Multiple USB ports configuration?

[mhsmith451]

Hi All,
So I’ve been using Cantabile for a year or 2 now for live shows and love it. But I do have a question for the population…here’s my setup: Yamaha MODX7+, Studiologic SL73, Laptop with Cantabile and other vst’s. all is attaches via inexpensive, unpowered 4-port USB hub. and as long as I plug the hub into the same port of the laptop, it is consistent and works perfectly…like everytime. However if, for some reason, say lack of space on stage or something I can only reach the other usb port then I’d have to reconfigure the ports. Does anyone know if I can add the port addresses from the other usb to the current configs so that regardless of which USB I am plugged into, it just works? or is there a way in Cantabile to abstract the hardware enough to just have this happen automagically?

Thanks in advance!
Matt

[cdv_gabriel]

Hi Matt,

I would say the only way to cope with this problem is to reach for Tools->Options->MIDI ports and double click on the name of the logical MIDI port that you are receiving data from.

Swapping my midi controller USB ports generates incrementing device names

There is a kind of work around for this: When the device gets a new name… Go to Tools → Options → MIDI Ports Instead of right clicking and choosing the new device name… Double click the port and select the new device name, while leaving the old device name checked. Repeat this everytime it happens and eventually the numbers will start recycling You’ll end up with a whole bunch of numbered devices all selected and Cantabile will use whichever one happens to be available at the time. As a bet…

This should open a list of all the hardware ports known to the system, even those not presently connected. By clicking on the checkbox to the left of each name, you tell Cantabile to listen to data coming from that port. In this way, if windows changes the name of a hardware port Cantabile will still be receiving data on its logical port. Maybe this is what you mean by “reconfiguring”. After a few times doing this, the list of hardware ports should contain all possible names given by windows to hardware ports (it seems it starts recycling old names) and from that point on you should not have to reconfigure them.

Gabriel

[mhsmith451]

Thanks Gabriel, I’ll give that a shot…it might make my slightly odd-self a little crazy at first but could very well be worthwhile

Thanks!

[Derek]

I personally find USB to have been too unreliable for stage use, whereas it is rock solid in the studio.

It was always hard to pin down why (could have been combination any of cable length, RF / mains environment being nosier, connectors not really designed with robustness in mind), but it got the point where I could never be fully confident

However, DIN MIDI is absolutely rock solid with more robust connectors, less likely to come out on a whim.

Just a thought. Of course if you are happy that USB is fine for you, that is equally valid

[mhsmith451]

Thanks for the input Derek. Yeah, Din MIDI is a pain, and bulky and god forbid you plug an in to an out or a (gasp!) through…you may never stop beating your head against the wall!!!

So yes - generally I am happy with USB as I don’t have to have anymore that 3-4 foot cables. If I had to go longer I may reconsider…

Thanks.
Matt

[Derek]

No worries and if you are happy and having no issues then that is good. Personally I have so many cables they are all labelled (and loomed), so if I plug the wrong thing in I have not read the labels!

[mhsmith451]

I get it!!