External Sound Device>MIDI Controller>Garadge Band

Thanks for the help, and the welcome. I'll try working with M-Audio to see if I can do anything about it. 'Till then what you told me seems to be the answer.

To Justin, as far as the sliders/knobs go, I have not yet figured or tried to use them. However, the midi controller works very well with the touch sensitive pads and pitch bend, which is what I use most. I have not yet tried to assign the pads to any midi sounds, but I suspect gb will not do that. Christoph is exactly right, although GB draws midi sounds from its software, it is not capable of producing a MIDI out signal. Learned that from Apple. I have found that the software voices sound great, and so I have no complaint. I also got around the problem by purchasing a "Lightsnake" cable. It goes from standard 1/4" input directly to USB in the same cable. Sound quality is decent and is much less spendy than a recording hardware interface. I just plug into the sound module's audio out and can record that way.

To Hang Time, yes I would gladly offer my approval of the Lightsnake to other guitar players. Do not use GB built in distortion however, as I have found it sounds terrible only because of a massive buzz it creates. Clean electric sounds great however, so I believe it is the method in which GB distorts the signal that is the culprit. I plug in my boss distortion pedal, tweak some of the settings on the track, such as bass, treble, compressors, etc. to get the sound I like. I have acheived some very nice sounding distortion, and I am recording my band with a GB and a MB pro with surprizing results. We also own a MOTU traveller, which of course blows the lightsnake away, but me being a college student I can't remove that from my house; I don't own it. Dang. Difference is, the MOTU is almost $1,000 (if memory serves me right) were as the lightsnake cost me about $50. Beautiful! To mashby, I must confess I am MIDI stupid. I know what MIDI is, what it does, but I do not understand simple terminology such as what a control surface button is. Please discribe it/them to me and I would love to see if mine work.

Thanks for the heads up HangTime. Points awarded for helpfulness and speed of answer. To answer your question mashby, I too am unable to use the buttons you are referring to. My sliders, touch sensitive pads, mod. and pitch bend wheel all work. If you are referring specifically to the stop, play, record buttons, I was (as I am sure you are) slightly dissapointed that they do not work (out of the box) with GB. Hopefully there is a patch I have not yet found. M-Audio redeemed this problem with it's solid construction of the Axiom 49. I have not gone a day that I am unhappy I purchased it. Hopefully I have answered your question, and feel free to ask more, although I am forgetful and do not answer with much speed. I will try and improve.

-Applecart

Sounds good, should you find some way please do share the knowledge.