Mydmx and Midi triggering

Are your midi controllers plugged into the computer in anyway? Best case scenario is a USB connection. Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,

Thanks Jingles, OK my conection is usb to Midi using an converter but i have also used usb to usb with no reponse in the past but then it was in Demo mode and not to certain if midi works in demo mode or not? Thank again and i am happy to be part of this forum, think i will be using it more than i can imagine lol

Are you using a USB hub? If so, is it powered?

Either way, stop using it, MyDMX hates hubs.

What is your MIDI interface? Are you sure your MIDI interface is plugged into the USB port? Is your MIDI OUT from the chosen device plugged into the MIDI IN on the USB MIDI interface? Are you 100% positive that you're sending MIDI data?

It is also entirely possible that your foot controller is only sending program changes. MyDMX uses note on for triggers. It will use CC data for channel control.


Looking at the Digitech Control Seven footswitch, this is NOT going to work. The unit operates off Program changes(see, told ya). You'll need a different controller that uses note ON. I think Behringer makes one that people are reporting success with.

As far as the keyboard, we have to see a bit more. Of course that should be sending note on information.

What is your exact signal flow? Does it go:
Yamaha MIDI piano MIDI OUT to MIDI interface MIDI IN, and the MIDI interface is connected via USB to a USB port on the computer?

Are you 100% positive the MIDI drivers are installed for your MIDI interface? Do you have some sort of other MIDI package you can test that with?

As much as I dislike Vista, it's not a Windows Vista issue. Since you have MyDMX working, it's not a 32/64 bit issue.

This is an amazing forum and thank you all for your help, I am not at the piano at present but will try what you said when i get in and post the results, this is the midi interface i am using,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-USB-...?hash=item439dbfbdd8

bought from ebay looks like it works anyway, says its got built in driver.

thank again

oh is this the footswitch you are talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BEHRINGE...?hash=item25591270e1

cheers

Check some of those threads you read as the correct Behringer device was mentioned. I believe the one you posted a link to is the correct one, it sounds familiar.

Personally speaking, I'd have trouble trusting that MIDI interface. I prefer something a bit more rugged. For example, the M-Audio MIDISPORT 2X2 is a metal box with 2 sets of MIDI IN and OUT for up to 32 channel support. Now, you definately don't need 32 channels of MIDI for your application, which pushes your costs down since you don't need this interface to get the job done.

I also don't trust a built in "driver", but that's not necessarily anything new. There are plenty of bits of hardware that use drivers that are included in the operating system. When installing my wireless mouse, all I had to do was plug in the micro-receiver into the USB port. Same deal with 2 other mice I use.

You need to validate and confirm that the MIDI interface is even working in the first place, and that means ensuring that it is fully working. If you don't have a MIDI software package(which MyDMX isn't one that would qualify under my rules), take that interface to a friend who DOES have one to test the interface.

Also, ensure your MIDI interface is plugged in BEFORE you start MyDMX. This is very key. Anything on the backside is not as critical. In my case, I use a Korg nanoKONTROL, and it is a USB MIDI control surface. It must be plugged in before I run MyDMX or it won't work. On the other side, if I choose to use my JLCooper CS102 off my MIDISPORT, it doesn't matter when I plug in the JLCooper CS102 as long as I already have the MIDISPORT plugged in. Just to remind you and other readers, the MIDISPORT is the USB MIDI interface in that scenario.

Not to complicate things, but I use the nanoKONTROL with ProTools, so I have it set up to emulate the JLCooper CS102. I use the JLCooper CS102 with a much older ProTools system(442, we're talking 1994 technology).

I'll wait for more information. In the meantime, I'm off onto other tasks.

No luck with the piano, pulling my hair out here, any other ideas people? thanks for all the help by the way

First, you're not even proving to me that your MIDI interface works.

Do you have a MIDI sequencing package for your computer?

Does the MIDI dongle you bought show up in the Sound control panel as a device? I might be in the wrong control panel. It should show up in the device manager for sure.

