Logic Pro 9 MIDI when not playing

[Slop Shop]

Hi All,
Just installed Logic Express 9 today. I have been using Garageband for a while, though, and noticed an issue which is easy to see in Logic. I have an M-Audio Ozone keyboard that I use. Even when I am not playing it it is registering an input I can see in Logic. I always suspected it was doing something when using GB because the tone shifts and is all weird. Now I can see it in the input field in Logic. Anyone know what might be up?

I have been a musician for years and recorded in studios quite a bit, but I am not too up on doing this stuff myself.

Thanks.
Peace.

 

[Eli]

Try and determine specifically what type of midi message it is sending. It sounds like it could be pitch bend. I have seen this problem before - with controllers sending out spurious PB. But not on something new and modern like the Ozone. In any case, if it is PB, you can easily filter it out either in the Environment or in the Project Settings. Or get the keyboard repaired.

 

[Slop Shop]

Thanks Man. It seems like pitch bend. I am not sure how to tell what signal it is sending, though. It seems to change all of the data on the input reader. I think the one to the right is velocity, right? Not sure what the other one is, but they both move around.
Also, it never seems to do it of I select a piano setting. I know in GB whenever it started to act up, I would just record everything as Grand Piano and then switch the sounds from there. Weird.
Any idea how much it costs to have something like this fixed? Also, where do i take it?

 

[Peter Ostry]

Install the software MIDI Monitor and look what's really going on. The program shows you almost all MIDI traffic in your computer. In the preferences set it to show the data decimal, not as MIDI names.

 

[Eli]

Thanks Man. It seems like pitch bend. I am not sure how to tell what signal it is sending, though. It seems to change all of the data on the input reader.

Peter's idea will work fine to identify the type of MIDI message. You can also cable a monitor object in the Environment window clicks and ports layer. Cable it between the physical input object and the on screen keyboard that it is probably cabled to by default. The messages will show up in the monitor window.

I think the one to the right is velocity, right? Not sure what the other one is, but they both move around.

If it's a note message, then yes, the second data byte is velocity. If it is pitch bend though, the second data byte is a value for the pitch bend event.

Also, it never seems to do it of I select a piano setting.

Now I'm confused. Call up a piano setting where? The axiom controller doesn't have any built in sounds. Do you mean calling up a software instrument in Logic?

Another thing to check is your control surfaces window. See if there are any control surfaces defined there that shouldn't be there. If so, delete them. It's unlikely, but this could also be the cause of errant MIDI messages.

 

[Slop Shop]

Hi Eli,
Yes, a software instrument in logic. If I select grand piano, it never seems to act up.
Thanks for the help. I will try some of the things you suggested.

 

[Peter Ostry]

Yes, a software instrument in logic. If I select grand piano, it never seems to act up.

Sure that you use a software instrument and not an external MIDI track? Where did you get this "Grand Piano", did you create an instrument track, inserted an instrument like the EXS and selected a piano from the menu?

Or did the Grand Piano just show up and your channelstrip looks like this:

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[Slop Shop]

Yes, a software instrument in logic. If I select grand piano, it never seems to act up.

Sure that you use a software instrument and not an external MIDI track? Where did you get this "Grand Piano", did you create an instrument track, inserted an instrument like the EXS and selected a piano from the menu?

Or did the Grand Piano just show up and your channelstrip looks like this:

​

Hi Peter. I inserted an instrument and selected the piano from the menu. It did it in garage Band as well. I would get that "pitch bendy" sound on certain instruments and drum kits, but it would never happen if I selected the piano....