Scrambled MIDI notes, anyone had this problem?

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-- Scrambled MIDI notes, anyone had this problem?

Posted by meriter on Mar-02-2011 03:09:

Scrambled MIDI notes, anyone had this problem?

So I've been using a Midisport 8x8 interface up until recently. I have a yamaha Motif ES and a Virus B desktop synth. My audio interface (motu 828 mk2) has a midi in/out, so I figured it'd be a much cleaner setup to ditch the Midisport interface altogether considering I only use two synthesizers anyway. Motif is plugged in via USB, and my other synth, the Virus B desktop is plugged into the MIDI in/out of the MOTU.

So this is working and all well and good, I'm using the Motif as a controller, and i'll be playing something, or playing back something that was previously recorded, and then all of a sudden it sounds like someone is just randomly pounding on the keys, or like a cat is walking across the keyboard. It just plays random notes out of nowhere and they stick and I have to hit the panic button on the Virus to cut the shit. This only happens on the Virus synth btw. This seems kind of a bizarre issue I mean, why would it play random notes? Anyone have any experience with this or have any idea what could be causing it? This is the first time I've used the MIDI in/out on the Motu.

I'm putting together some kind of live P.A. thing and I'd rather not have to cart around another MIDI interface when this setup SHOULD work just fine. Any ideas?

Posted by EddieZilker on Mar-02-2011 03:24:

Is it porting note-off messages to a different port or are the notes hit in the anomaly not notes you've played before and/or is there a MIDI through filter that should be turned off?

I'm just guessing at this but figured it might help to troubleshoot.

Posted by meriter on Mar-02-2011 03:39:

quote:
Originally posted by EddieZilker
Is it porting note-off messages to a different port or are the notes hit in the anomaly not notes you've played before and/or is there a MIDI through filter that should be turned off?

I'm just guessing at this but figured it might help to troubleshoot.

It's not a consistent issue which is why I'm having no luck figuring it out. You expect these things to either work or not work. Everything will be fine for a while, sometimes it takes a long time to fuck up sometimes it'll fuck up right away. It's playing totally random notes just out of nowhere whenever it feels like it, nothing I'll be playing on the keys. Like I'll hit a middle C and it'll start playing an E two octaves down and then a G and then it sounds like a 2 year old smashing the keys and they get stuck. Hit the panic button the Virus, everything is fine again for a while but eventually the problem returns.

As far as a MIDI through filter I don't really know what that is

Posted by EddieZilker on Mar-02-2011 03:53:

Are you doing something just before it happens like sending cc or program change messages?

I'm not familiar with your DAW but if you can, you might want to find the MIDI Options/Settings and toggle off something along the lines of Echo MIDI Sysex/Controller/Program through. There should be filter settings too (there is in SONAR), allowing you to select the the type of MIDI data you want routed through your DAW.

Posted by cryophonik on Mar-02-2011 04:17:

I've never used the MIDI in/out on my 828mkII, so I can't be much help there. What happens to the MIDI In and Out indicators on the MOTU when the random notes happen?

Also, check your MIDI Panel Destination and Soft Thru settings and maybe change those as necessary to see if that solves the problem - you could be getting a MIDI feedback loop.

Posted by itsamemario on Mar-02-2011 23:03:

it sounds like someone has hacked your virus and is feeding it notes through the internet. ive seen it happen a thousand times before.

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Mar-02-2011 23:06:

is your motif sending sequenced data to your virus ? Or maybe the arp switch is on ? are the notes random or do they repeat in pitch or time value ?

Posted by cryophonik on Mar-02-2011 23:13:

Re: Scrambled MIDI notes, anyone had this problem?

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
is your motif sending sequenced data to your virus ?

I was wondering that as well, but according to his post, the Motif is not connected directly to the Virus or the MOTU 828mII's MIDI in/out:

quote:
Originally posted by meriter
Motif is plugged in via USB, and my other synth, the Virus B desktop is plugged into the MIDI in/out of the MOTU.

There's no way to route the USB directly to the MOTU's MIDI in/out without software (e.g., a DAW), at least not that I'm aware of.