MIDI Keyboard (USB) Only Works From Time To Time

[Jake Diamond]

I'm enjoying Cakewalk, wish I would have stopped by at NAMM, but my Behringer MOTOR keyboard only rarely works with Cake. It is perfectly recognized by Samplitude, Cubase, and EZ Keys (standalone). In Cakewalk there is a very convoluted method for VSTi's. I don't get it. The MOTOR appears as a MIDI Device (in Preferences) and shows up as a selection for routing in the MIDI track, but it only triggers a VSTi from time to time (I click on the track number and it sometimes works) and only records MIDI data from time to time. Then I go to another DAW and it works normally, playing and recording. It seems that the keyboard is not intermittent in any other app and I think the keyboard is working normally.

I've followed all of the various YouTube and online documentation for inserting soft synths and using simple instrument tracks, but it still rarely works. The keyboard has the latest firmware 1.091. There might be some simple thing I've missed, but I suspect there is some incompatibility issue. The Cakewalk VSTi implementation is really unusual so I'm familiarizing myself with Cakewalk, but I wouldn't use it for anything yet. The VST3 implementation is the best I've seen.  Thanks!

[abacab]

2 hours ago, Jake Diamond said:

The MOTOR appears as a MIDI Device (in Preferences) and shows up as a selection for routing in the MIDI track, but it only triggers a VSTi from time to time (I click on the track number and it sometimes works) and only records MIDI data from time to time. Then I go to another DAW and it works normally, playing and recording. It seems that the keyboard is not intermittent in any other app and I think the keyboard is working normally.

A MIDI keyboard can always be used to send MIDI notes to play virtual instruments, and record the note data into a MIDI track without issue. Just ensure that the input device is selected and recognized under MIDI device preferences and at the track input, and MIDI input echo is selected correctly.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Playback.35.html

[Jake Diamond]

SOLVED!

Very pleased to report that the issue was inactive (de-selected) MIDI drivers on my system from a third party (NativeKontrol) who make enhanced drivers for the Novation Launchpad. Their drivers give added functionality to the Launchpad, but I'm not currently using it. However, they still appear in Cakewalk under MIDI Devices as "MT Player 1,2 and 3". Once I checked those boxes as active the Behringer MOTOR keyboard worked immediately. It's as if unchecked MIDI drivers above the MOTOR block Cakewalk from going all the way down the list. But maybe it sometimes did see the MOTOR, for whatever reason. Also, the feature to "move selected devices to the top" doesn't actually do that for me. That might have solved it too. But my problem was a very specific issue.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Jake Diamond]

47 minutes ago, abacab said:

A MIDI keyboard can always be used to send MIDI notes to play virtual instruments, and record the note data into a MIDI track without issue. Just ensure that the input device is selected and recognized under MIDI device preferences and at the track input, and MIDI input echo is selected correctly.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Playback.35.html

Thanks for the reply! Everything sure looks correct, but I attached a screenshot of my settings showing the in/out of MIDI and audio tracks appears okay. Nothing happens. It won't record or play the VSTi from the keyboard. It works fine in Samplitude and Cubase. This is probably one little setting and the MIDI input echo was something to try that I hadn't thought of (since 1990)...

[Variorum]

Cool looking keyboard! I've never seen one that has motorized faders.

I see that there are actually 2 midi ports that are associated with the keyboard; one for the keyboard itself (port 1) and one for the control surface aspect (port 2). 

Dumb question, but I assume you've selected/checked both ports (1 and 2) under input and output in the MIDI Devices section of preferences. You'll use Port 1 as your Midi input in the track view. You probably shouldn't use Port 1 output at all

You should probably add a control surface (using Port 2 as the midi input and output) using the "Mackie Control" device since Behringer MOTOR supports Mackie emulation.

Just guessing here since I can't get to your machine. ?

[abacab]

The intermittent nature of the problem is strange. If it was as simple as a Cakewalk setting I would expect it to either always work, or to always not work.

Definitely check out those keyboard ports that were just mentioned above, in case that is messing with Cakewalk. You might also have an internal keyboard setting for that controls which MIDI messages (keyboard or control surface) get sent to which port.  I have a Roland A-PRO keyboard that gets configured like that with two ports in Cakewalk.

Maybe another owner of your keyboard model will see this and chip in.

And if all else fails, maybe try a clean uninstall/re-install of Cakewalk? http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3802014

Good luck!

[Variorum]

Ahh! Found a thread on the old forum that might give some help if you're still having trouble: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Behringer-Motor-61-and-Sonar-Platinum-as-Mackie-Surface-Controller-m3505276.aspx

[Jake Diamond]

These are good ideas that I didn't fully think through. However... no luck. The MOTOR has two modes: MIDI or MC, switchable on the top panel. So I know I'm sending MIDI and not machine control. I activated the second port, but Cake just doesn't seem to like my keyboard. I will post the solution, if I stumble onto it. In the meantime, gotta stick with Samplitude (but I think Cakewalk could be better in time). The VST3 is better in Cake and the comping lanes work much better. Gotta have the keyboard working though so a piano player can accompany a singer! Thanks!

[abacab]

I agree there's probably no point yet in tackling control surface issues as long as the basic keyboard MIDI isn't cooperating.

[Bill Phillips]

On 2/12/2019 at 12:26 PM, abacab said:

A MIDI keyboard can always be used to send MIDI notes to play virtual instruments, and record the note data into a MIDI track without issue. Just ensure that the input device is selected and recognized under MIDI device preferences and at the track input, and MIDI input echo is selected correctly.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Playback.35.html

The documentation at this link may solve my long term intermittent MIDI input problems as well. Thanks abacab. 

Edited February 20, 2019 by Twisted Fingers

[sjoens]

If your problem is with the controller part, Sonar/CbB's MackieControl.dll has issues with some Behringer stuff.

One of the links above goes to Azlow's dll (a forum member) which is version 17.5.5.0.

There's another dll, version 17.5.3.0, which works for my Behringer. Let me know if you want to try it.