X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts (Solved)

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ducatibruce2
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/06 12:26:39 (permalink)
Thanks Noel

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CoteRotie
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/29 20:33:29 (permalink)
Unfortunately this is still a problem for me, even with X2A.  I wonder if the fix Noel referenced really made it in to the update? 
 
You can see in the screen capture below that even during a freeze MIDI is not rendered properly.  The attack of the note at 57:00 doesn't render or play, but the tail of the note does! 
 
When unfrozen, bypassing all effects seems to fix the problem, but when freezing I haven't found any way to avoid this issue.  It seems to occur at the same place for this track.  I can see the MIDI meters jump for the note attack, so it's not a MIDI issue and unfrozen with effects bypassed it plays fine.
 
I'm thinking of moving this project to another DAW to get it done unless anyone has any suggestions?  I really like the workflow in X2 now that I'm used to it, but this stuff is driving me crazy.
 
 
 


Wait, wait, what key is it in? 

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#32
kevo
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/29 23:17:57 (permalink)
CoteRotie


Unfortunately this is still a problem for me, even with X2A.  I wonder if the fix Noel referenced really made it in to the update? 
 
You can see in the screen capture below that even during a freeze MIDI is not rendered properly.  The attack of the note at 57:00 doesn't render or play, but the tail of the note does! 
 
When unfrozen, bypassing all effects seems to fix the problem, but when freezing I haven't found any way to avoid this issue.  It seems to occur at the same place for this track.  I can see the MIDI meters jump for the note attack, so it's not a MIDI issue and unfrozen with effects bypassed it plays fine.
 
I'm thinking of moving this project to another DAW to get it done unless anyone has any suggestions?  I really like the workflow in X2 now that I'm used to it, but this stuff is driving me crazy.
 
 
 

 
Are you having problems in every project?
1. What Synth?
2. Have you looked at the midi data and checked for duplicate notes, or control events?
3. Have you checked the Event List to see if there is something there that could cause a problem such as a program change or channel event?
4. Are you using Simple Instrument Tracks?
5. Is there another track in the project routed to the synth?
6. Have you checked to see if perhaps there are automation events that might be hidden?
7. Are you using any DEMO plugins?
8. Have you inserted a New instance of the Synth on a New Track and copied your midi data to it after doing the above?
9. Use PRV and mute all notes from Middle C and upward.  Do all the remaining notes play? If everything checks out unmute them and then mute all notes below middle C and see if they play correctly.
 
This is something that should be able to be tracked down.
You already know it likely has nothing to do with performance since it is also evident in a track freeze. 
 
 
 

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#33
John
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/29 23:51:25 (permalink)
If you are still trying to use the FX transpose on that track try using the transpose widget in the track inspector instead. 

Best
John
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Tom Riggs
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/30 04:04:46 (permalink)
I set my midi buffers to 512 and that usually fixes any midi dropout issues.

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#35
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/30 04:36:03 (permalink)
Are you having problems in every project?
No, so far only this one project.  I've copied it to another project and tried it in X1 and it still happens.  I've uninstalled 8.5X so I can't try it there.
1. What Synth?
The picture is True Pianos, but happens in Dim Pro as well.  I don't seem to have the issue with Superior Drummer if that means anything.
2. Have you looked at the midi data and checked for duplicate notes, or control events?
Yes-  Since it plays fine with effects bypassed and synths unfrozen I'm thinking it's not a straightforward MIDI issue like a control event.  Can't see anything in the event list either.
3. Have you checked the Event List to see if there is something there that could cause a problem such as a program change or channel event?
Good suggestion, don't see anything.
4. Are you using Simple Instrument Tracks?
No, syths are inserted with the Insert Softsynth command, not simple instrument tracks.
5. Is there another track in the project routed to the synth?
No.
6. Have you checked to see if perhaps there are automation events that might be hidden?
Can't see anything.  Dropouts seem to be random when not frozen, sometimes they happen and sometimes not.  Seems to depend on where I start to play the project as well.  If I hear a dropout and move the now time to just before where I heard it it often will not drop out on playing a second time. 
7. Are you using any DEMO plugins?
No, but good suggestion.  All standard plugs I've been using for a long time. 
8. Have you inserted a New instance of the Synth on a New Track and copied your midi data to it after doing the above?
Yes, tried this a couple of times.
9. Use PRV and mute all notes from Middle C and upward.  Do all the remaining notes play? If everything checks out unmute them and then mute all notes below middle C and see if they play correctly.
I'll give this a try when I get a chance.
 
This is something that should be able to be tracked down.
You already know it likely has nothing to do with performance since it is also evident in a track freeze. 
 
 
  Thanks for the help, will continue to try to track this down. 
 
John



Wait, wait, what key is it in? 

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#36
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/30 04:40:21 (permalink)
Tom Riggs


I set my midi buffers to 512 and that usually fixes any midi dropout issues.

I can't seem to increase my MIDI buffers beyond 128, is there some setting in AUD.INI or something that allows more buffers?  According to Noel it shouldn't be necessary with the update, but I'd give it a try if I could figure out how to do it.
 
Thanks,
 
John

Wait, wait, what key is it in? 

GA-X58A-UD3 motherboard
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#37
CoteRotie
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/30 04:41:25 (permalink)
John


If you are still trying to use the FX transpose on that track try using the transpose widget in the track inspector instead. 


Thanks, John, I'm no longer using any MIDI transpose, I manually moved the notes to where I wanted them. 

Wait, wait, what key is it in? 