When you hit a key on the keyboard, and the MIDI OUT is connected to the MIDI dongle you bought and to the MIDI IN port, does the MIDI IN light up?
(remember, it's OUT to IN. To chain it is THRU to IN, you're not chaining)
MIDI OUT from keyboard to MIDI IN on dongle.

Have you tested other devices on that USB port?

Is the power light on the dongle lighting up? That alone doesn't mean a whole lot but it's a start.

Did you test your MIDI cables?

Is the dongle plugged in and recognized by the OS before MyDMX is launched?

Download MIDIOX and see if that is showing any activity.

Is MYDMX in the foreground when you're doing this stuff? It should be. But, if MyDMX sees no MIDI devices, you won't get the option to learn triggers or channels.

Have you disabled MIDI OUT on your keyboard and set it to local only? You may have disabled it or MIDI OUT might be disabled by a default. It's happened before.

My suggestions are to try it in an environment(the keyboard with the MIDI interface) where you can PROVE things are working. Say, fire up Sonar or Cubase or Stienberg or a miriad of other MIDI apps and see if you get somewhere. Once you can confirm the dongle works, AND the keyboard is sending MIDI, you're well on your way.

ALso, are you using a USB hub, powered or non-powered? You need to go POWERED, but either way, myDMX hates them. Don't chain your gear off a USB hub with stuff you want to use with MyDMX, including the MyDMX hardware.

I need to get some of my questions answered from you to see where the issues are. There are too many places where errors can pop up and you're not even making me aware of it. Simple NORMAL things that you could be doing that work normally in day to day activities don't work with MyDMX.

I discovered that MyDMX hates hubs(and I use powered only for the time being) when I hooked up my previously working(and still working) powered up and my Korg nanopad, key and kontrol surfaces to the powered USB 2.0 hub all at once. These ALL worked with Sonar Home Studio 6 just fine in this configuration. MyDMX refused to see them. I wanted the PAD and key for rapid triggers and the kontrol for surface control. MyDMX would have nothing to do with them on the hub. THis was too bad for me because I have a wireless mouse on a USB port, the nano-devices on the other USB port via the hub, and MyDMX on the third and last USB port.

More information. You're leaving out something.

Chris your a star for helping me out, here is what i have done,
first as you have asked looked in my control panel and found the USB/Midi adapter installed and working ok,
second I ran a program called power Sequencer and told the program to look at USB/midi not internal sound card, then my piano started playing the song which the sound card was playing also the power red light was on the midi to usb lead (thats always on to show power is there) but this time the blue flashing light on the midi lead unit started flashing, so to me all seems to be working there well I think!!! cheers

Arlight, we're making good headway now. We've established the hardware works to the point that the MIDI OUT on the dongle works to the MIDI IN at the keyboard. So, that's established.

You've connected the MIDI OUT of the keyboard to the MIDI IN of the dongle? Anything light up when you are playing the keyboard? It's not unusual for guys to disable their local OUT because they want to play that keyboard but not trigger other sound modules. I used to do this when performming: disabling my MIDI output and go LOCAL ONLY.

But see, MyDMX is very simple. You're using a different function. The sequencing software wants to know "gee, where do I get MIDI from and send MIDI to?", so all you've done is ensure your communications routing is accurate. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but its a start in the positive direction.

MyDMX doesn't give a crap about that sort of thing. It sees a MIDI interface and say "OK, we gots a MIDI interface, so what you gonna send me?" When using my M-Audio Firewire 410, it has a 1 in/1 out MIDI interface on it, and of course my M-Audio MIDISPORT 2X2 via USB, MyDMX doesn't give a crap, it will see both as long as a valid signal is coming in.

We're not done yet, but we're getting closer to success.

What is the Yamaha MIDI Piano? Please give model number so I can download and read a manual. Do you use this to control other MIDI devices or do you simply use it because it's a kick-ass piano with good piano sounds? Some use a combination OUT/THRU port, some have dedicated ports. I prefer dedicated IN/THRU/OUT ports myself because the options are better, but not everything I have has those options.

