Sonar MIDI and MIDI Interfaces

I've got my gear listed below and am having sporadic MIDI problems. Notes hanging on until I turn off my XV88. Notes not playing or sounds not playing without turning off/on the controller. It's getting to where Ikind of dread playing MIDI stuff becaue there's always something hanging up my creativity.

My question is, would upgrading any of my gear change anything? I understand how simple the MIDI world is. 1's and 0's and simple on/off computer messages sent via MIDI but is there a weak link somewhere? Is the 2496 card and drivers OK for MIDI? Is the XV-88 just a dinosaur with akward MIDI implementation? Or is MIDI just a PIA and I need to learn to deal with the inherent problems?

Thanks Fog. I'm just wondering if I should chase these problems down or if anyone has had a similar problem that was fixed by newer/better gear. Again realizing that MIDI should not be difficult or require massive amounts of hardware muscle.

While MIDI is simple, SONAR sends and receives un-thinned data for the most part. There is a lot of 1's and 0's going back and forth, that your controller might have difficulty with. Markleford Friedman has created a number of really useful MIDI effects that may help you sort out the problem. Something like 'Sustain Fix' might take care of your problem right away. Otherwise something like 'Port diag' may help you figure out what data might need to be thinned out of the MIDI stream to avoid the conflicts you are experiencing. Personally, if I liked a controller, I would think it would be worth a bit of PI work to figure out how to make it work before opting for another purchase. Hope this helps.

http://www.tencrazy.com/gadgets/mfx/

<on Edit> John beat me to it, in suggesting MIDI OX - Markleford's Port Diag has a similar purpose - just as a MFX. In any case, John has some good knowledge of MIDI, and offers some great advice in his comment above.

It should be. Its a MOTU.

Make sure you don't have a MIDI feedback loop (i.e., Sonar echoing the MIDI data back to the keyboard) and turn local control off. Try it with only the MIDI out cable and see if you still have the problem. Its probably a setup problem. MIDI is relatively low tech, slow communications.

Also, make sure you have good MIDI cables.

ORIGINAL: daveny5

Make sure you don't have a MIDI feedback loop (i.e., Sonar echoing the MIDI data back to the keyboard) and turn local control off. Try it with only the MIDI out cable and see if you still have the problem. Its probably a setup problem. MIDI is relatively low tech, slow communications.

Also, make sure you have good MIDI cables.

Thanks Dave. Check, check and check on the above advice. I think Sustain Fix has fixed the hanging note problem but I'll double check everythihg again.

Thanks

Are you using Roland drivers for your 88, or the basic microsoft midi drivers on the 5-pin interface? I'll share my experience with you.

I own both the XV3080 and the FantomXR, both Roland rack synths -- love those Roland strings and saw pads.

The Roland software is terrible, period. I've had nothing but trouble using the USB driver for the Fantom, and the voice editors for both synths, which are essentially the same program, would provide a rich source of bad examples for a user interface design textbook. There's a TV show on cable where two women critique the clothing of a volunteer 'bad dresser', and instruct her how to look better through changing her couture. Frankly, I think the two 'experts' could use more than a little help, themselves, but if they ever repeat this show using a software theme, Roland would make a great subject. Can you see the Japanese engineers in their white shirts with pocket protectors? Anyway, thanks for giving me the opportunity to take a pot shot at Roland software.

I wonder, are you using any Roland drivers? If so, I'd be curious to know if you had improved the situation by using what's already in windows to communicate with your XV. That's how I speak with mine, (well, actually through my Yamaha mLAN system into the digital mixer and out through one of its 5-pin midi ports), and it gives me no trouble at all.

Are you using Vista or XP?

ORIGINAL: HumbleNoise

Markleford Friedman is my new hero. Thanks for the link to tencrazy Brando. Pretty sure I'm the last to know of those great utilities but better late than never I guess.

I think I'll find more than Sustain Fix that I can use. Seems to have worked for now. Thanks again for the help. i'll probably hook my 2496 back up as well. No need for another USB device hanging around right now.

You're very welcome. Markleford is (was?) a SONAR user, and has generously contributed a lot of wonderful MFX's. He occasionally posts in the Developer forum. His gadgets are truly useful. I use 'Jam Buddy' all the time for keyboard splits - works great. For a bit of fun, try 'acid spew'. Of course port diag and track diag are indispensible, IMO.