How to best setup?
Ok, I have been an audio guy for too long. However, it seem unnecessarily comlicated in n_Track.
If I want a Click track, why can’t I just click on Metronome and the record setting and have a track automatically created to record/play while I play/record?
Or
Have I missed something?
I have found the metronome to be non-simple to use, so I just use the n track drums and choose the beat style I want and the BPM. I generally choose a steady beat pattern without fills. Once the tracks are all recorded then different beats and fills can be added. Thats my 2 cents worth anyway.
I hear you bax3…
It’s been discussed quite often, around the board-at-times…
I was gonna add two cents to your topic early this morning…
However, I needed to go off to work to pay for materials for this studio I’m working on… sigh…
I was sure that it had been addressed by a DX or VST stand alone plug that created a “vocable sample” for a click track…
However, I am unable to remember who-or-when it got published…
Maybe, I’m only dreaming about this plug-in…
This thing shouldn’t have any MIDI Connection…
It should purely be something that the tracker begins-and-ends with when working on a project…
If I were that smart and I could “Program”…
I’d be able to manufacture this “THING” AND it would work like a charm…
and everybody would have it in there collection of applications…
to use around manufacturing Audio Tracks…
Can it be that difficult to make…
?
Bill…
I just did a test in n to record the metronome - had no problem what so ever.
Open metronome set to speaker - arm new audio track - record.
What’s the problem?
If that worked for me that would be ok. It doesn’t.
Maybe you can spot the problem.
I am using a USB Tascam 122 to play/record on this computer - should not really matter what device I am using if the metronome is to be a easily usable tool.
When I follow your example I get a blank audio track.
Does the metronome require a Midi device. I have Microsofts GS Wavetable selected because I have no midi device on this computer.
I can hear the beep when I Test the metronome when set Output to PC Speakers.
Under “When to use:” I have both Record and Playback checked.
OPen Add Channel>Add new Blank Track>Audio
Select Record from “US122B R/US122B R” (this message in preferrence seems strange)
Tried
click on both Speaker and Midi - select NTrack Drums
Add Channel > Add New Blank channel> Midi _ Ntrack Drums
Add Channel >Add new blank channel >Audio and Arm track
Press record
sound of Drum and PC metronome is heard
Nothing is recorded. Tracks are empty. The Mixer shows the audio and midi faders.
What? . . .
Thanks,
Bax
EDIT: Bax, your post came in while I was typing this up. See if your issues relate in any way. You’ve answered some of this already…
What device is the metronome set to sent to? The defaults may cause issues, if the output device has been changed and the metronome “send-to” hasn’t. (sorry, I’m on a Vista machine at work and can’t get to the proper names, as seen in n-Tracks).
Manually selecting the same device as both playback and as the metronome will fix this particular issue.
The underlying issue is that the metronome usually sends to MIDI. A single MIDI device can be opened as only one instance at a time. When the MIDI playback output is “MPU-401” is and the metronome is “Windows Default MIDI Device” and “MPU-401” and “Windows Default Device” are the same “MPU-401” then n-tracks can’t open them both at once. n-Tracks has no way to know that “Windows Default MIDI Device” is the “MPU-401”. If on the other have both MIDI playback and the metronome send to the same device – whatever it is – then n-Tracks can simply use the device that’s already open (because they match).
Sorry, I don’t have access to a machine that has this all ready to go. This could be a red herring and may confuse whatever issues are really at hand if this isn’t related, or if both are the same already.
Keep in mind that using the Microsoft GS Synth as the metronome is really ALMOST TOTALLY USELESS. The GS Synth has latency and a small amount of jitter that makes it not good for this purpose if you plan on lining up to the grid later. It can be used as the source for making a metronome tracks if lining up to a grid is not an issue or if a bit of jitter is OK. You will need to record the audio out of the GS Synth and manually align it to the grid as close as possible. It may be semi-OK after that is done.
Quote:
Keep in mind that using the Microsoft GS Synth as the metronome is really ALMOST TOTALLY USELESS.
Yeah that ^^^^.
I think you are missing s step Bax.
Quote:
Tried
click on both Speaker and Midi - select NTrack Drums
Add Channel > Add New Blank channel> Midi _ Ntrack Drums
Add Channel >Add new blank channel >Audio and Arm track
Press record
sound of Drum and PC metronome is heard
Nothing is recorded. Tracks are empty. The Mixer shows the audio and midi faders.
What? . . .
The channel bolded above? What do you have for the record SOURCE? You should have the output of the VSTi channel with n_Drums on it. I don't have n accessible at the moment, but that should fix you up. Check it out...
D
Does the PC speaker use Midi? I think it is just and audio device and maybe not a latency problem.
what can I use for a Midi that will not create a latency lag? I PowerTracks or BB they show Microsoft GS as zero latency . . .