These days, some only have USB, some have USB and MIDI. Yours clearly definately has MIDI for sure, which to me is always the best option, with USB as a courtesy for ease of other stuff.

You're not done, but you're headed in the right way. I think it's down to the keyboard configuration and not sending MIDI out instructions at this point.

There has to be a cheap MIDI tester I can build that lights up to say "hey, MIDI out!!" via blinking LED. I'm sure there is. I think I'll go make that my next engineering project. I know it will be cheap to build as well.

I think I have all these parts laying around to make this basic MIDI tester, although I'm going to make mine different:

Make a MIDI tester

I got spare LED's laying around that are of that voltage and I'm fairly sure I got a spare MIDI plug for a project I thought I'd get to.

I've got a phantom power tester(with other functions) and a DMX tester. This is all basic crap we should all have in our toolkit. Cheap, easy to make. I'm gonna make one tonight if I can find all my parts. Only questionable item would be the DIN for the MIDI connector.

done just about everything Chris, but i can not get the Midi in light to work on the dongle, I have a Yamaha p80 piano, just read the manual, not totally uptodate with midi but I can get sound out my pc to play in the piano but i can go the other way, the way i need to go for the scene trigger, why do you think this?

Its 1am here chris will continue with this tomoz, got work in morning, cheers for the help up to now.

Yup, 8 hour time difference between Pacific time and your time.

Get some rest, I'll go download the manual and check it out and see what I can dig up. What is obvious is that MIDI OUT is NOT working on your keyboard, or the MIDI IN on the dongle is not working or a bad cable(I don't think you're using a cable, just the dongle), or one or more of those issues.

Also, make sure you're not using any USB hubs. You haven't addressed that question yet, but I am under the assumption that no hubs are in the mix.

I'll post more later while you're asleep. I have to figure out how to procure a rental truck with no money so I can get my event on Friday arranged.
(My truck broke down...)

Yamaha P80 manual:

Yamaha P80 Manual

That's what I'm going off of.

OK, step 1:
Set your host switch to MIDI on the back. It may be as simple as this. I doubt it. I think there's more going on, or not going on.

Step 2:
F8
Function key 8 times it appears.
It should say: F8.Y then hit the YES button to enter that mode.
F8.1 is in regards to MIDI transmit channel selection. This is CRITICAL to your application. Pick your channel of choice and ensure it is active. The manual doesn't really give me exactly what I want to see here.

It says to uses the -/No and +/Yes buttons to select the desired channels to transmit on. This can also be completely disabled by setting the channel parameter to be turned OFF if you don't want the keyboard to transmit any information. That's what the manual says on Page 33.

I think you have some digging to do on the keyboard. At least you've helped me be able to direct you to help find a potential area to examine.

Again, do you use this keyboard to trigger or control any other MIDI devices? I'm just trying to see if you've got a bad port, stuff disabled or a bad cable or dongle lead.

Hi chris, right all i have is the lead from the usb to dongle then 2 cable split to the midi in and out at the yamaha keyboard no usb host that i am know of, I have the user manual infront of me and done all it has asked of me but still no joy, starting to think that the dongle is bust, my only worry with this though is that i had a keyboard before this one which was usb to usb and i was getting the same results as i am now, No triggering what so ever, hmmmm, very weird, just off to work now chris so will have a look when i get in later, cheers and good luck with the truck rental.

I would say you're down to 2 things:

1: Build the MIDI tester. I'd do it right now myself but I lack the DIN connector and how things go in my life, basically everything I want to do is a major inconvenience, but I won't go on about all the crap going on here. We have to validate that the MIDI OUT on the keyboard is working or not.

However, with a second keyboard also showing the same problem, it does point to the dongle.

2: I think you need to get a better MIDI interface. The problem with using something like what you have is the higher potential for damage since the whole thing is exposed and is one item, rather than a box and a cable.

