I can record midi data from my Mason & Hamlin Piano Disc Pro Record through my MOTU Traveller into Logic but Logic won't send midi data out to the MOTU Traveller to the Piano Disc player

Question

Level 1

0 points

I can record midi data from my Mason & Hamlin Piano Disc Pro Record through my MOTU Traveller into Logic but Logic won't send midi data out to the MOTU Traveller to the Piano Disc player

Hello All,

I can record midi data from my Mason & Hamlin Piano Disc Pro Record through my MOTU Traveller into Logic Pro 9.1.8 but Logic won't send the midi data back out to the MOTU Traveller and thus to the Piano Disc player. I got it to playback one time but have no idea how and when it did it was looping or something because the velocity was way high coming back in and the damper pedal was slamming down. When I play a key on the piano the midi "in" light on the Traveller lights up. When I play the track back on my computer no lights blink on the Traveller and when I did the apple midi studio test in utilities when I play a key I get the confirmation signal noise and the Traveller blinks when I click on the down arrow of the Traveller in the Apple midi studio test the midi out light on the traveller never lights and the signal light on the piano does not blink either. No outbound signal at all...

I have messed with every possible parameter I can find and and have had help from one of Piano Disc's premier editors but no luck. The piano was prepped for me on Logic so it would work with my studio. I'm positive it's my fault and I'm overlooking something really simple and stupid but what!??!

Somebody please help. Thank you all in advance for ANY ideas you might have!

Logic Studio, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Sep 20, 2013 6:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

mopac01

Level 1

7 points

Oct 29, 2013 1:17 PM in response to Blues Piano

Blues Piano,

I'm not sure if this will be a help or not. I'm so Logic Pro wet behind the ears that I make newbies look experienced. However, I'm not expecting many on the Apple support forums have a PianoDisc system, much less one with the new optical record strip. While I don't have any record strip on my PianoDisc, I do have a PianoDisc iQ that's only a month old. I've been playing converted paper scrolls from hundred year old player pianos through it via the MIDI in port of the PianoDisc CPU. I've found I have to open the MIDI file in Logic Pro (10.0.4) then go to <Track><New External MIDI Track> then copy the existing track to that new external track. Only then can I see in the Track inspector (defaults left side of screen with the Icon for the instrument) the "Port" parameter. Then I can select my external MIDI device in that Port selector.

I've also encountered problems with the PianoDisc not using enough force on the notes or using too much force. To get around this problem, until I understand Logic better, I've been setting minimum and maximum volicities. To do that I right click on the track and select "Select All." Then I right click again and select "MIDI" then "MIDI Transform" then "Velocity Limiter." In the resulting pop up window in the center is a drop down and you can play with the velocity from "MIN" to "MAX" along with "ADD" "SUBTRACT" etc.

I hope this helps. I envy you your Mason & Hamlin. If you need more help on this just email me at pfleischmann at mac dot com.

Reply

Answer 2

Pancenter

Level 6

14,644 points

Oct 29, 2013 1:22 PM in response to mopac01

He posted this message twice and there were several replies.. mine I think.

Here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5341018?answerId=23090569022#23090569022

Reply

Answer 3

mopac01

Level 1

7 points

Oct 29, 2013 1:38 PM in response to Pancenter

Pancenter,

Sorry I wound up too late to the party on this question. I was just so thrilled to find somebody else posting about interfacing with their PianoDisc system.

I just saw another one of your posts from the summer and it looks like I belong to the demographic you're probably not a fan of relative to Logic - beginners. I'm sorry if my joining is part of the "herd" that you believe may lead to Logic's downfall. I honestly didn't want to as I was happy to be messing with Garageband as I can't actually play the piano. (I can read music and have played woodwinds, but I can't play the piano - which is what I was using Garageband for.) I've been playing with Garageband solely in anticipation of my piano coming back from rebuilding with a player installed. (The rebuilding was for my daughter who can actually play this thing. The player was for me.) I had been "playing" converted player piano scrolls in Garageband finding the ones I liked and would want to play on the acoustic when it returned. It was only later I discovered Garageband was "feature stunted" from Apple not to allow MIDI out. Compared to Garageband, Logic wasn't intuitive, although I have pretty much figured out what I needed without too much manual time - Google is your friend.

Anyway, I didn't really intend to wreck your DAW. Garageband was simply missing the one thing I needed.

Reply

Answer 4

Blues Piano Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 30, 2013 8:23 PM in response to mopac01

Hi Mopac and Pancenter,

The Piano Disc system is phenomenal but we're still getting a few kinks out for me to record Piano Disc tracks for the company on the piano but I've been working with the head of tech who is working on a software patch for me.

When I play tracks on the piano it captures all the key data but is having some slight pedal data issues and the patch has been created but for whatever reason I can't get my PC (patch language) to talk with the PD system. It's not the PD system but probably my old PC.

Mopac, Pancenter is very Logic savvy, though I haven't read any of his other posts I suspect if you ever have a problem if you seek him out he will set you right.

I've been using Logic for about 8 or 9 years now after switching from Cubase and would never go back or go to Protools unless forced to BUT... I do very limited stuff so I'm little better than a nube.

I'm a Blues Piano player, the most tracks I'm ever piling is maybe 10 and then it's all simple instrumentation and vocals.

Very cool that you got a PD system for your piano. They are awesome! Enjoy it, I'd love to hear some of those old piano scrolls. I think it would be cool to hear Scott Joplin "play" my piano!

All the Best!!!

Reply

Answer 5

Pancenter

Level 6

14,644 points

Oct 30, 2013 9:21 PM in response to mopac01

mopac01

Nobody wrecked anything as far as I know.

I'm actually not going to follow the Mac and Logic any longer, my MacPro and Logic 9 will continue to be a solid platform for the next few years so no worries from me.

I'm not a fan of Apple's planned obsolescence and don't see any point in upgrading a perfectly working system for something I don't need.

have fun!

Reply