Keyboard not reflecting control messages from recording software

[carl0828]

I am using the PX-5S to record piano for a session.  During playback the control messages aren't being received by the keyboard while the notes are playing.  I am using Cakewalk Sonar X3 on a Win 8.1 PC.  I am utilizing the USB connection.  If I look in the piano roll view, I can see the CC64 messages.  If I load up a soft-synth piano, the sustain works.  I've tried using MIDI out from my audio interface instead of USB with no change.  I verified that the system settings are set to allow control changes.  So, what am I missing?

 

[Joe Muscara]

My first guess is that the Stage Setting you're using isn't recognizing that controller. Have you tried other Stage Settings?

[jimmyjames]

Carl, I am running Sonar X2 and am having some trouble since I upgraded to Windows 8.1.  I have not tried to drive my PX 5S with the software yet so I can't verify your problems but I have had issues with MIDI messages to VST's.  I have also lost the ability to run my Korg Legacy software.  Windows 8.1 should not be ruled out as a possible culprit IMO.

[carl0828]

Joe, I have tried multiple stage settings, including stock Concert Grand, Rock Piano & Mono Piano.  

 

Jimmy, After laying the piano part down, I sent the midi output to a VST piano and it works fine with sus pedaling.  I then recorded another part, an EP using mod wheel to add tremolo to certain sections of the song.  The PX-5S didn't respond to these controller messages either even though I see it recorded in the piano roll view.  It can't be a USB driver issue if I have the same results via MIDI from my interface (Roland Octacapture).

[carl0828]

I just verified usbflag for the device has reg_binary "osvc" = 00 00.  This is a fix for USB Midi Controllers not working on Win 8.1  It is entirely possible that this is an issue with Windows (shocking) that may not have been fully resolved.

[jimmyjames]

carl, what you say is way over my head but earlier today I went to the Tascam site (I use a Tascam 122 MK-II USB interface) and there is a notice about complications resulting from Windows 8.1. http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/823/known%20issue%20with%20tascam%20usb%20audio%20devices%20and%20system%20audio%20in%20windows%208.pdf

[jimmyjames]

Another thought that has cropped up in trying to get the PX-5s to control my Korg Legacy software (which it finally does!)  For some reason, the PX-5S transmits data over CC #88 with every Note On command when in high res MIDI mode.  This was causing the arpeggiator on the Polysix module to toggle on and off since it's default value is the same CC #88.  I have read that this was also causing related problems with people using the PX-5s MIDI'd to a Kronos. Carl, your problem seems unrelated to this, but I thought I would throw this out there anyway in case anyone has run across problems of this type and hasn't been able to get to the bottom of it.

[Joe Muscara]

For some reason, the PX-5S transmits data over CC #88 with every Note On command when in high res MIDI mode.

 

It wasn't a random choice by Casio. It's now part of the MIDI Standard. http://www.midi.org/techspecs/ca31.pdf

 

CC #88 wasn't defined as High Res MIDI until "recently" (I put that in quotes because I don't know how recently). Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of devices and applications that used this value for other things, and it creates a lot of confusion. For instance, my Nord Electro 2 uses CC #88 to switch Vibrato/Chorus when in organ mode. That was weird to see it randomly jumping around when I was controlling it with my PX-5S.

[jimmyjames]

Joe, thanks for the background! Clavia must have changed the value after the new standard came out as I don't have that issue with my NE4.  Interesting that I turned off the hi res on the PX5S but it still seemed to be pumping out CC #88 data...I need to check it again.  A cool thing about the Korg Legacy software though is that you can reassign all of the CC#'s so I could solve it that way...do most soft synths provide that ability?  That would be a nice feature to add to hardware synths...especially the Nord.  As I have previously posted on a few occasions, some of the CC#'s are over 100 for the Nord so you can't control those parameters from the PX-5S.  Not expecting Clavia to change though...those folks in Stockholm seem pretty set in their ways.

[Joe Muscara]

You might have to dig around to see if CC #88 is set somewhere on your PX-5S, or maybe it got reset when you did a firmware update or something like that.

 

I think most soft synths are pretty configurable, and likely more so than hardware synths. How much so each one is, I can't say. It might be possible to reroute messages if you're using MainStage or Cantabile even if the soft synth itself doesn't support changing messages.

[carl0828]

I finally had the opportunity to try outputting to a different piece of hardware (Roland VK-8).  The sustain control messages are being received, so this is not a USB midi driver issue. 

I have tried multiple stage settings and recorded test tracks while varying several controls (sliders, knobs, mod wheel, pedals).  I see all of the changes recorded in the track piano roll.  None of them come through on playback.

 

So, any thoughts about what my next step should be to resolve the problem?  I really want to use some of the Casio patches instead of my soft synths. It's killing me!

[carl0828]

Following up, I'm an ultra-maroon!  The problem was I was thinking backwards on the Rx Filters.  [On] being, "yes, send them through" as opposed to [On] being "no, filter these messages."  Sometimes the answers are right in front of your face.  Thanks to Brad on Facebook PX-5S group for pointing out this incredibly simple error.  It will take some time for the swelling to go down on my face after the face palm I just planted there.