I keep going on and on about the M-Audio MIDISPORT 2X2, but that's because I have one and I like it. But there are tons of other options, with huge ranges in costs depending on what you get and what you need. No offense, but your application is very low end, and so you don't need to waste a lot of money on MIDI interfaces or audio interfaces that have more features than you really need.

For roughly the same price, sticking with the M-Audio(formerly MIDIMAN) products, there is the dongle-type UNO or the box type MIDISPORT 1X1. Both cost the same, but I'd go with the MIDISPORT 1X1 because it's a box. Both are highly affordable and should be a rather easy to come by option.

Of course, there has to be other options. You seem to be big on Ebay. I'm sure you could find the MIDISPORT 1X1 used or at a better price than the list price M-Audio is listing these products at, either via auction or via retailer. Likewise, there are definately more MIDI interfaces out there, but since I've had good luck with Opcode interfaces(no longer in business) and M-Audio, I figure why waste time researching other stuff? I do state that I do NOT like Mark of the Unicorn stuff and it has always given me problems and grief, ranging from Performer software to even their latest hardware, I've just never liked their product line.

At least with most hardware solutions, you can download drivers for free. I know that dealing with M-Audio, I have no problems getting hardware drivers. Now, getting ProTools updates and patches, it takes a bit more effort, but still free. Upgrading, that's a whole other issue that also involves costs.

Again, the problem with these cable-type solutions( is that they all have a tendency to break. This isn't just the cheap one you have, but all brands have the same issue. With no back-up, you can find yourself screwed really fast. With the units that use a box of some sort and a USB cable, since you have to also supply your own MIDI cables, the chances of failure still exist, but they tend to stay limited to your USB cable and your MIDI cables, which can be replaced readily and cheaply, while your box tends to stay functional. This is key for live performance where you need rugged and reliable. Trust me, with 28 years in pro audio and most of that in live sound, you stick with rugged and reliable. That's why live sound consoles are built dramatically different than studio consoles and are built to move(but not necessarily move easier, the can still be heavy beasts either way!)

You're going with a relatively low-cost foot board. No problems there, it's intended to be rugged. It's not a favorite of mine, but it works and is proven(not by me, I don't need one of those). You should return or exchange the MIDI interface you have and step up to something a bit better. Especially considering that all you need is a long MIDI cable, this isn't a big item.

Gotta retract a bit of what I said.

If you have a straight USB keyboard(or one that has a USB connection to your computer) and you're still not getting a response from MyDMX, I think we're looking at some OS, driver or other computer related issue as well.

First, ensure that MyDMX is the foreground application. If MyDMX is not the foreground application, it will NEVER respond to any MIDI triggering, no matter how you have things connected. This is true regardless if the MyDMX dongle is connected or not.

Second, you do say Windows Vista, but you fail to state if it's the 32-bit or 64-bit version. I am willing to bet it's the 32-bit version, but please check by going to your System control panel and checking out that description.

Again, MyDMX doesn't really care where the MIDI input is coming from when it receives it, as long as it receives it. I've successfully tested MyDMX with my nanoKONTROL plugged in, my MIDISPORT 2X2 AND my M-Audio Firewire 410 plugged in all at the same time, but I will state that I am using XP Home on that machine.(the Firewire 410 hooks up via firewire, go figure!) MyDMX gladly took any note ON and CC data wherever it came from.

Not much else I can say right now. What is your USB keyboard? Maybe it has true MIDI ports on it so it's not only acting as a controller, but also as a MIDI interface. The Axiom series does this, although they are designed to be a simple controller and aren't sound modules. The Korg nano series are USB only and are designed with the laptop and "all in the box" users in mind, and do not provide any external MIDI connections.

ok chris thanks again, My OS is 32bit! is this a problem, also the first Keyboard i did try was usb to usb and again never got it to trigger my scenes, I am taking this dongle down to my brothers recording studio and he will do a test on it for me there, Will report back as soon as i know chris,

I want to take time to thank you for your help chris, I feel I would of put the whole thing in the bin by now lol

The part that worries me is the USB connected keyboard not showing any results. Of course, it is possible that you've disabled your MIDI output on that device as well.

