Incoming MIDI dropout (Live stops responding to MIDI input)

ajstrax · Post by **ajstrax** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:33 pm

Hi,

I'm controlling my drum racks via midi using my trigger finger (and sometimes my MV). However, Live 7 randomly drops the incoming midi signals! Once that happens, I have to wait a few minutes for Live to detect incoming midi from my controller. Has anyone else experienced this? Solutions? Thanks.

thehumanmetronome · Post by **thehumanmetronome** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:48 pm

I posted about this myself the other day. It happens all the time with my Trigger Finger. I have to unplug it and plug it back into the USB port and it starts working again. Everyone said to get a powered USB hub, and that it was a power issue. But I take a different view on the problems with Live......If something isn't working right in Live, instead of having to go buy something else to make it work properly....FIX THE F'ING PROBLEMS WITH LIVE INSTEAD. If everything would just work like it should, we wouldn't have so many problems.

studiologic · Post by **studiologic** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:53 pm

same problem here with oxygen v2.

ajstrax · Post by **ajstrax** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:55 pm

Yep. I can't tell whether it's Live or whether the midi signal is somehow dropping out before hitting my interface. The reason I think its the latter is because, during the dropouts, Live's midi indicator (the little green light in the upper right hand corner) does not light up. This might mean that the problem is "pre" Live (but I'm not sure). Thanks for the replies.

Has anybody tried using a powered hub with success?

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:04 pm

thehumanmetronome wrote:I posted about this myself the other day. It happens all the time with my Trigger Finger. I have to unplug it and plug it back into the USB port and it starts working again. Everyone said to get a powered USB hub, and that it was a power issue. But I take a different view on the problems with Live......If something isn't working right in Live, instead of having to go buy something else to make it work properly....FIX THE F'ING PROBLEMS WITH LIVE INSTEAD. If everything would just work like it should, we wouldn't have so many problems.

So if the Trigger Finger is being underpowered by your computer you take the view that Ableton should have programmed Live so that it would make your USB ports better? I don't get it - if yours is a hardware problem, then how could you hold Ableton responsible for that?

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:05 pm

ajstrax wrote:Has anybody tried using a powered hub with success?

Yes. Many, including myself.

leonardrock · Post by **leonardrock** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:40 pm

Tried powered USB hub and straight into Mac with both my Axiom 49 and with my TF, dropouts everytime. Tried it on both USB ports of my MBP, the good left one and the so-called gimpy right one. Denied.

Tried regular MIDI cables into my FW 410 from both devices, drops connection.

ReWired Slave mode is useless with Pro Tools 7.4. It will work until you start recording and then connection is lost instantly. On one very interesting pass, I was hearing drums the entire time and thought it was actually working. I hit stop and then went to review the midi data in live. On beat 1 of the tune, there was a midi note from every drum in the kit and then nothing else for the rest of the tune. One incredible ear-splitting sound and then nothing.

It was so f**king pathetic I actually had to laugh.....

ajstrax · Post by **ajstrax** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:15 pm

Machinate - since you've had success with the powered hub, which do you recommend? I don't think its a Live issue, however, since it makes more sense that the dropout is occuring during the propagation of the midi signal.

leonardrock · Post by **leonardrock** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:42 pm

Took a breather and tried again....

Still dropping out. Opposite of ajstrax's experience with this, I AM getting midi indications flashing but no sound from the TF when I continue to hit the pads. Furthermore, it is evident from this thread that this situation is happening on BOTH PC and Mac. Could these two issues suggest that it is indeed a Live issue and not hardware (seeing as though we are using different platforms, interfaces, etc but having the same problem of lost signal?)

Not looking to be wrong or right, just want to help narrow it down.

ajstrax · Post by **ajstrax** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:54 pm

Leonard - I just tried again. You are correct, the midi light stills blinks, but no sound comes from my drum rack. It seems to be a Live issue (since the signal is getting to Live, but the signals are not triggering the sounds.

Solutions? Anyone.

ajstrax · Post by **ajstrax** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:47 am

Okay. I used an m-audio midi uno I had laying around and my problem is solved. So, the problem, at least for me, was with my firepod midi input. I have not had a drop out since.

Leonard - try playing with the buffer setting of your interface. I read in a few other places that doing so may help your midi transmission issue. Hope you fix your issue.

Later.

leonardrock · Post by **leonardrock** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:22 am

Funny, I also have an uno. I did not try that. Did you run the Uno from the TF's one output? I'm assuming you ran it with AC power too?

As far as the buffer setting, I'm running at 128 samples. I'll give that a try although I would hate increase latency to compensate.

I'm very interested in the uno solution, get back to me if you have a minute. Thanks.

ajstrax · Post by **ajstrax** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:09 am

Yeah. I'm using the Uno plugged into the TF's midi out. I'm also using the power cord. Make sure you set the midi input in the Live channel to the TF. Try that before you mess with the buffer. If it doesn't work, then mess with the buffer settings. Hope it works for you.

Make sure you reinstall the TF drivers just in case! Later.

leonardrock · Post by **leonardrock** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:18 pm

ajstrax....

Head over to the Bugs forum and download the latest beta version. This issue is listed as one of the fixes!

Normally I wouldn't run these and leave them to the experts but from the thread it looks as though 7.02 update is close to release. For the short term, what the hell. This has solved the issue for me. No more dropouts in ReWire and my work can continue.

doc holiday · Post by **doc holiday** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:27 pm

Machinate wrote:
thehumanmetronome wrote:I posted about this myself the other day. It happens all the time with my Trigger Finger. I have to unplug it and plug it back into the USB port and it starts working again. Everyone said to get a powered USB hub, and that it was a power issue. But I take a different view on the problems with Live......If something isn't working right in Live, instead of having to go buy something else to make it work properly....FIX THE F'ING PROBLEMS WITH LIVE INSTEAD. If everything would just work like it should, we wouldn't have so many problems.
So if the Trigger Finger is being underpowered by your computer you take the view that Ableton should have programmed Live so that it would make your USB ports better? I don't get it - if yours is a hardware problem, then how could you hold Ableton responsible for that?

my gear works great with a powered hub