My Rack XS has started exhibiting a strange startup problem. When I turn on my equipment, the Rack hangs at one of the startup windows and will not go to the window of the first patch. It is locked up. When I unplug the midi cables, it comes on just fine. I’ve tried new midi cables, a different channel on midi (Motu MTP-AV/USB networked with MTP-AV serial), checked that midi is set to midi in utilities. Once on it works fine. Just the initial startup requires me to unplug the midi cables. I’m using a Mac Pro 1,1, OSX 10.6.4, DP 7.2 with 13GB ram, 2TB Seagate drives. Ran maintenance scripts and permissions repair, but this happens whether the computer is on or not. Anyone had this kind of experience? TIA

My only experience with hung hardware like that has been from improper midi routing, and usually a loop situation.

Bob

Yes, SpongeBob is correct, booting up into a situation where you have a MIDI loop already established could be trouble. Remember the Motif-Rack XS is a clock source and can be a clock slave, not sure what you have in your rig but power on the Motif-Rack XS first, then whatever else you have connected to it that is also sending MIDI clock.

Everything is on one big power distribution system. I have a Kurzweil PC88mx on channel 1, Yamaha S90 chan 2, Roland JV90 chan 3, Roland XV5050 chan 4, Roland Fantom XR chan 5, Roland JV 1080 chan 6, Yamaha Motif Rack XS chan 7, Alesis QSR can 8, Korg NS5R chan 9, Korg X5DR chan 10, Korg M3R chan 11, Roland SC88 chan 12,E-Mu Proteus 1000 chan 13, Proteus 1XR chan 14, Yamaha TX7 chan 15 and Line6 Pod XT pro chan 16. The 16 midi channels are provided by a Motu MTP-AV-USB networked with a second MTP-AV-USB. Two Mackie LM3204’s are used as mixers feeding a 1202 VLZ final mixer. A Hafler P3000 is the power amplifier./ A Motu 828mk3, dbx166a, Tascam CD-RW 750, 102mk2, 3 Denon 770R audio tape dual recordwers, Hush IIcx, Alesis 30 band equalizer, Alesis Nanoverb, and Sony STR-DE945 av receiver and subwoofer, and Fostex 2016 line mixer complete the gear all connected to four ART PB 4X4 line multiple AC outlet boxes - one master, the rest plugged into the master with several additional multiple outlet adapters.

Turning on the Yamaha Rack XS is virtually impossible without some major reconfiguration of power cables and switches. But maybe I can put its power plug in the master PB 4X4, if I move something from it to another outlet.

SInce this problem only started when I replaced my serial MTP-AC with a second MTP-AV-USB, I suspect a midi problem. The serial MTP-AV was working before, except for a hanging notes problem, which the newest MTP-AV replacement did not solve. I’m going to check on some higher quality midi cables as soon as $ is available.I also have a Motu Microlite midi interface which worked fine and had no hanging notes, but did not have networking like two MTP-AV’s.

So maybe this problem with the Rack XS is also related to the hanging not problem. I’m not sure what you mean by a loop. Everything has its own separate midi in and midi out channels. Maybe I need to program some of the sound modules to a different system exclusive id from what they may have. Anyway, that’s what I have, and it has all worked fine until this replacement of the MTP-AV serial unit with a USB unit. I’ll dream the solution up soon I hope.

It sounds like a midi gremlin for sure. Hanging notes, and now the Rack hanging up. Your system is 10 times more complicated than mine, and I have no idea about the interface equipment you’re using , but the order of when things are turned on in a system can make a very big difference.

Bob

Powering up the Rack before any other sound modules worked. Thanks loads. I am amazed. Never knew midi things were so touchy. I may have to resort to manually turning on each module. Hope not though. Now any more ideas about the hanging notes? It only occurs on the modules connected to the second MTP-AV and after or during playback of a piece with a lot of pedal or long bass notes - pipe organs.
Thanks again. One problem solved.

And now regarding the hanging note problem, think I have found the solution. The hanging notes were only on the Korg sound modules when they were in combination play mode. Changing to single performance mode and the hanging notes have so far disappeared. That means I have a new Motu Microlite and an extra MTP-AV-USB that I may not need. Anybody interested?