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RealBand
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OP
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With BIAB 2014 (and RB) installed everything was working as it had been with 2013.
I use a Ketron SD4 external HW synth module.
I just had a chance to run some MIDIs after installing the patch for RB 2014.
Getting some very strange things:
1 - I think this might have actually started with 2014 before the patch update but I don't recall for sure. At the end of the MIDI (or when hitting stop) sometimes notes keep playing. It usually takes two hits of the panic button to stop them. I did NOT have this behavior with 2013 with the same exact MIDI files.
2 - When a MIDI starts most of the time it sounds horrible. Maybe one out of five will sound OK the first time. It is NOT a pitch bend sensitivity related issue. It often sounds like low quality SW synth instruments are being used is the best way to describe it. But I've double checked and the configuration is still set for the Ketron and no SW synth related checkboxes are checked. Usually this corrects itself if I just restart the MIDI playing. Sometimes it takes a couple of restarts. This did not happen with the base 2014 installation, so I think that this started with the RB 2014 patch install. Of course it could be something else.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
I guess if it is still acting up when I test it out tomorrow I'll have to call PG and talk with them, but thought I'd ask here in case someone else has seen something similar.
Thanks,
Burt
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RealBand
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"I guess if it is still acting up when I test it out tomorrow I'll have to call PG and talk with them"
If you can reproduce this tomorrow, please do contact support. I haven't seen this behavior myself, but letting them know is the first (important) step in getting it fixed.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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RealBand
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2 - When a MIDI starts most of the time it sounds horrible. Maybe one out of five will sound OK the first time. It is NOT a pitch bend sensitivity related issue. It often sounds like low quality SW synth instruments are being used is the best way to describe it. But I've double checked and the configuration is still set for the Ketron and no SW synth related checkboxes are checked. Usually this corrects itself if I just restart the MIDI playing. Sometimes it takes a couple of restarts. This did not happen with the base 2014 installation, so I think that this started with the RB 2014 patch install. Of course it could be something else.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
Hi Burt, This old electronics guy would suspect that it might be time to try cleaning the audio and MIDI connections at their connection points. A wee spray of Deoxit or equivalent contact cleaner-lube onto a bit of lint-free cloth and remove each plug one at a time, wipe the connection points and lightly insert-remove-insert a couple of times while the good doo is still wetting the contacts to get a bit of mechanical wiping action as well. For MIDI plug, okay to spray a wee small dab of the goo stuff right into the end of the MIDI plug, not much, mind you, just enough to wet the pins, and then do the insert-reinsert thing. POWER OFF on everything when you do that, then start things up again and check operation. And be sure to do it for BOTH ends of all cable connections. Everything you describe could be chalked up to connections not being pristine. --Mac
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Check your driver mode to be sure it's on the right one.
Something changed mine to MME from ASIO. I had to change it back.
Not sure if it was a bad start up/crash or the installation on 2014 that did it.
My music sounded like it was grinding and played at a slower playback speed..... not all the time, but randomly.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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RealBand
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OP
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Thanks Mac,
The MIDI interface is via USB. The connections have been cleaned just in case, but no difference.
It acts more like a software glitch rather than a HW issue unless the SD4 just picked this time to start flaking out.
For good measure I hooked the SD4 up to my notebook which still has 2013 on it. No problems there.
Switch back to the machine with BIAB and RB 2014 installed and the problem comes back.
Guess I'll need to talk with PG and see if they have any suggestions.
Burt
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RealBand
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OP
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Thanks,
The problem is with MIDI and not Audio. Audio tracks play just fine (e.g. .wav, .mp3, etc.).
It's the MIDI playback that is causing issues. But just in case I double checked and all is well with the audio device driver selection.
Burt
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RealBand
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Try the Ketron being driven by any other MIDI output program you might happen to have, on the same machine that is giving the trouble. RealBand is one and comes with BB. Load a standard MIDI file and make sure the Ketron connect is set up as the default GM synth and give a quick listen.
This may help to isolate the problem.
--Mac
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RealBand
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Thanks Mac,
Ketron works fine with Reaper on the same machine with the same MIDI files. I should have mentioned this previously.
It really appears that this problem started after I installed the latest RB 2014 patch.
The problem is that the wrong patches are used when a new MIDI (inside a SEQ file) is loaded. I'm going to try the actual MIDI files and see if the problem persists or if it is only when the MIDI is in a SEQ file.
I have two files that clearly illustrate the problem and can repeat the problem. Neither file has any SysEx's or strange CC's in them. But all of the MIDIs that I try to play have the problem, and I have to click 2 times on Panic before I play them or some tracks are using the wrong Patch.
If I click on Panic 2 or 3 times before starting the MIDI it plays perfectly. If I stop and restart the MIDI it ususally plays properly after the 2nd or 3rd restart.
When I load a new MIDI the drum track always seems to be fine which is expected since channel 10 is dedicated to drums. But the other tracks may be using patches from the previous MIDI, or are just not properly registering the patch value that is sent by RB.
Some MIDIs you don't notice a dramatic difference, just that they don't sound "right". But some of them where radically different instrument patches are used are very noticable.
In one case the track that should have been playing rock organ was playing a Piano. And I could NOT change the patch and have the instrument change until I had stopped playing and clicked on Panic a couple of times. Then the patch change applied and all was well until the next MIDI was loaded.
I've been talking with PG and have sent them two files that illustrate what I'm seeing, but I believe that this is something in my configuration that is causing this to happen.
I've pretty much confirmed that it is something between RB 2014 (patched) and the Ketron via the USB to MIDI interface.
Since the Ketron is working fine from Reaper using the same exact USB to MIDI interface on the same machine I can rule out the USB to MIDI interface and the Ketron as being the source of the problem.
So I guess I'll have to see what PG comes back with for suggestions. If all else fails I'll unregister 2014, uninstall it, and do a completely fresh install. Test operation and then install the update patch again and retest.
If it still fails on this machine then I guess I'll have to roll back to 2013 and forget 2014 until PG fixes it.
Burt
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Some more details. I tried .MID files instaed of .SEQ files, as expected no difference. If I start RB fresh and then load a MIDI and try playing it the wrong patches are used until I stop and hit panic a couple of times then it plays OK until I load a new MIDI.
Double checked Reaper again. It plays perfectly multiple times switching between the two test files and when I stop the MIDI playback in Reaper at the same spots I stop in RB there are no stuck notes like I'm now getting in RB.
And the "product activation" in RB (and BIAB) every once in a while proclaims I'm not registered and some features are disabled when RB or BIAB starts. If I exit the program and restart then I don't get the "you are not registered" but it is annoying.
I've passed this information on to PG so we'll see what they come back with but it looks like there is a definite problem with RB 2014 (patched) on my system that is causing this problem.
Thanks,
Burt
Last edited by BurtB; 01/11/14 08:08 AM.
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