I am used to keep every software frozen when I have many live gigs scheduled.
This weekend I will have time to make a full upgrade round. This will include C3, Montage 3.0 and Keylab.
The Arturia keyboard is really nice. I love the key response, the weight and the layout.
But if you get stuck notes when playing live you need to find a reason.
With Montage used as controller I never have these bad events. Here other guys had same experience so…
But you helped me to debug the full setup.
When I use Arturia controller, audio and MIDI management are through an extern USB board (NativeInstruments Kontrol Audio6).
When I use Montage with VSTs everything is inside the Yamaha beast. Connection to PC is only with USB cable.
Maybe… Home tests to be done, of course.
But at home (Murphy law) it never happened!
I always use the Arturia USB connection, maybe there’s an issue with the midi, Arturia or Native? I honestly never get issues so at least it’s not a universal problem with the Keylab. Maybe there’s some event duplication going on?
I use mine mostly with my RME FireFace UCX for audio or my Behringer X32 Rack for audio. Both have been rock solid so far. I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble.
The new Novation boards do look nice! My fallback that I use at home is a Nektar Panorama P4, it has a decent feel but a noticeably worse build quality. I’m interested to hear what you figure out.
Just adding my 2 cents (US$) that I love the Arturia Keylab MkII 61, and have not had any issues with stuck notes. (I’ve only had the board for a little over a month, so it’s possible I just haven’t seen issues yet, but I personally don’t think so.)
Just for comparison, my setup is USB only – 2 keyboards, Midi Expression Quattro, and Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (rev3) – all connected directly to a USB 3 powered hub, and the hub connected to my laptop.
Mine “suspected” setup is even more compact. No hub.
One USB link to Kontrol Audio6
Another USB link to Keylab mkII.
Pedals on the back of Keylab.
My notebook has 3 USB ports, everything on latency and glitches seems alright.
It is the classical damned bug, hard to catch.
Point is that it is making me crazy since 15 years. But now I am using professional and updated devices, I was confident to solve it…
Do you use the same USB cable with your Montage? USB cables can be finicky. Especially if they also have to carry power. Worth swapping the cable out for a new one.
Stuck notes are not unusual on Arturia keyboards (google it and you’ll find others complaining). I have a 61 key MKII that is going back for repair for stuck keys as we speak… Should be covered by warranty.
Brad just suggested me something new on another post (started by myself about searching of a good controller).
He suggested to change usb cables and use a powered hub for USB.
This last one was unexpected by me.
I will buy, try and report.
Fair point, USB power isn’t equal on all ports, especially on laptops. The Keylab Mk2 seems like a reasonably power hungry device, given the its features. This obviously wouldn’t be an issue for the Montage. Alternatively, you could try powering the Keylab with an AC adapter directly.
Corky…
But in your setup (if I read it well) main keyboard and audio board were in two USB plugs of the notebook.
This is exactly my compact setup.
I still cannot believe that a laptop cannot drive two simple things like these.
Of course I will try, but what is your opinion?
My current theory, because this seems to happen specifically with Blue3, is that it has something to do with the fact that with an organ VST I often slide my hand across the keyboard in true Hammond organ style. Could the fast sequence of note on/off data be causing the problem?
(@Corky I have my Arturia Keylab mkii 61 connected to a powered USB hub, and always to the same ports, but I still get stuck notes in Blue3 sometimes. It doesn’t happen a lot. fortunately, but I have already trained myself to press the ‘end all notes’ shortcut button on my keylab when it does happen so usually no one but my notices. Still, it’s very annoying.)
Usually, it should be able to do this, but USB ports on laptops are funny animals. I have a laptop with a USB port that is seriously under-powered (definitely below USB spec), so I have to use a powered hub for some devices.
Not sure if it is your problem at all but worth mentioning. If I plug my MOTU MIDISPORT 128 8x8 interface into a USB3 Port, I get a shit load of stuck notes. No problem at all with it plugged into a USB2 port. I have other USB2 items not liking USB3 despite it being meant to be backwards compatible.
I researched a lot, plus threw in what I knew regarding USB ports. In my laptop, there are 3 USB ports. I put my interface, and my main keyboard into 2 of those ports. The reasoning is this…if I have a problem during performance, my interface and main keyboard will most likely get me through, until I can evaluate the problem. To me, they are the 2 essential pieces I can rely on, because they are directly connected to the laptop.
My powered 8 port hub is connected to the third port. In that port, I run a Line 6 pedal, my upper keyboard, wireless mouse, and sometimes a 3rd keyboard. With powered hubs, any ports past 4 will have reduced power. Since you only derive a set amount of power from a usb port, many connections to the same port will split the power, and will make the port possibly unstable.
Thus, the “powered” hub. It basically adds power to all it’s ports, so the laptop doesn’t have to split power to several devices. The computer only has to transfer information, not power, which makes it very convenient to us gear accumulating audio nerds.
Understand, a USB cable also needs to be able to handle the power and communications. There are many cheap cables in the market, but if we don’t meet standards, problems will arise.
See This:
I cured my sticking notes during a gig, by simply turning the keyboard off/on. I later found my USB cable wasn’t making good connection, because the connector became loose fitting from many ins and outs. The laptop connection can also be worn out. I replaced the cable, and had no trouble since. Cables DO wear out, which is why I carry several spares.
My 2nd keyboard is mostly used for organs, which is why only my organs started hanging notes. Simple fix in my case…replace the cable.
“Sliding” is what caused my notes to stick. I would check the cable, and/or the USB port, as well as the laptop connection. These ports really take a lot of abuse. If you accidentally hit the connection, the little blue male connection can easily be bent just enough to make partial connection, thus sticky notes with a large midi send like a slide. There are some products made to insure a healthy connection I used several years ago when I repaired small circuit boards. If I can find the product I used, I will post it here. It was a life saver many times it’s worth.
