When controllers stop working

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synthbob
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:46 pm

When controllers stop working

Post by synthbob » Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:59 am

Hi,

Im running a bitstream 3X and sometimes it just stops working. No configuration changes, ableton just stops responding to any knob/fader movement.

Doing a gig soon. Any tips on how to get a controller working again without a reboot?

Cheers

timothyallan
Posts: 5788
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 11:05 pm
Location: Melbourne Australia
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Re: When controllers stop working

Post by timothyallan » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:13 am

Reason #1 why I switched to OSX.

housemusiclover
Posts: 193
Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:54 pm

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by housemusiclover » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:28 am

might be power saving mode kicking in

From NI:
Disable power saving option of the USB ports
In the device manager (Start > Control Panel > System and Security > System > Device Manager), in the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” section, right click each "USB Root Hub", choose "Properties > Power Management" and untick the "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option.

synthbob
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:46 pm

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by synthbob » Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:30 am

USR mode.

Done that housemusiclover, cheers (incidentally for those settings to survive a reboot you have to go into advanced power options too)

Any other idea's?

Cheers

Guff Tong
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Location: Warminster

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by Guff Tong » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:34 pm

maybe use midi instead of usb input for that device.

Chain it into some other usb gear with midi in (Gear that doesn't crash that is) or buy a dedicated midi to usb lead.

synthbob
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:46 pm

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by synthbob » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:46 pm

Thanks. That's what I have done - midi out into Fasttrack ultra midi in - much more stable now.

Guff Tong
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Location: Warminster

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by Guff Tong » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:55 pm

Up-Date:

I've got this old MK461 that when using USB input, kept dropping out and needing a re-boot to work again.

So...ages ago I started to use a wall wart to power it and ran the midi into my BCR2000.

Now, I re-set up my kit last week and went back to usb - forgetting it crashed all the time.

Instead of using the wall-wart as before I simply left the USB connected to my hub and also connected the midi to my BCR...

JoY! I can use USB power and midi data input at the same time!!!

- I can turn it off, turn it on again and Lives like, 'Hello'

That's pretty damn fly I reckon!! :D

oddpop
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Location: London
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Re: When controllers stop working

Post by oddpop » Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:01 pm

what abou tit they never start. for the life of me I can't get my Korg nanoPad to work. (Win XP)
For lovers and practitioners of Unpopular-Pop the Odd Pop Board

synthbob
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:46 pm

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by synthbob » Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:01 pm

Guff-Tong, yep - thats the way to go I recon, essentially use only midi if your usb drivers are dodgy, using usb for power is cool, bit of course, your using up a precious usb port.

Oddpop - jees that could be many things, not even showing in preferences?

As an update, sort of related, does anyone see midi input devices turn red in preferences? I'm seeing it. What does that mean (apart from not working). With two different controllers now I sometimes see the input turn red in preferences and I have to re-boot.

Any idea what a red input in preferences actually means in detail?

Cheers

Guff Tong
Posts: 1115
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:53 am
Location: Warminster

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by Guff Tong » Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:42 pm

oddpop wrote:what abou tit they never start. for the life of me I can't get my Korg nanoPad to work. (Win XP)
Have you checked 'device manager' to see if its there? (As an un-known audio device)

If its not there, try changing the usb port, that may help to 'jog' windows into seeing it.

Rave
Posts: 6153
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:26 am

Re: When controllers stop working

Post by Rave » Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:00 pm

timothyallan wrote:Reason #1 why I switched to OSX.
Prevention is better than a cure and this solution delivers. :D

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