MIDI problem... Help Plz !

[dizbmm]

Hi all,

I'm trying to fix a problem with MIDI, and totally out of ideas by now.

I have an M-AUDIO Axiom 49 Keyboard. I use Ableton Live 8 as the DAW.

The setup was working fine, and then (I dont know what happened) one day it stopped working.

In the MIDI preferences of Live I see the MIDI keyboard, but its marked in orange color (which means that there's some problem, like a conflict with another app that uses the keyboard or something).

I tried reinstalling everything, up to the drivers of the USB ports, the audio interface and even the DAW. Nothing helps.

Seems like its a deep problem on the OS level, but I really don't want to reinstall windows...

Please help, anyone?

ps attaching screenshot of the MIDI settings in LIve.

[RunBeerRun]

Not familiar w/Live, can you successfully use the keyboard in any other host (maybe try Savihost)?

[jackoo]

Curious if it works with another DAW as suggested above.

Sometimes my USB MIDI driver gets very upset if the host crashes... say more than 3 times. And then I have to reboot.
Does windows complain that there is a problem with the USB device when you plug it in your USB port?

Did you try changing your USB port?

Anything yellow in Hardware Manager?

[thecontrolcentre]

You could try these fixes:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=sup ... 2f2cf519f4

https://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=124259

[dizbmm]

Not familiar w/Live, can you successfully use the keyboard in any other host (maybe try Savihost)?

Can't use it in any other host either (tried cubase - keyboard looks active in settings, but no midi is received by the DAW)

[dizbmm]

Curious if it works with another DAW as suggested above.

Did you try changing your USB port?

Anything yellow in Hardware Manager?

I tried changing ports, hell I even reinstalled all the USB port drivers and the audio interface driver

[dizbmm]

You could try these fixes:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=sup ... 2f2cf519f4

https://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=124259

thanks, but it didnt help.

These explanations are for how to set it up, when there's no problem in communication between the DAW and the MIDI keyboard. In my case there's a problem (the connections are marked orange). Can't figure out what the problem is or how to fix it.

[thecontrolcentre]

You could try these fixes:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=sup ... 2f2cf519f4

https://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=124259

thanks, but it didnt help.

These explanations are for how to set it up, when there's no problem in communication between the DAW and the MIDI keyboard. In my case there's a problem (the connections are marked orange). Can't figure out what the problem is or how to fix it.

I posted the links because of the screenie you posted. You dont seem to have the Axiom set up as recomended ... hope you can sort it out.

[jackoo]

So do you see the Axiom in Hardware Manager?

I would install midiox (http://www.midiox.com/zip/midioxse.exe). This program monitors all MIDI activity from the ports that are installed in the system.

In the Monitor - Output window, right-click > Midi Devices
Add from MIDI inputs your keyboard.

Now push some keys, rotate some knobs, etc. Is any activity registered by midiox?

midiox.png

[dsan@mail.com]

You could try these fixes:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=sup ... 2f2cf519f4

https://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=124259

thanks, but it didnt help.

These explanations are for how to set it up, when there's no problem in communication between the DAW and the MIDI keyboard. In my case there's a problem (the connections are marked orange). Can't figure out what the problem is or how to fix it.

I posted the links because of the screenie you posted. You dont seem to have the Axiom set up as recomended ... hope you can sort it out.

I noticed that too TCC

Actually you don't have any of your controllers set up. Can't say that is why they appear orange in the bottom part, but until you get a network going they can't send or receive.

And because it's not set up correctly you WILL have communication problems.

It sounds like you may have (possibly) also changed the MIDI ports on the Axiom. Check to insure you are sending/receiving on the proper channel(s). It's easy to make those changes on the Axiom without realizing it. I have the 49 pro and have accidentally done this.....drives you crazy when you know it was working and then just stops

When you re-install USB drivers, sometimes it doesn't work if you have not FULLY removed the previous drivers.

You may want to look into that aspect of this.

Happy Musiking!
dsan

[dizbmm]

So do you see the Axiom in Hardware Manager?

I would install midiox (http://www.midiox.com/zip/midioxse.exe). This program monitors all MIDI activity from the ports that are installed in the system.

In the Monitor - Output window, right-click > Midi Devices
Add from MIDI inputs your keyboard.

Now push some keys, rotate some knobs, etc. Is any activity registered by midiox?

THanks for the advice!
I installed midiox and followed your instructions.
The keyboard is indeed in the list of MIDI inputs, but when I add it, I get an error "undefined external error"

What's interesting is that there's a MIDI input in my audio interfacea as well, and when I chose it the same thing happens. THis just strengthens my hypothesis that there's some MIDI problem on the OS level..

[dizbmm]

I noticed that too TCC

Actually you don't have any of your controllers set up. Can't say that is why they appear orange in the bottom part, but until you get a network going they can't send or receive.

And because it's not set up correctly you WILL have communication problems.

It sounds like you may have (possibly) also changed the MIDI ports on the Axiom. Check to insure you are sending/receiving on the proper channel(s). It's easy to make those changes on the Axiom without realizing it. I have the 49 pro and have accidentally done this.....drives you crazy when you know it was working and then just stops

When you re-install USB drivers, sometimes it doesn't work if you have not FULLY removed the previous drivers.

You may want to look into that aspect of this.

Happy Musiking!
dsan

THanks for your reply.

THe thing is this happens also with the MIDI input on the audio interface (MIDI cable). Even when I disconnect the Axiom from USB, and try to setup MIDI channel on the audio interface as input, I get same indication (orange color on the channel).

Attaching a screenshot:

[jackoo]

I'm afraid it's not DAW related than....

I'm running out of ideas, but I have found this article on more than one web site while searching "midi ox undefined external error":

http://serato.com/dj/support/16113/fixi ... -ox/numark
http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/art ... ws-system/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A66w57v4BSk
http://forums.m-audio.com/archive/index ... 27577.html

This involves manually editing the registry. Do this only if you're confident about what you're doing (have modified the registry before)

Hope this helps!

LE: reference also from KVR
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=341615
Microsoft Reference:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/For ... rohardware

This guy explains also how to make a registry backup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn5VEFoAjVE

[dsan@mail.com]

I second what jackoo told you about the registry - if you are not sure, LEAVE IT ALONE!

and BEFORE you go futzing with the registry make your self a back-up copy of it. Save it off your HDD - maybe to a USB key or something.

I don't mean this in a negative way, but it sounds like you may be a novice and not sure how to set things up.

If this is true it may be best for you to do a Windows re-install.

Before you do though, assuming you save re-store points, try a system restore.

HTH

Happy Musiking!
dsan

[T-CM11]

Sounds like some other program is occupying your midi ports.
Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC, show processes from all users, and post (maybe a few - enlarge the window as much as you can) screenshots.