I don't think spending money on stuff right now is the thing to do. Your idea of taking it to your brother's recording studio is a good idea. Also, since you have some software that can do MIDI playback, will it also do MIDI recording? Why not see if you can record anything.

Also, does the USB keyboard have MIDI ports? Can you use it to control your Yamaha piano? If so, you can start to rule out what is or isn't functioning. Then again, real MIDI and the USB could be unrelated things, but I would find that very odd of a company thought that way.

How old is your computer build? Are you running the latest patches and updates? Are you running anti-virus software? How do you connect to the internet? If broadband, do you havea router between yourself and your WAN device(cable modem or ADSL modem?)? You need to have a router in place to protect yourself and those consumer broadband routers will work just fine and is the ideal solution. Connecting directly to the cable modem or ADSL modem is foolish and asking for trouble as you'll be under constant attack by those looking to turn your machine into a zombie.

I'd say if you have your system restore disk set, back-up your data and just wipe and start fresh. I do this every once in a while(less than every 6 months) with most of my production machines to keep them clean and running in top form. I also have all my other installable software available on a hard drive(soon to be a USB stick) so I can quickly get that stuff back on and runnging again too. You could very well just have some sort of goofy thing going on with your operating system.

The thing that I don't understand is that MyDMX SEES the MIDI connection/interface. It won't let you program triggers unless that's working. Try right clicking a channel and see if it will let you program a trigger. That's more for CC data, but you can hit escape to get out.

just a quick one before i do total format, i can get the trigger to work via the keboard on the computer, just not the midi interface, but thyink this weekend i will do as you say and restart my PC from scratch.....

Well, keyboard(QWERTY for those confused) SHOULD work regardless. But we're bypassing the MIDI stuff. We're not addressing the problem. I use a lot of computer keyboard triggers myself.

How did the results at your brother's studio work out? I just still feel you have some software issue. Hopefully wiping and starting over will give some headway.

Also, what about the internet stuff? How do you get online?

I am using a wireless internet conection here, I am in at my brothers studio in the week as he has bands all in over the weekend and the early part of the week, wont let this beat me chris i promise you that lol

Just keep me informed of your progress. I don't have Vista here, so I can't do any like for like testing.

chris thinking of changing my laptop, do you know if windows 7 works with Mydmx?

My dmx us fully compatible with any windows os from XP or higher 32 or 64 bit.
Sincerely,

I can't completely agree with Jingles ONLY from the perspective of I haven't tried it myself.

I don't have Vista, so I can't test with Vista. I am REFUSING to put MyDMX on Windows 7 64-bit, but Jingles has and it works. I trust him so I'd say it works.

Even so, I'm NOT impressed with Windows 7. If XP Pro supported 4 CPU's and 8 Gig's of RAM, I'd downgrade this in a minute. BUt I need the 64-bit to support the 4 CPU's properly with Sony Vegas 9.0C.

Now, as far as MIDI triggering:
Any issues that exist for you in regards to MIDI are going to existin in virtually every version of Windows that MyDMX runs on. HOWEVER, and this is a serious warning:
USB MIDI devices(including interfaces) that DO NOT HAVE Win 7 compatible drivers(and possibly 64-bit drivers) may no longer work under Windows 7, or at least may not work until newer drivers come out.

On the one hand, I'd say go ahead and upgrade, but you also want to ensure the manufacturor supports the chipset and hardware that the laptop came with under Win 7. I can't turn off my desktop anymore thanks to crappy AHCI support, and I found out my mainboard maker is GONE so I can't buy a newer BIOS(because I can't boot off a USB stick or floppy), so I'm going to be shopping for a new LGA 775 maiboard with 1394 and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports and NO ONBOARD video.