Studio/Advanced Music

Studio/Advanced Music

STUDIO/ADVANCED MUSIC

COMPUTING LAB HELP

INDEX:

LOGIN AND GENERAL SETUP HELP

LISTENING TO THE COMPUTER OR KEYBOARD

GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING

KURZWEIL PC2X KEYBOARD

DIGITAL PERFORMER

STUDIO HELP

SETTING UP STUDIO AND MUSIC COMPUTING LAB PREFERENCES

MOVING PROJECTS BETWEEN MCL AND STUDIO

MOTU MX4 SOFTWARE SYNTHESIZER

MOTU 828 AUDIO INTERFACE

LOG IN AND GENERAL SETUP HELP

  1. Log in to the Music Computing Lab (MCL) or Sound Studio (Studio) computers using your Purdue career account User Name and Password.
  2. The first time you log into the MCL or Studio Computer you will be asked:
    The system was unable to unlock your login keychain. Choose CREATE NEW KEYCHAIN
    Do NOT attempt to enter your old password or continue to log in or you may have problems.
  3. After you login, you will see two hard drives on the desktop (MCL) or in the Finder Sidebar (MCL & Studio). The first is called “Macintosh HD,” and the second is called “<username>”. Do NOT use the second hard drive for audio work. It is your ITAP server hard drive, is only 500 M, and is WAY TOO SLOW to record audio. You may create projects on your desktop, in your Documents folder, or on your own hard drive.
  4. You may also want to log into your CLA-IT server space. Do this by going into the Finder, choosing: Go/Connect to Server, and typing in: afp://128.210.94.246 (Note that this address should already be setup in the Go/Connect… Server Address window). This is a good place for Practica Music projects, and to use for backing up files. You should not attempt to record audio or sequences on it, again, it is way too slow!
  5. Note that you have now created a user account on the physical computer at which you are sitting The MCL and Studio are setup this way to ensure the fastest possible system for recording and producing audio. YOUR PROJECTS WILL NOT TRANSFER TO A SERVER, ETC., WHEN YOU LEAVE, but they also will NOT be intentionally erased until the end of the semester. You are strongly encouraged to bring and use your own hard drive for projects. You should always try to use the same station (audio classes will have assigned seating) when you come in to the lab to work. You alone are responsible for backing up your work every time you work in the MCL or Studio, in case the station you normally work at is NOT available when you come in to the labs to work during open lab hours.
  6. Also note that all of the sound libraries are now stored directly on each hard drive. There is a folder in the sidebar, and on the top level of the Macintosh Hard Drive that has all of the sound libraries on it.
  7. There is also a folder in the sidebar, and on the Macintosh Hard Drive that contains Equipment Manuals for all of the hardware and software used in the MCL and Studio. If you notice something missing, please let faculty or grad assistants know, and we’ll try to include them with the next round of computer imaging.
  8. If you continue having trouble logging in to either the studio or MCL or having trouble accessing your folder on CLA-IT server contact CLA IT at:

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LISTENING TO THE COMPUTER OR KEYBOARD

  1. Plug your headphones into the box under the desk, the top audio plug in, in order to listen to either the computer or the Kurzweil PC2X
  2. You need to have the switch turned to computer (this is by the piano keyboard) in order to listen to the output of the computer
  3. You need to have the switch turned to keyboard in order to hear yourself playing on the piano keyboard.
  4. If you are using a software application that has a “Patchthrough” mode, such as Digital Performer, you should only have to turn the switch to the computer position, and can monitor through the output of the computer.

GENERAL TROUBLESHOOOTING

My computer runs slow, crashes a lot, or generally doesn’t seem to be working right.

Whenever you work on a public computer (especially one that is running sophisticated software), it can be a good idea to reboot the computer when you start. You may also want to “zap the PRAM,” as the information retained in your computer’s memory when it shuts down may still cause problems on a reboot. To zap the PRAM, hold down the command, option, P and R keys while rebooting, and wait until you hear four start up chimes in the headphones.

My Computer seems to be hopelessly stuck! What should I do?

First, try to quit the application that is stuck. If you can’t quit using the “Quit” command in the Applications Menu, you can “Force Quit” by navigating to the Apple Menu (top left of screen), choosing “Force Quit” and then selecting the application that is stuck.

If all else fails, you can always restart the computer. Note that you will lose any unsaved changes, but this will get you up and running again, pretty quickly. Press and hold the power button on the front of the Power Mac computer (studio) or on the bottom left of the back of the iMac (MCL) for about five seconds, or until the computer shuts down. Wait five more seconds, and press the button again to boot up.

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KURZWEIL PC2X KEYBOARD

How do I reset the Kurzweil PC2X Keyboard when someone has left it in an odd state?

1.Press and hold down the +/-, 0 and Clear keys on the numeric keypad simultaneously. This will reset the keyboard to its factory defaults.This is often a very good thing to do as a rule of thumb when you enter the Music Computing Laboratory and start to use the keyboard; you never know what someone else may have done to it!

