New to Midi Controllers (E-MU X25)

jake2431 · Joined: Nov 05, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: US

Hello, I am new to midi controllers and have been trying to get my E-MU X25 to work with Proteus X LE in Cubase for the past week. I have finally gotten the right driver installed so that Proteus X LE can be brought up from within Cubase, loaded the sound library, which works when I click on the little keyboard with my mouse, but not when I press buttons on my X25. I have setup where the software sees the X25 in its properties, but it still makes no sound.

I don't know how to use a midi controller and am trying to learn. I don't know all the technical names or what exactly the 16 knobs change while I am playing. I don't understand how patches work and if I need to do something in the XBoard Control before I can make sounds from within the software. Can anyone help me?

Thank you,
Jake

Mohoyoho · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:58 am Post subject:

Is it only with Proteus that the keyboard isn't working with? Does it work with other VSTIs. You could download a free one or a demo and try it with a stand alone unit that doesn't need Cubase. Try an Arturia soft synth demo or Native Instrument's Pro 53 demo. If it works with one of those after setting the preferences, then you know the problem is with how you set it up with Cubase. If it doeesn't work with the soft synths, then I would try a new USB cable. If that doesn't fix it, then try reloading the driver. I don't have that controller (my friend does and loves it), but perhaps there is a switch on the controller that designates the out put is coming from the USB port or the MIDI port.

jake2431 · Joined: Nov 05, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: US

Thank you! I will try these things out as I get a chance and let you know.

Mohoyoho · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:20 pm Post subject:

good luck.

jake2431 · Joined: Nov 05, 2007 Posts: 3 Location: US

Okay, so it works with Native Instrument's Pro 53 demo. Now I have to figure out how to use it with the vst in cubase. Know of any good free VSTi synths?

UPDATE: I have it working with Cubase, but now I am not sure what to do about the delay. It is about one second before it makes sound after I press a key. My laptop has a gig and a half of ram and 3.2 Ghz cpu. Is there anything I can do to speed it up?

Mohoyoho · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:15 am Post subject:

That's what is called latency. It's usually due to a sound card that really wasn't designed for the purpose you are intending. It can also be that the buffer in Cubase is not set correctly. I don't own Cubase, so I can't help you with that. I would suggest that you get a sound card that uses an ASIO driver. It is possible that such a driver exists for your sound card. Once you have that solved things should start improving greatly.

You might also want to look at some of those I/O boxes that work via your USB or Firewire port. Many will handle MIDI as well as external audio in. You can check with a salesperson. Sweetwater and Nova Musik are both helpful.