Sometimes I'll ctrl-C what I've typed, in case I've gone over time limit.Quote:
except maybe what Ron meant by the overrides (no reference to Thru in opt.pref.overrides ?)
Sorry Ian, you're quite right. (I've had numerous patch change issues, and I generally check that window for conflicts.) Sorry.
You might try using the midi monitor to confirm whether events are actually generating on the thru channel. Start monitoring just before hitting play. Use the filter so as not to get overwhelmed with data. If the thru channel goes dry as the song starts, see if any strange message(s) were sent just before that. You might also try changing the thru channel (with concordance on the synth of course, just in case you're using a master channel that sends a mess of controller msgs to the synth). If there's a midi monitor on the synth, you might check that the data are returning to it.
But chances are it's a sound card/driver issue. You might describe the sound card and name the midi driver. Others may have deeper insight than I. There are one or two faqs that address related problems - not exactly yours, but they might provide insight as well. Search on "thru".
I know how frustrating these things are. The good side: once you solve them, they're solved for life.  I hope someone here can help. Please post when it's resolved. Even if it was simple thing, the insight helps us all.
-Ron
EDIT - A wild thought: You don't happen to have the keyboard wizard on? It says in the helpfile there's a setting for it relating to the thru channel. I'm wondering if it could be competing with the external controller?
Last edited by rkl122; 03/21/09 04:42 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 189
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 189 |
Ron, you wild old thing ! You are a star! Yes , it was that wizard setting in opt>pref>transpose.
I felt in my water it must be something like that, not a major systemic issue.
But, notes to PG staffers:
(1) I've never used the Keyboard Wizard in my life - so it would seem like a default setting ? If so, is the more natural (i.e. 'what most users would want') default 'off' not 'on' ?
(2) I think this has also pointed up in how many places there are settings affecting THRU, and yet how scattered and unco-ordinated their coverage in the manual. Might not a gathered-up topic on THRU be a good idea ?
Thanks again, Ron !
Ian G.
Late-developing enthusiast for jazz / blues. Principally pianist
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
It would be real easy to hit the Wizard checkbox unintentionally, not have anything "desired" happen at the time and then move on...
At any rate, glad you got it sorted.
Have Fun,
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507 |
Frabjous day! (With apologies to Lewis Carroll.) Makes me as happy as you, believe me. Now I know there's a thread with my name on it when I forget the answer to the same problem . LOL. Regards, Ron Edit - Now all I have to do is remember that. 
Last edited by rkl122; 03/21/09 06:22 AM.
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