Cakewalk not receiving MIDI

[Craig Lerch]

I'm working in CbB Version 2022.06 (Build 034, 64 bit).  During finishing a song by MIDI editing I found that my MIDI input suddenly was no longer being received.  Upon checking all the driver and configuration settings I find that everything is as it should be, as nothing changed.  To check if the keyboard (Motif XF) is sending MIDI signals, I opened Sonar Platinum on the same computer from a few years back and it works flawlessly.  I also confirm that the keyboard input is working perfectly through Sibelius.  Side-by-side comparison shows that all of the settings in Preferences are identical.  I un/reinstalled the same Cakewalk version with the same fail.

My questions is: is there a bug some people found in this version, and what can I do with it?  Thank you for anything anyone may know!

[Promidi]

Is input Echo on?

[Giorgio Gabriel]

Check if the midi in/out is assigned to a control surface.

Regards,

Giorgio

Edited September 2, 2022 by Giorgio Gabriel

[Craig Lerch]

Thank each of you for your advice.  These are great ideas.  There is no assignment to a control surface (cuz I don't have one :), and all 16 tracks' input echoes are on.  But it's something I never would have thought of on my own.  Thanks so much to both of you!

Having left a legacy copy of an earlier program gives great benefit to troubleshooting.

I should have included that on CbB, MIDI input isn't received, but output is great.  So until I get under the hood deeper I'll have to use my SPlat install as a work around.  Again, thanks to all!

[John Vere]

Easy troubleshooting tip for midi input: 

In the tracks input box select the Virtual Keyboard. If that works then select your Keyboard controller.
If that doesn’t work then make sure your using Omni. 
You keyboard controller will be on the list of input options if it’s set up properly. If it isn’t on the list then check in Preferences Midi devices. And so on 

Tutorial #2 has details 

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2022 by Cactus Music

[Craig Lerch]

Thanks so much Cactus Music.  The virtual keyboard plays and records in Omni CbB, as well as SPlat.  Still, my synth does only in SPlat.  Interesting.  I appreciate the hints, tips and tricks.   I'll use this to dig around some more and see what I can come up with.  I'm probably getting closer.   And your tutorials page(s) is extraordinary!  Thanks!

[David Baay]

First be aware that MIDI track meters are always registering output regardless of whether the track is armed or not. So the only valid test of whether Input is working indpendent of Input Echo and output/metering/rendering is to try recording something. If recording works and playback works, then it's an Input Echo problem

If nothing is recorded,  some things to check:

- The left-side (input) indicator in the MIDI Activity monitor that CbB places in the System Tray is responding to the controller.

- The track Input is Omni (all channels) or to same channel as the controller is transmitting.

- The track is armed and/or 'Allow MIDI Recording without an Armed Track' is enabled in MIDI Playback and Recording preferences.

- The event types you're trying to record are checked in  MIDI Playback and Recording preferences.

The last two would affect recording but not live Input Echo so probably aren't a factor in any case.

 

[Craig Lerch]

Thank you for the checklist - I followed it all just to make sure I didn't skip any entries.  All my check boxes are accurate, and MidiOx shows in and out signals (I don't know how to get the CbB MIDI monitor into the system tray), but, alas, nothing records in CbB, just SPlat (as stated earlier).  I'll figure the next step out.  Thank you for your advice.  I so appreciate it!

[scook]

Are SONAR and CbB using the same MIDI driver mode?

[Craig Lerch]

Thank you for the response - they both use the ASIO driver that comes with the Motif XF through firewire.  Neither program shares the drivers, so I have to exit one to work with the other.

[scook]

3 minutes ago, Craig Lerch said:

they both use the ASIO driver that comes with the Motif XF

The ASIO driver is an audio driver. The MIDI driver mode has nothing to do with the audio driver but can prevent the DAW from seeing MIDI data if it is set to the wrong MIDI driver mode.

Check the link in my previous post for more info.

[Promidi]

This has to be something simple

In  preferences - MIDI - Devices your MIDI port that the Motif XF is connected to is present and enabled.

In  preferences - MIDI - Playback and Recording - tried both MME and UWP (I find MME to be most reliable)

Set your MIDI track's input to the MIDI port that the Motif XF is connected to.

All MIDI channels set to 1, (Motif XF, MIDI track input. MIDI Track, VSTi synth - or at least to Omni )

Local Echo on

All volumes up

No Controller events turning down volumes in MIDI track

To get the MIDI Monitor in the tray, preferences - Customisation - Display > enable “Show Audio/MIDI Device Change Notifications” under “Other”

[Craig Lerch]

Scook, I had a brain lapse-of-sanity when I responded (you must have thought "this guy's nuts").  What I should have entered is, I use the Yamaha Steinberg Firewire ASIO Motif XF driver that carries 16 channels of MIDI and unlimited audio simultaneously from synth to computer and back.  I appreciate the link - the MIDI driver mode is greyed out when I use the YSFW driver.   I've been intermittently fighting this since it occurred seemingly in the middle of nowhere, so thanks so much for your response! 

[Craig Lerch]

Thank you , Promidi.  I checked and re-checked your list:

In  preferences - MIDI - Devices your MIDI port that the Motif XF is connected to is present and enabled.  I have the MIDI driver set correctly.  It's all been working perfectly other than the MIDI signal being received. 

In  preferences - MIDI - Playback and Recording - tried both MME and UWP (I find MME to be most reliable)  The YSFW driver is what I use (the MME is greyed out).

Set your MIDI track's input to the MIDI port that the Motif XF is connected to.  I checked track-by-track to make sure.

All MIDI channels set to 1, (Motif XF, MIDI track input. MIDI Track, VSTi synth - or at least to Omni )  Because of recording to/from the 16-track sequencer I have to assign each track to its own channel which all works perfectly, until this glitch occurred.

Local Echo on  Check.

All volumes up  Check

No Controller events turning down volumes in MIDI track  Check.

I just don't understand why the computer plays and receives 16 tracks simultaneously, but the keys aren't received any time (except in all the other apps).

These all are excellent ideas.  The condition didn't improve.  It's something else, yet.  Hmmm.  Thank you so very much for putting the time in to help me out!   And, thanks for the MIDI Monitor tip.  To my amazement, I had the box checked already, but nothing in the system tray    I'll check that out, too.   I appreciate it all!

[scook]

21 minutes ago, Craig Lerch said:

the MIDI driver mode is greyed out

This is usually because a project is open.

The MIDI driver mode cannot be changed when a project is open.

 

[Craig Lerch]

Thanks for the heads-up.  I never change from the MME, so it didn't occur too me that the grey-out is from the project being open.

[Craig Lerch]

This is finally solved.  Thank you all who invested in this.  It took deletion of all the CbB registry entries to solve it.  And, thanks to Ashwin!