CME users -- or anybody else -- HELP!!!

Question

Level 1

10 points

CME users -- or anybody else -- HELP!!!

I've been a MainStage user for just over a year now. I'm on Logic 9/MS 2.

I just purchased a CME VX70 controller. Sweet controller, motorized faders, built like a tank. But something's amiss. I've seen other posts on here regarding CME, but I've never seen if there was resolution.

Here's my dilemma. Actually, there are 2.

1. The faders won't respond to MainStage. In other words, they don't motorize. In Layout Mode, all the parameters are correct, including "Send value to." It's set to send CC values to the CME's faders. They just don't respond.

2. When the CME is hooked up to the Mac, MainStage WILL NOT rewire to Reason. I know not very many of you use rewire apps, but for me, Reason comprises 80 percent of my sounds. Without them, I'm sunk. When you try to set the MIDI out on each channel strip, it doesn't even give Reason as an option, as it usually does. It ONLY shows the 3 CME ports.

It's almost as if the CME is taking total control of MainStage. It doesn't listen. It only talks. Kind of like my wife. (KIDDING!)

If any of you CME users have figured out how to use MainStage with your instrument, please chime in. Or if anybody else has any suggestions, I'm all ears. Spent seven hours on it yesterday ... no luck. Are there parameters within the CME that I need to change? I think I've done everything I can within MainStage, but is there something I'm missing?

By the way, CME is no help. Their website is junk, their forum returns a 404 Error, and they haven't responded to my email S.O.S.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Signed,

Desperate

Message was edited by: lccmusicman

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Jan 27, 2011 9:22 AM

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Answer 1

ahicox

Level 1

44 points

Jan 28, 2011 6:31 PM in response to lccmusicman

I feel your CME pain.
I've got the UF-60 ... no motorized faders.

I kind of doubt that the motorized faders are gonna work with mainstage (but I could be wrong on that).

In any case, I've found that I can't even use mine via the USB port.

It's flaky as heck. I suspect that CME's USB-midi implementation is "hacktastic". For instance, plugged in via USB, the CME completely refuses to co-exist with my iControl. In fact moving faders on the UF-60 will cause the iControl to flipp the "f" out ... blinkin lights, crazy midi messages. In logic, it sees two iControls when the UF-60 is plugged into USB ... dunno, did they rip-off the chip that goes in an iControl? I've got no idea.

In any case ... all my problems were solved by plugging into the old-school midi out with a cheapie in 1x1 midi interface.

hope that helps ...

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Answer 2

valgreen

Level 1

75 points

Jan 29, 2011 3:28 AM in response to ahicox

time ago I was looking for that kind of controller...I still think the CME VX concept is brilliant: motorized faders, USB connected, up to 88 wighted Keys, and even optional audio interface, all in a single device. I hope some other manufacturers will

But after checking some units with Mainstage I detected many bugs in its internal OS, plus the general opinion that tech assistance is not helping at all. Some MIDI messages causes the unit to freeze, and sending MIDI to use the faders is very limited and not possible from MS. Plus, the weighted keyboard is not well balanced, in my opinion.

After considering many options and configurations, I end up using two keyboards...a weighted 76 keys (a second hand Studio logic, with a nice touch) and a Novation Nocturn 49; this unit has no motorized faders BUT its rotary encoders have leds to show parameter position, and its syncs really well with Mainstage Patchs.
When I change a patch all my leds turn into its right position, so I don't need to see any hardware knob or fader to move (which can also cause mechanical problems after some time, and even undesired MIDI messages if vibration occurs on stage). If I want to turn down any parameter a little bit, I don't have either to look at the lights, I just know it changes from its current point in Mainstage.
It works so well I don't even have to see my MS screen anymore when I'm on stage, excepting to ensure I'm on the right Set/patch 🙂

If Novation made a 76 or 88 weighted-keys version I would definetly get it and use a single keyboard.
Here is a picture of my actual setup and MS concert file
http://gallery.me.com/angelvalverde#100075

best,
valgreen

Message was edited by: valgreen

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Answer 3

lccmusicman Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 29, 2011 12:53 PM in response to valgreen

Wow. Doesn't sound promising.

Here I am four days after receiving the keyboard, and still no luck. It's just amazing. The unit simply won't talk with MainStage. And you guys are right ... CME customer service is no help. In fact, I'd say it's an oxymoron. Four days, and no response to my email to tech support. Not even a "we got your email ... sorry, but you're on your own." Just nothing.

You guys probably know ... MainStage WILL control motorized faders. I've done it for nearly a year now with my Behringer BCF2000, which works great. I've been using the Behringer and an old Yamaha S08 keyboard, and it's worked flawlessly. I was hoping to (a) have fewer pieces of gear, and (b) use a lighter weight keyboard (the Yamaha is very heavy). Plus, the idea of one USB cable was really attractive.

But it just doesn't work.

So I unless I hear something different by the weekend, I'm going to have to send it back. It's a shame, really. I love the keyboard from a hardware standpoint. But if you're going to spend $900 on a controller, it ought to work.

Thanks for the help.

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