Notation Software Users Forum  


Go Back   Notation Software Users Forum > Technical area > Questions or problems

Questions or problems Have a question or problem about something you can't find in the Help/Users Guide? Ask it here!

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old 06-03-2012, 01:00 AM
JMKnott JMKnott is offline
Active User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
Posts: 3
Default When playing thru external MIDI, sound & display may "freeze/surge" upon restarting

Problem description:

If you are playing back through an external MIDI device, such as a USB/MIDI keyboard, and while playing you click a different measure to immediately change the playback point, the playback sound (and the Notation Composer display) may momentarily freeze (for up-to a half-second or so) and then surge to catch-up.

This problem will ONLY occur when you are using a MIDI hardware interface to an external MIDI device/synthesizer. Depending on the particular piece, and whether the sustain pedal is used, and whether the playback measure is more towards the end (and perhaps other factors), this problem may appear as a "very tiny nit" or a "noticeable nuisance".

Workaround:

Installing the custom "JMIDI" program along with the LoopMIDI virtual cable will workaround this problem. See attached PDF for details on this setup.

Details:

When Notation Composer is actively playing a song, and then directed (via the cursor) to play somewhere else in the song, Composer must first stop the current playback before starting the new playback. When stopping playback, Composer must first turn-off any current notes, and release any sustain-pedal commands.

There is a bug in Notation Composer during the stop playback sequence that can result in the MIDI device driver interface being flooded with duplicate/unnecessary "Stop sustain pedal" commands, which can number in the hundreds. As the MIDI hardware interface can only send about a thousand MIDI messages a second, if hundreds of "Stop sustain pedal" commands are sent, sending the following MIDI notes (at the restarted playback location) is delayed. The device driver (as tested on Windows XP with latest fixes only) then attempts to catch-up, resulting in all the frozen notes being sent out in rapid succession.

Note that this same Composer bug can also cause the LoopBe virtual cable to incorrectly sense that a virtual feedback is occurring, when actually there is no feedback. For that reason, use LoopMIDI virtual cable instead -- but be sure to configure it carefully (similar to discussion here http://www.notation.com/vb-forum/sho...6306#post16306 ) to avoid virtual feedback.

If you have questions, problems, or suggestions here, please contact me through the forum. (Please note while I did write the JMIDI.exe program, I am not technically or otherwise employed by Notation.com).

Attached JMIDI.exe tested for viruses at www.virustotal.com
SHA256: 0cca688477fcb27f7e239b56fd5f0cddec2f4029a549d128ba 81479b00c08eaf
Attached Files
File Type: zip JMidi.zip (71.8 KB, 1 views)
File Type: pdf Using JMIDI v1.1b.pdf (76.0 KB, 5 views)

Last edited by JMKnott; 06-03-2012 at 01:03 AM. Reason: title truncated
Reply With Quote
 

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Yamaha keyboards playing MIDI files in learning mode Sherry C Using Notation Software products with other (third party) products 2 02-14-2018 03:08 PM
No sound and no MIDI devices found in Vista mabril Questions or problems 8 12-15-2010 07:46 PM
Recording using a MIDI microphone or guitar-to-MIDI unit Sherry C Using Notation Software products with other (third party) products 2 06-05-2010 04:08 PM
setting up instrument sound names for MIDI keyboard Mark Walsen (markwa) Tips and tricks for using Notation Software products 9 12-23-2004 07:28 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 01:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Notation Software Germany GmbH www.notation.com/Imprint.php