I cannot hear sound when I record

A frustrating week, amigo ... and no positive resolution.

Which is why I dream how wonderful life would be if Synfire had a MDI VSTI version to plug into your DAW!

In the meantime, you can keep using Synfire the old fashioned way: setup the 'Internal GM Synth' to link to a virtual midi cable; route the virtual midi cable to the midi track inputs in your DAW and send from the tracks on to your hosted Kontakt VSTi.

There are a few possible tricks, depending upon your DAW, but not a big deal if you once setup a template. You probably have to midi filter the tracks to a single channel and also filter out the GM program change messages to maintain your assigne routing.

This setup works great for me. I set up multiple groups of 16 MIDI tracks prerouted to channels 1 to 16 and channel filtered to the respective channe. This tells me where the dynamic channel is coming from the Synfire instrument to my DAW. I have them set to a GM module so I can quickly identify the instrument path by the produced GM sound (just as using GM within Synfire).

I have a second bank with identical routing,  but the channels also have a program change filter and all midi outputs set as not connected,. When I have the instrument by channel information identified, in the second bank I chose what Kontakt or other sound I want for Bass, for an example. I then disconnect the midi port from the track bank outputting to GM module and on that same midi channel in the other bank assign to Kontakt.

With a little more work with routing of virtual midi cables out of a track to another set of midi tracks, you could also keep the same structure of your Kontakt instruments, that is Piano on the first slot in Kontakt, Bass on the second slot, etc.

It is amazing what can be done routing virtual midi cables between midi tracks within a DAW.

Some initial work, but set it all up and create a template, and it is there quickly for every project.

Prado

for the 64 bit engine you need 64 bit O.S. i am using w7 x64 and i can use both 32 and 64 bit engines.. i prefer 64 bit.
so there is no  work flow differences between 32 or 64 bit engines... its just about performances.

"" I also think that the most support came from colleagues and users...I now understand why some users get so angry and frustrated....I might start cursing too... ""

hmm  no please don't   :)
because what i know i learned from Andre's  Video tutorials and  Cognitone   answers in the forum topics.
+ lots of   trial / error..

i can bet there must be  something  really simple that you are ( and me too )  missing in this issue but i am stuck for now.   :/

just thinking out loud : are you using Kontakt 8 out version?

@ Prado
just  curiosity
why you prefer  Virtual Midi Cables instead of Midi Drones?

Reinstall Synfire again..that is easy and no problem

Practice first with the most basic setup : GM  and try to record and hear your sound when you use your nanokey2 ( i do have also one )
If you understand this and know what you are doing..than you can go to Kontakt setup
It is a learning principle: go from basic setup to a more  complicated setup

But have you looked at the nanokey configuration ?

Look at the korg editor .. is your midiport assigning right and did you install all software for it ?

If the nanokey is not correct configured than has it nothing to do with Synfire.
Out the top of my head ( hope i am correct) for the nanokey .. a usb mididriver..  and the korg control editor software.

I don't use Kontakt5 now, but i do have HALion 4 what is also a sampler is like Kontakt..so there is no automatice device description mechanism for it, but you can use still the automatic device description mechanism (procedure) for it , but it will not detect all sounds.
( see video )

You can also make a device description without the automatic device description procedure by adding a new device in the audio@midi setup screen and go from there. 

So check first the nanokey ! .. is it playable in your DAW ?

Try to relax.. it is complicated the soundassigning.

cheers 

@eduardo:

Using Kontakt for a shared rack is standard and works for sure. I suspect there is a fundamental misunderstanding concerning the way a plug-in is connected.

1. Start the engine (if not already running) and select the "Shared Rack" tab.
2. Drop the Kontakt plug-in on the center port list.
3. Double-click that port to edit the Kontakt sounds.
4. Drop the "Kontaktshared..." device you have on the port to connect.

Now you should be able to play Kontakt sounds with your nanoKEY.

1. Open your arrangement.
2. Go to the "Instr." tab and pick a Kontakt sound from the "Browse..." button.
3. Play the nanoKEY and hear the sound playing.

Now you should be able to record.

@janamdo: No hokuspokus. Eduardo created a device for his Kontakt sounds already, as seen on his screenshots. I forgot the exact name.

soundcase asked: just  curiosity
why you prefer  Virtual Midi Cables instead of Midi Drones?

Probably because I am so familiar with using them for MIDI routing in my DAW. I've used a lot of MIDI VST and MIDI VSTi in Cubase and also use virtual midi cables for various routing between midi tracks in the DAW. It makes the DAW like a giant patchbay. And, when I set up something the works, I make a template so I don't have to rebuild it in the future.

For me, the drones add another step, as I have to make sure I have the SFE midi output from the instrumetns routed to the proper DAW midi track output to preserve or select a similar instrument in the hardware. I have two 8X MIDI patchbays and and additional 10 ports on various interfaces and midi controllers for over 24 hardwired MIDI ports. You could say I'm a complete midiot.

When I get done with Synfire, I am going to want to work with the midi in my DAW anyway. By routing the Synfire midi to the DAW and through the DAW to my hardware synths, I can first record the midi in the DAW, close Synfire and have all my sounds set up and ready to work with further before I 'track' record them to audio and then mix.

I find it so straightforward and logical. I get the same result and I don't have to waste any time worrying about setting up or dealing with dynamic routing in Synfire, or having to reset everything in a static midi routing for the next arrangement. I also don't have to setup any devices beyong a single Interal GM Synth. No matter what sound source you choose to use, Synfire can only interpret it against those 128 GM sounds. I don't ever want the program to choose an alternative guitar on some device because Synfire says the port/ channel locked to that instrument is already in use.

