Honey Badger
Joined: 07/09/09
Posts: 48
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"Sticking" MIDI
#989302 - 24/05/12 01:12 PM
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I have an annoying problem with my MIDI set-up that I really hope someone can help with. I
have three 80's synth modules connected via MIDI to my Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 audio/MIDI
interface. The first module is connected in and out to the interface and the other two are
connected in chain with MIDI Thru. They receive the MIDI signal on different channels and
I am using Cubase 6.5.
When playing the synths (using a USB controller
keyboard) the MIDI signal seems to "stick", and the notes don't release. The only remedy
seems to be turning the module on and off. This happens so often that playing or recording
anything using MIDI is pretty much impossible at the moment.
Can anyone suggest
a remedy please? I suspect this is a MIDI quirk that has been encountered time and again
but until now I have only really recorded the audio signals directly am new to the whole
MIDI lark!
Many thanks!
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BJG145
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 2147
Loc: Norwich UK
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: Honey Badger]
#989309 - 24/05/12 01:24 PM
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So do you have three different synth modules...? Is it any particular module that always
causes the problem...? If so, have you tried connecting it up on its own...?
Life might be easier if you picked up an additional MIDI interface. (I use a couple of
Midisport 2x2s which are cheap and cheerful.)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M-Audio-Midiman-USB-Midisport-2x2-Midi-Interface
-/251065676796?pt=Midi_Controllers&hash=item3a74ae33fc#ht_500wt_1202
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James Perrett
Joined: 10/09/01
Posts: 9645
Loc: The wilds of Hampshire
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: Honey Badger]
#989314 - 24/05/12 01:32 PM
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Do they all have hardware thru connections or does one (or more) have a software thru? If
you have something with a software thru, it would be worth putting it at the end of the
chain. One solution that I used to use is a Phillip Rees 1 into 10 MIDI thru
box which splits one MIDI cable into 10 outputs. This gets over any potential problems
with software thrus or corruption due to poor circuitry on hardware thrus. James.
-------------------- JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net
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Honey Badger
Joined: 07/09/09
Posts: 48
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: BJG145]
#989316 - 24/05/12 01:36 PM
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Thanks for the advice! That could well be an option.
Yes, three different
modules. The problem only started when I got the third one (a Korg M1R) but I also changed
other connections at the same time so can't be sure that this module is the culprit.
I will try them in different combinations, and on their own, and see if this helps
identify the source of the problem.
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feline1
active member
Joined: 23/06/03
Posts: 3651
Loc: Brighton, UK
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: Honey Badger]
#989320 - 24/05/12 01:39 PM
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what are the three modules? If you check their MIDI specs, they may respond to the
MIDI "All Notes Off" message, which you can fire down the cable at them if they get stuck,
to shut them up.
-------------------- ~~~ A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with! www.feline1.co.uk ~~~
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Honey Badger
Joined: 07/09/09
Posts: 48
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: James Perrett]
#989324 - 24/05/12 01:49 PM
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Thanks James. I don't think any of them have software thru but I'll check the manuals.
Sadly it looks like Philip Rees has stopped trading but there may be an
alternative available from another manufacturer. I'll have a look.
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Honey Badger
Joined: 07/09/09
Posts: 48
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: feline1]
#989327 - 24/05/12 01:54 PM
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Thanks, they are a DX7II (just using the synth, not the keyboard), Roland D-550 and Korg
M1R.
Would I send the "all notes off" message from the controller keyboard
(M-Audio Axiom)? It has a panic button but this doesn't seem to do anything.
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BJG145
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 2147
Loc: Norwich UK
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: Honey Badger]
#989329 - 24/05/12 01:57 PM
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feline1
active member
Joined: 23/06/03
Posts: 3651
Loc: Brighton, UK
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: Honey Badger]
#989349 - 24/05/12 02:35 PM
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Quote Honey Badger:
Thanks, they
are a DX7II (just using the synth, not the keyboard), Roland D-550 and Korg M1R.
Would I send the "all notes off" message from the controller keyboard (M-Audio Axiom)?
It has a panic button but this doesn't seem to do anything.
In principle, yes, a "Panic" button like
that ought to fix it...and pressing it would normally send 'All Notes Off' and similar
messages.... of course, if the problem is that the MIDI signal is physically interrupted
(e.g. by a dodgy cable, or dodgy socket), then the All Notes Off message won't get through
There's various tricks built into MIDI to tackle stuck notes.
One is the
"All notes off" message, which is meant to shut a receiving machine up when it gets it.
Another one is "Active Sensing", which is a little byte that's spewed out serveral times
a second, and the receiving device is meant to shut up if it *doesn't* receive it (thus
curing stuck notes due to a dodgy cable).
To check what messages your devices
can send/receive, you usually need to look near the back of the User Manual, at their
"MIDI Implementation Chart" - All Notes Off and Active Sensing are listed down near the
bottom, and have an "O" beside them if it sends / receives them
--------------------
~~~ A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with! www.feline1.co.uk ~~~
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Hairy Ears
member
Joined: 06/09/03
Posts: 495
Loc: UK
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: feline1]
#989537 - 25/05/12 11:55 AM
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Just to confirm that the Panic button on the Axiom does indeed send All Notes Off on all
channels, and I am pretty certain that it also sends Note Off commands for all notes on
all channels as well. Belt and braces!
-------------------- * Soundcloud *
* Bandcamp *
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Honey Badger
Joined: 07/09/09
Posts: 48
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: Hairy Ears]
#989554 - 25/05/12 12:38 PM
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Thanks Hairy Ears and feline1! I'll have a good old meddle at the weekend. Hopefully I'll
get to the bottom of it and it isn't a problem with the Korg's midi sockets. 
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mick.n
Joined: 01/09/04
Posts: 342
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Re: "Sticking" MIDI
[Re: Honey Badger]
#989601 - 25/05/12 03:35 PM
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Quote Honey Badger:
When playing the synths (using a USB controller keyboard) the MIDI signal seems to
"stick", and the notes don't release. The only remedy seems to be turning the module on
and off. This happens so often that playing or recording anything using MIDI is pretty
much impossible at the moment.
I have a similar problem that only appeared when i updated to
cubase 6.5. My controller keyboard (Yamaha motif 6 classic) is connected to the pc via
usb,midi out of the Motif 6 goes to midi in of a Yamaha MU100r module, midi through from
the MU100r goes to midi in of my yamaha Motif rack ES,midi through from the ES rack goes
to midi in of a Yamaha EX5.
The Motif has no problem with sticking notes, but
the rest of the synths in the midi chain do. Before i bought Cubase 6, i used Cubase VST
5.32 which didnt have any problems with notes sticking. (Cannot be certain if it is a
fault with cubase 6.5).
I got around the problem by doing away with the usb
connection to the pc & connected the Motif 6 to midi in on my audio interface.....no more
sticking notes.
Would still like to know for sure the cause though. 
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