How do I get sound out of the Kurzweil PC2X Keyboard?

1.Make sure the volume pedal (on the floor beneath you) is pushed down;

2.Make sure that the Master Volume Control is turned up;

3.Make sure the selector switch on the panel next to the computer keyboard is set to “Keyboard.”

How do I get the Kurzweil PC2X Keyboard to play the Stereo Grand Piano sound?

1.Choose “Internal” in the “Sound Source” section;

2.Choose “Internal Voices” and “Piano 1” in the “Sound/Setup Select” Section;

3.If you still get no sound, press the “Global” button in the System Section; make sure that “Local Control” is set to “on;”

How do I get the Kurzweil PC2X Keyboard to play in Digital Performer?

1.Make sure the volume pedal (on the floor beneath you) is pushed down.

2.Make sure that the Master Volume Control on the Kurzweil is turned up about halfway (set at arrows).

3.In the MCL, make sure the selector switch on the panel next to the computer keyboard is set to “computer,” in the sound studio, make sure the appropriate faders are up on the DM2000 console, assignerd to outputs, and that the monitor is correctly configured;

4. Press the “Global” button in the System Section; make sure that “Local Control” is set to “off;”

5.In Digital Performer select a patch in the “default patch” section of the Kurzweil MIDI track in the Tracks window.

6.Make sure the record button is enabled for that track.

7.If none of these work, press and hold down the +/-, 0 and Clear keys on the numeric keypad simultaneously. This will reset the keyboard to its factory defaults.

When I play the PC2X through Digital Performer, I hear two sounds come out at once. How do I get it to just play back the sound I’ve selected in DP?

The problem is that you have the keyboard in the PC2X playing back it’s internal sounds AND you have Digital Performer playing back a sound through MIDI. You want to just hear the sound from Digital Performer, so you have to turn the internal sounds off. To do this, click on the “Global” button in the “System” section of the PC2X. A window appears that allows you to turn “Local Control” (i.e., local control of the internal sounds) off. Please make sure to turn this back on again when you are finished so others aren’t freaked out when the internal keyboard doesn’t play!

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DIGITAL PERFORMER

When I open a new file in Digital Performer, I get an error from Kontakt that says “188 files could not be found.”

The first time you open DP you may receive an error message from Kontakt saying “188 files could not be found.” Under Resolve Manually, choose “Browse for Folder,” and the location that should come up should be Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/Native Instruments. This will happen every time you open a new file.You should just need to choose the “Native Instruments” Folder, and it will find these files. This is a known problem with Kontakt.

What are the special key commands in Digital Performer?

You can modify keyboard shortcuts in Digital Performer by navigating to Setup/Commands. We have made these default changes:

F5: Move to original Time Stamp;

F13: Zoom Back

F14: Zoom Forward

F15: Clear Clipping Indicators

s: solo command; scrub wheel has been changed to Control-option-shift S.

Also note that the Kurzweil is transmitting its foot pedal information as CTL 11, not 7.

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STUDIO HELP

1.If the computer or Digital Performer is having a hard time getting audio into the Yamaha DM2000, you should check the settings in the MOTU PCI Audio Console Application:

1.Navigate to Applications>MOTU PCI Audio Console and launch the application;

2.Check the following:

i.Sample rate should be 44.1 kHz;

ii.Clock Source should be 2408mk3-1: Word Clock;

iii.Default input should be 2408mk3-1: ADAT-A 1-2

iv.Default output should be 2408mk3-1:ADAT-A 1-2;

v.Configure Interface 2408mk3-1 and 2408mk3-2 should both have all Banks set to “ADAT on both 2408mk3-1 and 2408mk3-2 interfaces;” If all of this is set correctly, you will notice that at the bottom a note appears telling you: PCI Use: Ins enabled 48, Outs enabled 48…

2. "MESSAGE Sync Error (Slot 4)" keeps flashing on the DM2000.

We believe the best Word Clock in the studio comes from the DM2000, so we use it as the master word clock (a good word clock reduces jitter, and therefore improves the quality of digital transfers). The Macintosh Audio/MIDI Setup Application does not remember the sync settings upon reboot. This problem goes away when you boot Digital Performer, as Digital Performer sets up the Audio Sync. However, if you just want to make the message go away, open the Audio/MIDI application (it's on the dock AND in the Applications>Utilities Folder). Choose Audio Setup from the tabs at the top. Choose "2408mk3Word Clock" from the Clock Source Menu (just under the Properties For menu on the left of the window)

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SETTING UP STUDIO AND MUSIC COMPUTING LAB PREFERENCES

  1. Note that these preferences should already be setup for you when you create your user account. You can check to make sure they are correct, however.
  2. Open the Audio MIDI Setup application (it’s the one in the Dock with the horizontal keyboard on it(run your mouse over it, and the name will appear), or go to Applications/Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup;
  3. Choose Window/Show MIDI Window;
  4. Choose “Default” in the MCL “Studio-MCL Setup”in the studio;
  5. Check to make sure that the MIDI interface you want to use is not greyed out.
  6. MCL: If the FastLane USB is greyed out in the MCL that is attached to the PC2X device, and another FastLane has appeared that is NOT greyed out, someone has patched the MIDI cable into the wrong USB port on the back of the iMac. Repatch the USB cables on the back of the iMac until the correct Fastlane appears;
  7. Studio: If the MIDI Time Piece is greyed out, try turning off the MIDI Time Piece on the rack in front of the Producer’s desk, waiting a couple of seconds, and turning it back on again.