Enough reasons, friend?

I'm sure with a few more minutes, I could come up with others.

Prado

For me  it is not working your explanation..it is not clear enough

Yes , forget the global rack and make your own custom rack what also can be used for  more than one arrangment ( general use )

Step 1 to  3  i can follow, but step 4 is acadabra  hocus pocus pilatus pas :-) --.> i looked at it closer .and you must first add a new device description with the name of the Vsti you want ..than on the ports tab of the audio$midi setup screen you can drag the device description ( in right column : Device Descriptions ) to the central ports column and drop it on the "associated device description" aera of the port you are dealing with.

Than is automatic device description easier ...   

@ Prado
thank you its very clear answer.
i was preparing to suggest use Midi Drones  because of more freedom and flexibility..
but now i understand
its all about DAW + work flow matters.
midiot   :D    no
..no i never say anything bad about the Midi knowledge ..
this area has very large option list to choose, every musician / tecnician /  user can choose their  own way to work with.

@ eduardo
sorry for this little break in your thread
..and now Hijacking over.
...
i watched your video its strange really..
one thing ...did you tried press  "Reset" button ( in the Transport   on Audio Midi Setup )   after nano stop working ?
and also as Janamdo said lets forgot Global instruments for now...
and try create 1 D.D. from  scratch and let us know what happend after.
good luck

Eduardo .. i have tried to explain earlier to you that global rack is no meant for making soundsetups

You can bypass the global rack by defining the instruments in Kontakt for a shared device description and use fixed channels

Make a automatic device extraction from your kontakt vsti ..give it a name and than choose the sounds( fixed midi channels) you want to use in your arrangment

Supertonic gives also a method to get a device description ( although it is not yetdirect  clear for me, what he exactly means in his explanation in step 4..but i looked it over again and could deduct it  )

So forget the global rack and create your own rack as a shared rack 

I made a example with HALion 4 also a sampler like Kontakt and assign one sound on midi channel 1 as example

You can add more sounds to the midichannels as you like
On this way you can make your own shared rack and choose the sounds from Kontakt by doing the same setup workflow i did for HALion 4

But Kontakt has a different midi routing setup than HALion 4 as i can remember me , so you must do also the right midi routing for Kontakt by choosing port A and than the midi channels ( out the top of my head,..corrrect ? )

Buenos noches !

Can you use the GM device description what is included default in Synfire to try to to record the midi input from the nanokey?

This is the most easy stup to do, because there is already a D.D and no installing of VSti is necessary  

The global rack is not for setting up sounds for arranging: DON'T USE THE GLOBAL RACK(global Instruments tab) in the Audio@Midi setup screen--> stay away from that !!
I keep on repeating this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By adding instrument tracks in the arrangement view and add a fixed channel sound for it by a D.D..you can make your own rack ( say for example  you add 6 sounds..and open the mixer view ..than is this your "rack" )

You can use this dd over and over again for new arrangments

Even with the internal GM synth and D.D added is not possible to record. The red signal for input lights up when I press the Nano keys when I using the global rack (GM).?

Use the DD : and connect this with Microsoft GS wavetable Synth ( for Windows)
Do you use Mac computer ?, but the INternal GM Synth DD can also be used for MAC

Sta away from global Instruments in the Audio&Midi setup--> you name it Global rack i think ?--> keep this in default state

Try first the GM DD Internal GM synth and record as ound with a midi sound from your Operating System of your computer  ..keep on practising..

Stay away for now from the Global instruments  ..reset to defaults = Internal Gm synth and leave it there and don't come back there !

If you want to use  the Kontakt Vsti with DD : internal GM synth ..than Kontakt must have loaded as soundbank a General Midi soundbank ( i am not sure if there a GM compatible soundbank for Kontakt 5 ?)

For instance when i use HALion 4 ..it has a GM multi bank..and i must select this GM bank first  in Halion4 before i can use DD internal Gm synth in Synfire .

Now i can use all General Midi sounds in Synfire P/E

Probably the DD : Internal GM synth is not matching your  Kontakt 5 soundbank what you have installed. 
I don't know if the default soundbank for Kontakt is supporting General MIdi mode ? --> you must first find out this !

Has DAW sonar a GM compatible Vst i plugin? ..there are not so many GM Vsti ..  Halion sonic is a good one.. it is the litlle brother of HAlion 4
Perhaps you are now on the good direction ..  

The end of the world is near, but the "I cannot hear sound"-thread will survive, haha. ;)

Well, what I can see at your video (at 1:25)  is that you connect the Kontakt Device Description (FirstKontakRAck) with the Windows GM synth. That does not make sense. But the setup before you have changed that (where you had connected this D.D. with Engine1, where Kontakt is hosted) looked fine. I have no idea why it did not record then.

You mean with the General Midi   DD for Kontakt i get a (wrong) sound, bu t could record ?

Kontakt is no GM synth, that i swhy the GM DD is not working for the right sounds

Why it is not working with a DD made by you for Kontakt ? .. it can not be going wrong if you use the automatic device description procedure ..and assign some sounds ( see my video .gif ) 
Did you looked at the Cognitone website if there is a already made DD for kontakt ( to start with )

Unfortanely i don't have a kontakt Vsti ..i must look i can find a one for testing.

Maybe they use a kontakt Vsti by Cognitone itself..ask them how they do their soundsetup ?