Performer, not Digital Performer

[baton999]

Hi - Wasn't sure where this question belongs, so here goes.

I'm working on an older G4 Tower running at 867 with 1.5 Gig of Ram and using Mac OS 9.2.2. The two programs I used exclusively on this computer are Performer 6 (not Digital Performer) and Composer Mosaic, MOTU's notation software. This latter program is the reason for using the Mac OS 9.2. Yeah, I've tried Finale but I'm more interested in making money than spending lots of time learning. Anywhoo, when I use either Composer Mosaic or Performer 6 in a MIDI configuration involving MOTU's Fast Lane hooked into a Kurzweil 2500R, I get stuck notes all over the place. I've increased the memory of both programs and still get hung up notes. I can minimize this by using a mixture of both the build in Quick Time instruments and the K2500R. And, using just the built in Quick Time instruments causes absolutely no] stuck notes!?# Do I need a more sophisticated MIDI interface or...?

Thank in advance for any info

Bo
baton999@comcast.net

[Jim]

The fact you don't get stuck notes with QT Instruments tells you something, right? That MIDI info never leaves the computer. So, you may be right to blame the interface, or the interface driver.

I have a MOTU MIDI Express I'd be happy to give you, if you can just pick it up or pay for shipping and packing materials. I'm in Dallas. I'm on the verge of throwing it away, anyhow.

But, you may be OK if you just re-install your interface driver or control panel.

BTW, do you have a lot of controller info playing at the same time? You could try thinning it, if controller thinning is in the version of Performer you're using.

[baton999]

Hi, and thanks for the info. I'll try re-installing FreeMidi (I sometimes call it "Free Willy.") And, of course, you're correct about the QT. I've ended up using both for different instruments. I'm working with a large group (orchestral), and have found it rarely happens when only a few tracks are used.

Thanks again, and keep the music flowing...


Bo Ayars
baton999@comcast.net
ax2music.com
signaturesmusic.com

[bkshepard]

Hi Bo,

I have a feeling replacing the MIDI interface won't make much of a difference. MIDI was never designed for large numbers of simultaneous notes going through a single interface. When MIDI was developed in the early 80s, nobody imagined that synthesizers would be polyphonic, let alone multi-timbral. They thought they were being incredibly generous to allow you to connect to 16 monophonic synths! The sad reality is that the MIDI protocol hasn't changed much since then. The baud rate of a MIDI port is an abysmally slow 31.25kb/sec. Yes, I know the USB and FireWire speed in and out of the interfaces is much faster, but the bottleneck is the actual MIDI port itself. If you've got more than just a few tracks--especially if those tracks have dense chords and lots of controller messages--the port just can't keep up and messages (quite frequently, note-off messages) get dropped.

Most of us get around that by using a multi-port interface with each dedicated port connected to a different instrument. That allows us to distribute the MIDI data to different MIDI ports, thus lightening the load on any individual port. In your case, though, that won't work since you are only connecting to one instrument. I'm afraid it's a limitation of your setup. To do large orchestral sequences, you either need to have multiple hardware synths connected to a multi-port interface, or you need to be running more virtual synths which would probably entail a computer upgrade as well as upgrading to Digital Performer. Good luck!