I want to create an accurate Click Track for musicians to work to, and me to edit to that is accurate!
Is the answer to ask flavio to creat a sound generater for N-tracks metronome?
Thanks,
Bax
Quote:
Does the metronome require a Midi device.
Depend on what is selected in the Metronome settings.
Just checked my machine here at work:
-
[ ]PC Speaker
-
[x]MIDI
-
>Microsoft MIDI Mapper
-
>Instrument plug-in n-Tracks Drums
-
>New Instrument ...
Quote:
I have Microsofts GS Wavetable selected because I have no midi device on this computer.
Where is that selected? Metronome or MIDI devices in the preferences?
MS GS Synth is a MIDI device, but it is not a hardware device. That can cause issues, but based on what you are saying I do not think the metronome is the underlying problem, what ever it is.
Quote:
I can hear the beep when I Test the metronome when set Output to PC Speakers.
See above. You probably have PC Speaker selected. That should rule out the metronome as being a problem. That would happen only when recording and playing back MIDI. Also, you are hearing the metronome (pc speakers, and the drums). If there was a conflict these would not work....do not think.
(do not have access to a USB device at the moment)
thanks Phoo, but that does not seem to be the issue (although I am a bit lost here.)
I have no MPU-401 as a selection choice. I remember tag from years ago, but I apparently have not got it loaded now.
If I change the Midi device to MIdi Mapper (it is set to the MS GS) then I get a piano playing along with the drums. Set on MS GS it plays - just will not record.
I don’t have anyother program running. I remember that Ntrack used to say to Not use MS GS for midi - is that still true?
This should be a simple, accurate tool. I have used a Keyboard that I have in the studio and that works Ok I guess. But I ought to be able to use the metronome in n-track easier.
Ignore my post Bax. Apparently you can’t assign the output of a virtual instrument to the input of an audio track?
I’ll stop now before I say something stupid and offend.
D
Okay… I was playing around with this and guess what? n-Track crashed…
Just an instance of n drums loaded and goofing around with the metronome… 
Ugh…
D
Let me go back into my ‘room’ and see how I did it exactly.
mumble groan gripe sigh
Quote: (Poppa Willis @ Nov. 10 2008, 2:14 PM)
mumble groan gripe sigh
I'm pretty sure I know how you did it Poppa and was trying to replicate it and outline some steps for Bax when n puked on me. Oh well... I tried.
You guys let me know when this thing is half way stable and I might actually buy an upgrade.
D
This is actually getting funny now - I went to do it and had it running when I thought I’d try a midi through n-Drums - n crashed - froze up on me so I had no chance to file a dmp file.
All I had done was record the speaker send back into the track input - it SHOULD be that easy!! Whether it is or not is a wild guess why not.
Sorry Bax - I’m in the middle of tracking too. I’ll finish up and run some detailed tests.
In the meantime I’ve started another branch of PoppaWillis LLC. - I now sell click tracks to n users for ten bucks! let me know the tempo and time signature and length needed - I take PayPal!
Quote:
In the meantime I've started another branch of PoppaWillis LLC. - I now sell click tracks to n users for ten bucks! let me know the tempo and time signature and length needed - I take PayPal!
LOL...
All kiddin' aside. You might make a few bucks judging from some posts I have seen on various forums...
D
PS Yeah... I'm bringing it up again... n-Track needs a metronome facility like 'R'. It can be dirt simple or "ultra sophisticated" without being ultra sophisticated if you know what I mean? The "Insert click source" command? GENIUS I say! n needs something similar...
Flavio is no dummy. He'll get there...
I had a nice little project set-up in my mind one time back in an early version of n-Track 5…
I recorded a click after using up a bunch of mental energy…
When I got ready to take some tracks the “Moment” had left me like a bad blanket…
I just gave up… I forgot what the musical idea was… But…
the click track was great…
I think it was a dead Wisconsin Cowbell…
or was it a British Columbia Ash Stick…
?
When you’re making Bed Tracks it’s nice to change the Click Track Sample…
It indicates when the Chorus and Fill Tracks Begin… You have to use “Double Counts” in the Chorus and Fill Track Counts…
Well…
when you have trouble counting Bars and all, anything is a help…
Bill…
[EDIT] Oh Yes… I forgot how I managed to record the click track for that project… But It was easy to do after I discovered how it was done…
The only way I can get the thing to record is routing the soundcard to record what the speakers play. Not a biggy but that’s the only way I can get it.
Dubious I ran a input send from wave playback in Patchmix.
Quote:
Dubious I ran a input send from wave playback in Patchmix.
Yep. Good ol' PatchMix... It was crashing on my laptop Yazzer ol' bean. Onboard soundchip that usually works good enough for farting about... but for whatever reason, n-Track barfed?
I'm not putting this thing back on my main DAW until you guys are telling me it's golden!
D