Some MIDI notes stuck sustaining

[Woe For The City]

Can someone please help me as to why I have some midi notes just sustaining when they're not supposed to? I'll not even be using the sustain pedal, but after releasing some notes, they'll keep sustaining. My keyboard doesn't do this when I'm using it on its own. Maybe I need a new MIDI cable. I'd appreciate some help, thank you!

Edited yesterday at 06:30 AM by Woe For The City

[Promidi]

More information needed.

Which version (numerically, don't just say “the latest”) and iteration of Cakewalk/Sonar?

Is this while playing live or when playing back recorded MIDI data (or both)?

How have you connected your keyboard to the PC? (5pin din MIDI or USB or via a USB to MIDI adapter)

If USB, is this connected directly to the PC and not via a non powered Hub?

What are you using for the sound source - the keyboard’s internal sounds, or a VSTi Plugin (if the latter, which one)

What are your PC specs.

What is your sample rate, bit depth and sample buffer size.

What driver node (true ASIO or WASAPI)

What is your Preferences - MIDI - Playback and Recording > Prepare Using N Millisecond Buffers set to?

Edited yesterday at 07:42 AM by Promidi

[David Baay]

2 hours ago, Woe For The City said:

Maybe I need a new MIDI cable.

If this means you're using a MIDI-DIN-to-USB cable with a keyboard that doesn't have a USB port, you should look into getting a 'real' MIDI (or audio+MIDI) interface.  USB-MIDI cables are notorious for problems like stuck notes because they generally don't have any buffering built in to prevent dropped messages when there's a transmission error.

[Promidi]

5 minutes ago, David Baay said:

If this means you're using a MIDI-DIN-to-USB cable with a keyboard that doesn't have a USB port, you should look into getting a 'real' MIDI (or audio+MIDI) interface.  USB-MIDI cables are notorious for problems like stuck notes because they generally don't have any buffering built in to prevent dropped messages when there's a transmission error.

That would be true for the cheap no-name brands.

The branded ones tend to be more reliable and do have buffering  - I use a Roland  UM-ONE mk2 and I do not get stuck notes.

[Will.]

On 3/2/2025 at 10:52 AM, Promidi said:

That would be true for the cheap no-name brands.

The branded ones tend to be more reliable and do have buffering  - I use a Roland  UM-ONE mk2 and I do not get stuck notes.

Its more related to the plugin. I have the Arturia Keylab, Nektar Impact and the M-Audio Keystation. They do this inside of Cakewalk, FL Studio and Protools and I've heard it happen in Ableton too.

Pressing the same note or chord release those sustain notes. I've tried those manual steps to choose different velocity and sustain settings sensitivity step, but they all still do that from time-to-time. 

I know exactly which plugins in my arsenal will ring up when I use them. Kontakt and the UVI Workstations, TTS and Airmusic Grand Mini to name a couple. 

[Promidi]

1 hour ago, Will. said:

Its more related to the plugin.

I use outboard gear that relies on Sysex data being transmitted to and received by that outboard gear with perfect integrity. 

I am not sure I would be trusting a no name brand USB to MIDI adapter to perform that particular data transfer in a way I would trust a more expensive brand.

Even If all you are doing is using an older keyboard that has on older 5 pin din MIDI out port to play your VST plugins, I would still avoid a cheap no name brand USB to MIDI adapter.  Of course, another option is to simply buy a more modern keyboard (or even a MIDI controller) that has a USB port.