GA-X58A-UD3 motherboard
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#38
kevo
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/30 20:21:49 (permalink)
CoteRotie


Tom Riggs


I set my midi buffers to 512 and that usually fixes any midi dropout issues.

I can't seem to increase my MIDI buffers beyond 128, is there some setting in AUD.INI or something that allows more buffers?  According to Noel it shouldn't be necessary with the update, but I'd give it a try if I could figure out how to do it.
 
Thanks,
 
John
There appears to be some misunderstanding or miscommunication here.
 
Under Preferences->MIDI->Playback and Record->Record
 
There is an option that can be ticked for "System Exclusive".  There is the option if this is ticked to set "Number of Buffers".  The default value is 64 and the maximum value is 128.  I have never found a need to change this value.
 
 
Under Preferences->MIDI->Playback and Record->Playback
 
There is an option "Prepare Using 000000 Millisecond Buffers"
This is the value you need to adjust.
 
In Sonar X2 I had to adjust this value to 512 in order for it to play even simple projects.  The projects played fine in other versions of Sonar but not Sonar X2. On my laptop, I had to set this value at 700.
 
If this value it too small or too high it will cause problems.
Try 256. If that doesn't work try 512.
 
I had the same problems that you are experiencing when I first installed Sonar X2.  Unfortunatley that was back in September and I cannot remember what else I did to the configuration.
 
 

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#39
CoteRotie
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2012/12/30 20:27:23 (permalink)
kevo


CoteRotie


Tom Riggs


I set my midi buffers to 512 and that usually fixes any midi dropout issues.

I can't seem to increase my MIDI buffers beyond 128, is there some setting in AUD.INI or something that allows more buffers?  According to Noel it shouldn't be necessary with the update, but I'd give it a try if I could figure out how to do it.
 
Thanks,
 
John
There appears to be some misunderstanding or miscommunication here.
 
Under Preferences->MIDI->Playback and Record->Record
 
There is an option that can be ticked for "System Exclusive".  There is the option if this is ticked to set "Number of Buffers".  The default value is 64 and the maximum value is 128.  I have never found a need to change this value.
 
 
Under Preferences->MIDI->Playback and Record->Playback
 
There is an option "Prepare Using 000000 Millisecond Buffers"
This is the value you need to adjust.
 
In Sonar X2 I had to adjust this value to 512 in order for it to play even simple projects.  The projects played fine in other versions of Sonar but not Sonar X2. On my laptop, I had to set this value at 700.
 
If this value it too small or too high it will cause problems.
Try 256. If that doesn't work try 512.
 
I had the same problems that you are experiencing when I first installed Sonar X2.  Unfortunatley that was back in September and I cannot remember what else I did to the configuration.
 
 
Yep, I'm familiar with this setting (Prepare using...).  I've tried values from the default all the way up to 10,000ms (10 seconds.)  It did not help.  When I get time I think I'm going to open a new project and import MIDI and audio track by track and effect by effect until I see (or don't see) the problem.  Maybe it's something corrupt in the project file, since I haven't seen this behavior in other projects.  (Though I tend to use more audio than MIDI in general)
 
John


Wait, wait, what key is it in? 

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#40
CoteRotie
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2013/01/01 20:40:20 (permalink)
FINAL UPDATE: The problem in the end was caused by Voxengo's CurveEQ plug. Seems like if it's anywhere in a project it can cause issues, or possibly it has issues with Bitbridge since it's an older 32 bit plug.
 
It only happened in this project because I haven't used that plug in a long time, but I didn't suspect it because I used to use it a lot and I use a lot of Voxengo's other plugs all the time.

Wait, wait, what key is it in? 

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#41
Zonno
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2013/01/24 04:31:50 (permalink)
For the record:
 
I had exactly the same problem.
In my case I had to raise the midi playback buffers from 250ms to 500ms.
This in SONAR X2A.
 


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#42
adamcoe
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2013/07/21 20:11:52 (permalink)
Hey, I know this is an older thread but I thought I'd chime in...I'm on Win 7 64, running X1, and I found certain 32 bit plugs were the problem in my case for MIDI dropouts...I couldn't figure it for the longest time, as the project was only 8 or 9 tracks with a very few plugs, 1 instance of Session Drummer, and I cranked all my buffers way up (ASIO, MIDI, etc)...but finally when I deleted a couple of the 32 bit plugs I was using (the main culprit in my case was Lexicon Vintage Plate reverb), the problem was completely eliminated...so I'm assuming something to with BitBridge...I'm going to try jBridge and see if it works, cause I do really dig those Lex reverbs...but yeah, it seems like as long as you stick to 64 bit plugs, you're good to go.
#43
robert_e_bone
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Re:X2: Random MIDI/softsynth dropouts 2013/07/21 20:51:54 (permalink)
They are posted somewhere, but there are a few plugins that are meant to be used POST-tracking, and massive dropouts can occur when they are inserted and you are still trying to record tracks.
 
Hitting the 'E' key on your computer keyboards toggles the Bypass All Effects function - so you can quickly determine if it is one or more of the plugins by simply hitting 'E' and seeing if that fixes it, then hitting 'E' again to turn all effects back on, then you can go through the process of looking at the plugins you DO use, and compare them to wherever that list of mixing/mastering plugs is.
 
If you ARE using one or more of the no-no plugs for recording, try swapping them out for less costly (look-ahead processing, CPU-intensive) plugs - just for recording purposes, and then swap to the mixing/mastering plugs once you are done with your initial tracking, and you should be fine.
 
 
Hope that helps, 
 
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