Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
Moderator: James Steele
Forum rules
This forum is for seeking solutions to technical problems involving Digital Performer and/or plug-ins on MacOS, as well as feature requests, criticisms, comparison to other DAWs.
This forum is for seeking solutions to technical problems involving Digital Performer and/or plug-ins on MacOS, as well as feature requests, criticisms, comparison to other DAWs.
- Kellog
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Black Mountain, NC
Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
New Macbook 2.7 Retina, newest MOTU MIDI driver running an admittedly old MTP AV thru usb. Accessing an external Roland 5080. If i just play a few notes together (in record mode within DP 7,) one of em will stick on. Command-1 stops it, but this is an unusable scenario.
Any insights into this would be GREATLY appreciated.
Before upgrading my Mac, it happened way less often on my G5 Dual 2.7. I could get some parts laid and deal with the occasional stick. This is immediate and disheartening. Enuff whining… Thanks, Kelly
Any insights into this would be GREATLY appreciated.
Before upgrading my Mac, it happened way less often on my G5 Dual 2.7. I could get some parts laid and deal with the occasional stick. This is immediate and disheartening. Enuff whining… Thanks, Kelly
Mac mini (2018) 3.2 Ghz 6 Core Intel Core i7 w/64 GB ram, OSX Catalina 10.15.7, DP 10.13, UAD Apollo Quad, Komplete 13 Ultimate, Superior Drummer 3, EZ Keys, EZ Bass, EZ Mix 2, Stylus RMX 1.7f, Avid Eleven Rack.
- Kellog
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Black Mountain, NC
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
Saw in another post that it may be a USB 3 to USB 2 communication problem as the new mac speaks to the MTP AV. I'm going to explore a small, hopefully cheap usb 2 hub connected to the mac usb 3 port. Yet another little peripheral to add to my space yay…
Mac mini (2018) 3.2 Ghz 6 Core Intel Core i7 w/64 GB ram, OSX Catalina 10.15.7, DP 10.13, UAD Apollo Quad, Komplete 13 Ultimate, Superior Drummer 3, EZ Keys, EZ Bass, EZ Mix 2, Stylus RMX 1.7f, Avid Eleven Rack.
- Kellog
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Black Mountain, NC
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
Bought a USB 2.0 hub and now everything works well. Posting even tho it appears I'm talking to myself ha ha...
Mac mini (2018) 3.2 Ghz 6 Core Intel Core i7 w/64 GB ram, OSX Catalina 10.15.7, DP 10.13, UAD Apollo Quad, Komplete 13 Ultimate, Superior Drummer 3, EZ Keys, EZ Bass, EZ Mix 2, Stylus RMX 1.7f, Avid Eleven Rack.
- HCMarkus
- Posts: 10380
- Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:01 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Rancho Bohemia, California
- Contact:
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
Thanks for letting us know!
- MIDI Life Crisis
- Posts: 26277
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Contact:
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
You're not talking to yourself. You're being watched! 
Yes, thank you for the report and solution.

Yes, thank you for the report and solution.
2013 Mac Pro 2TB/32GB RAM
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
Instagram
Facebook
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
LinkTree (events & peformances)
MIDI LIFE CRISIS
- Kellog
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Black Mountain, NC
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
I got the solution from a post by Babz where she had explored the USB 3 being a problem and a hub being the answer for MIDI stability. The post is right next to this one right now. Happy to post good news and thanks for watching HC and MLC!
Mac mini (2018) 3.2 Ghz 6 Core Intel Core i7 w/64 GB ram, OSX Catalina 10.15.7, DP 10.13, UAD Apollo Quad, Komplete 13 Ultimate, Superior Drummer 3, EZ Keys, EZ Bass, EZ Mix 2, Stylus RMX 1.7f, Avid Eleven Rack.
-
- Posts: 1068
- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Louisville, KY
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
Kelly, hope to God that you've truly solved your stuck/hanging MIDI notes problem. It's been one of the most contentious issues over the years here (and on other forums).
But, for future ref. - - and I hate to mention this because I can't find the reference for you - - there was a note from MOTU or someone that specified that Roland products were much more susceptible than other brands to hang with MOTU products. And, in my personal experience, back when I still had synths, my 3080 was a constant culprit.
My solution was to move to all software-based, but I can still get the odd stuck note....just not *near* as many as I used to get with hardware!
Like I said, good luck with it!