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MOVING PROJECTS BETWEEN MCL AND STUDIO

What do I need to change to move a Project from the MCL to the Studio?

1.Choose System Preferences from the Apple Menu or the Dock, and then Sound. Make sure the Default Sound Effects, Output and Input are set to PCI 424.

2. Open the PCI-424 interface from the Dock, and make sure that the Sample rate is 441000, the clock source is Word Clock In, the default inputs and outputs are ADAT-A 1-2, and that the configuration for the 2408 mk3 Banks A, B and C are set to ADAT. All inputs and outputs should be enabled.

3. Open the Audio MIDI Setup application (it’s the one in the Dock with the horizontal keyboard on it, run your mouse over it, and the name will appear), and then open the “Audio Devices” from the Window Menu. Make sure the clock source is set to “Word Clock In” and that Format is set to 44100.0 Hz.

4. In Digital Performer, choose Setup/Configure Audio System/Configure Hardware Driver, and make sure that the Core Audio driver is set to “PCI 424.”

5.Make sure that the clock for the PCI 424 is set to Word Clock In.

For MIDI:

1.In Digital Performer, choose Studio/Audio Bundle (Shift u) and click on the Input tab at the top of the window;

2.Find the input labeled DM2K15-16 and click in the boxes ADAT B7 and B8 to the right of the Name; you should see little “chiclets” appear that say “L” and “R;”

3. Make sure that the input to the PC2X return bus is DM2K15-16;

4.Make sure that none of your MIDI inputs and outputs are italicized (indicating they are unregistered). If they are, repeat steps 1-3 above, and make sure your MIDI interface is working (see procedure above).

For Audio:

1.In Digital Performer, choose Studio/Audio Bundles, (Shift-u), and click on the Output tab at the top of the window;

2.Find the output labeled “Main LR” and click in the first two boxes to the right of the Name; you should see little “chiclets” appear that say “L” and “R;”

3.Make sure that none of your Audio outputs are italicized (indicating that they are unregistered); make sure that all of your outputs except for the CR Monitor and the 2Trk Master are assigned to the “Mix” bus, and that the inputs to the CR Monitor and 2 Trk Master are assigned to the “Mix” bus.

What do I need to change to move a Project from the STUDIO to the MCL?

1.In Digital Performer, choose Setup/Configure Audio System/Configure Hardware Driver;

2.Change the Configure Hardware in Digital Performer to “Built-In Audio;” If you are working on the instructor station, make sure that it is set to “PCI 424;”

3.Change the Clock to “Internal Clock;”

4.Open System Preferences from the Apple menu or from the Dock, and choose the Sound pane. Make sure the Default Input and Output and the System Output are all set to Built-In Audio.

7.Open the Audio MIDI Setup application (it’s the one in the Dock with the horizontal keyboard on it, run your mouse over it, and the name will appear), and then open the “Audio Devices” from the Window Menu. Make sure that the Clock source For Built-In Audio is set to Internal Clock.

For MIDI:

5.Make sure MIDI Inputs are set to default;

6.In Digital Performer, choose Studio/Audio Bundle and click on the Input tab at the top of the window;

7.Find the input labeled PC2X and click in the first two boxes to the right of the Name; you should see little “chiclets” appear that say “L” and “R;” If you are using the instructor station, click in the boxes labeled Analog 1 and 2;

8.Make sure that none of your MIDI inputs and outputs are italicized (indicating they are unregistered). If they are, repeat steps 1-3 above, and make sure your MIDI interface is working (see procedure above).

For Audio:

4.In Digital Performer, choose Studio/Audio Bundles and click on the Output tab at the top of the window;

5.Find the output labeled “Main LR” and click in the first two boxes to the right of the Name; you should see little “chiclets” appear that say “L” and “R;” If you are using the instructor station, click in the boxes labeled Analog 1 and 2;

6.Make sure that none of your Audio outputs are italicized (indicating that they are unregistered); make sure that all of your outputs except for the CR Monitor and the 2Trk Master are assigned to the “Mix LR” bus, and that the inputs to the CR Monitor and 2 Trk Master are assigned to the “Mix LR” bus.

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MOTU MX4 Software Synthesizer

How Do I Get Patches into the MX4 Synthesizer? MX4 is MOTU’s software synthesizer program. To use it, all you need to do is add it as an instrument in Digital Performer, add a MIDI track and assign it to MX4, and then record and playback MIDI into the sequencer. MX4 comes with a huge assortment of patches, and you can create your own. To load these patches into your user preferences do the following:

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