MIDI/USB Interface....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kevzmusic
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Kevzmusic

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Hi there,

I just bought one of the new Rocktron Replitone MP guitar rack preamp units which has MIDI I/O's for use with the software preset manager via a PC.....

So, I went out and got a Midiman MidiSport 2X2 USD/Midi inteface to use with My PC and the Replitone, etc...

I'm running WIN XP btw,....and I just can't seem to get any MIDI data flowing in either direction......

It's a pretty simple set up, just the regular 2 x MIDI I/O into the Midisport and then USB cable to PC. The Rocktron preset manager software is actually functioning OK, coz I can move the slider controls fine, and also load patch presets from my hard drive....

I made sure to install the latest Midiman drivers for the MidiSport, and everything reads OK in the PC device manager, etc.....

BUT, I just can't seem to get any 'communication' between the Replitone and PC......

Strange thing is.....that if I go into Direct X diagnostic - music mode, and run a TEST on the USB port in question, which kinda "manually" opens it.....then MIDI data will flow in both directions between the two units, but as soon as I stop that - NOTHING happens again.....

Anyone got any ideas how to FIX this problemo????
or what's a going on here, I've been trying to sort it out for the last 4-5 days now, and I've kinda run out of ideas :(

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated,

cheers,

KEV
 
"It's a pretty simple set up, just the regular 2 x MIDI I/O into the Midisport and then USB cable to PC. The Rocktron preset manager software is actually functioning OK, coz I can move the slider controls fine, and also load patch presets from my hard drive.... " -

By this, do you mean you can get the rocktron to actually respond with some kind of LED indication, or just that the software works on the computer screen? It sounds like you mean you can load a preset from your hard drive INTO the Rocktron - correct?

If so, check any and all menus for any kind of MIDI channel assignment, OMNI mode on, any filter options in the software, things like that -


If you can get the USB port to respond and send 2-way MIDI info WITHOUT the Rocktron or software, then it sounds like a missed setting in the software to me -

I don't have either of the units in question, these are just generic things you may have already tried that can cause problems with almost ANY combination of hard/software... HTH - Steve
 
knightfly....

Yes, I can load presets from my HD into the Rocktron Software....and I can get a LED response on the Rocktron unit WHEN I run the dxdiag (direct X music test) for that particular USB port, which seems to have the effect of manually opening the MIDI/USB port....although it doesn't work 100% whist doing that, but does allow me to manipulate say bass/vol/treble etc from the preset manager on the PC, so I know the Rocktron unit MIDI I/O's are functioning, and so is the MidiSport 2X2...

I am using XP, and have an Intel Pen 4 D845WN Motherboard.

It was suggested to me that I may need updated USB drivers for the Mobo, but Intel doesn't actually have any for that board - or pehaps maybe that board doesn't even support MIDI/USB....but it's a relatively new (8 mos old) PC, etc., so I am sure it does.

In my OMNI delta66 control panel there are NO settings for MIDI and/or filtering - just DMA buffer size latency which I have at the standard 512.

Cheers,

KEV
 
OK, so now what about your Rocktron software? Is there anything in the menu structure that sounds like it might affect MIDI channel, or MIDI filtering, etc? Sometimes proggies are defaulted to some wierd setup that only the guy who programmed it would use...
 
knightfly,

No, actually there isn't........

The Rocktron preset manager is a very simple, one-page affair in which one can adjust the parameters of the amp....

There's only one small settings button - which when pressed shows the MIDI input and out.....this I have set to my Midiman B-IN and B-OUT when is what I am using....

BTW, my Motherboard is an Intel D845WN, about 8 months old, so I assume I should have no problems with full USB/MIDI capability....

Is there anything in WIN XP that can effect a USB/MIDI interface - like this? All my other USB externals (printer, scanner) are working just fine.

Plus I've never had any probs with the M-Audio OMNI sound card, etc.....

I don't get it....'something' is stopping the MIDI transfer of data between the PC & Rocktron unit - SIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last weekend I did a complete re-install of XP, formatted my C: drive & all, hoping that it might fix it - but to no avail!!!!!

Maybe I should just try another USB/MIDI model - like an Edirol or something???????

10 - 4, over.....

KEV
 
Jeez, Kev, what a thumb-sucker - Have you contacted Rocktron's tech support on this, or are they as useless as some others I've suffered through? Do they have a FAQ page or anything? Or are they the ones that suggested the new driver approach?

One of the things I hate about most of this stuff is the insufferable buck-passing - one nice thing about a stand-alone unit of any kind, there's nowhere to hide, so the manufacturer has to actually FIX it or eat it... Steve
 
hey Knightfly...

The SAGA get's even more interesting....

I downloaded a trial version of SONAR just to test the MIDI ports with another program.....

and the Midiman ports lightup, etc when editing something in the SONAR MIDI etc....

plus, what's even more strange is that with the SONAR prog open, and then also opening the Rocktron Preset Software......the Rocktron amp "talks" via MIDI to my PC, and I can actually tweak the parameters via the preset manager.

It doesn't work 100%, but all the amp & USB interface lights start flashing (like they should)....so it means that all the hardware is working.....

BUT, for some reason my PC is NOT utilizing the Rocktron software without the aid of another prog, such as SONAR, which acts as a kind of passthru, etc......

This is weird, and yes downright frustrating......

I'm gonna try a different USB/MIDI product.....get an Edirol and see if that works....

KEV
 
Kev, what can I say other than I DEFINITELY feel your pain - I've been using a Music Quest MidiEngine 8-port SE interface, 8 in/8 out, with 5 keyboard controllers, 2 drum controllers, 3 drum modules, 5-6 key modules, breath control, 2 midi fader boxes, 3 software running simultaneously on win98, for a few years - Now, to upgrade I have to start ALL OVER with a new 8-port interface (or two), since my interface got orphaned a couple of years ago with drivers that work for 98 but nothing beyond -

Point is, been there in spades and not looking forward to doing it all over again, this won't talk to that unless X is on and set to omni, etc, etc -

I'd still recommend any and all leads to a user group/web help/tech support before I gave up, unless you don't like the Rocktron for other reasons - once you figure it out, you'll not likely forget. Best of luck... Steve
 
Hey Knightfly,

Guess what!!!

I finally fixed the problem :)

After all that F %$#@*&%!! messing around with the two new Midisports, pulling my hair out, re-formatting my HD, phoning tech support in LA, posting questions, calling friends, etc., etc...

I went out and bough a cheap EDIROL UM-1S and everything worked 100% first time - no problemo :)

Apparently the Midiman XP drivers are funky at best...and certainly NOT compatible with many XP installations (according to numerous other web posts, that I found - AFTER I went through 3 weeks of "nearlly chuck everything thru the window phase" - LOL!!!!

Still, lesson learned - if it don't work, try another brand....

I'm Ha'ppeee now :)

Cheers,

KEV
 
Kev, good news man - just don't get too complacent, I'm sure Mrs. Murphy will be just waiting for you to get your next piece of gear :=)

Anyway, glad to hear you found the culprit - these things can cause premature baldness, high cholesterol, warts, other "premature" things, etc... Steve
 
Yeah, no kidding eh?

You are right about one thing - the terrible, non existant, tech support that most of these manufacturers offer once you have bought their gear.

I phoned Midiman - long dist from Toronto, they kept me holding on the phone for at least 15 mins, and then responded to my dilemma with "DUH, I dunno!!!!"

and their email reply was about as helpful as a 6 years old kid could give...no wait a minute, that's an insult to the 6 year old :)

KEV
 
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