But, for future ref. - - and I hate to mention this because I can't find the reference for you - - there was a note from MOTU or someone that specified that Roland products were much more susceptible than other brands to hang with MOTU products. And, in my personal experience, back when I still had synths, my 3080 was a constant culprit.
My solution was to move to all software-based, but I can still get the odd stuck note....just not *near* as many as I used to get with hardware!
Like I said, good luck with it!
DP 9.52(OS 10.13.6), PTools 11.3.3, Sibelius 2021.12,
MacPro 5,1 mid-2010, 2 x 2.93Ghz 12 core, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 64 Gig RAM, 4 x >120G SSDs, 2 x 25" LCDs
couple o' hardware synths, loadza legal libraries
Kurz Midiboard, MOTU MTP AV
https://vimeo.com/71580152
"I always wanted to be a composer - and I am..."
"I never wanted to be a recording engineer - and I'm not..."
~me
MacPro 5,1 mid-2010, 2 x 2.93Ghz 12 core, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 64 Gig RAM, 4 x >120G SSDs, 2 x 25" LCDs
couple o' hardware synths, loadza legal libraries
Kurz Midiboard, MOTU MTP AV
https://vimeo.com/71580152
"I always wanted to be a composer - and I am..."
"I never wanted to be a recording engineer - and I'm not..."
~me
- James Steele
- Site Administrator
- Posts: 22789
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: San Diego, CA - U.S.A.
- Contact:
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
It's been a contentious issue because there are users like me who, whether it's luck, etc, have NEVER experienced the famous "stuck note" issue (or non-issue depending on one's experience). Very much a YMMV situation.
JamesSteeleProject.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
- Kellog
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Black Mountain, NC
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
Yes Williemyers, so far it's still solved and clear. I was getting them with my soft synths Sonic Synth 2 and Stylus RMX as well. But I'm not having any hangs right now. So I'm happy for now. And I'm happy for James that he never got em. What an mood breaker they were.
Mac mini (2018) 3.2 Ghz 6 Core Intel Core i7 w/64 GB ram, OSX Catalina 10.15.7, DP 10.13, UAD Apollo Quad, Komplete 13 Ultimate, Superior Drummer 3, EZ Keys, EZ Bass, EZ Mix 2, Stylus RMX 1.7f, Avid Eleven Rack.
- James Steele
- Site Administrator
- Posts: 22789
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: San Diego, CA - U.S.A.
- Contact:
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
I can only imagine how frustrating it would be. Only thing I may have experience with is the issue when a note gets stuck when the release is too close to the attack of the *same* next note.
JamesSteeleProject.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:08 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
then its hooray all around !!!!
I plugged my MicroLite into my Apple A1242 Aluminum Keyboard and all is well with the external synths ......no stuck notes
I plugged my MicroLite into my Apple A1242 Aluminum Keyboard and all is well with the external synths ......no stuck notes
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
According to MOTU, this USB3 issue is fixed with the Mavericks upgrade, hub no longer necessary.
(Not on Mavericks yet, so haven't been able to verify this personally. )
Babz
(Not on Mavericks yet, so haven't been able to verify this personally. )
Babz
- Dan Worley
- Posts: 2778
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:03 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Northern CA
- 2leftears
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:22 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Big D
- Contact:
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
Been in MIDI hell all day trying to sequence parts with notes hanging, strange sounds and general chaos. Express XT into nMP USB3 with the latest DP8
version. I moved the connection to one of the USB2 outputs on the TB display. Problem solved. This only cost me one day. Very frustrating.
version. I moved the connection to one of the USB2 outputs on the TB display. Problem solved. This only cost me one day. Very frustrating.
- mikehalloran
- Posts: 16183
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Sillie Con Valley
Re: Stuck MIDI notes! What is UP?
It may be a USB 1.1 issue. The MTP AV-USB is not USB 2 (are any of the MOTU MIDI interfaces?). At least one report has said that routing it through an Apple keyboard has fixed this, also. I don't know of any Apple USB keyboards that are USB 2.
I've never had this issue but, frankly, I have done so little with my MIDI gear that I might as well pack it up. I did replace the battery and update the chip set in my MTP AV-USB in 2012 so that it would work with an intel Mac. That chip set is no longer available from MOTU.
I've never had this issue but, frankly, I have done so little with my MIDI gear that I might as well pack it up. I did replace the battery and update the chip set in my MTP AV-USB in 2012 so that it would work with an intel Mac. That chip set is no longer available from MOTU.
DP 11.34; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro