Why do my MIDI instruments go out of tune?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Why do my MIDI instruments go out of tune?

Hi. I've been struggling with my software instruments sporadically going out of tune for months now. Today I opened an entirely new project, creatEd an audio track and a software instrument track. I brought in a Wav file on the audio track, and I chose one of the electric piano resets for the software instrument track, and begin playing along. Within seconds, the instrument goes wildly out of tune. This is before I've recorded anything. when I try to record there's a 50/50 chance it will be in tune. Or the part will be in tune the first, second, maybe third time I play it back, and severely out of tune the next time. I'm using an Axiom 25. Does anyone know why this is happening?

Thanks!

Andy

Posted on Jan 17, 2015 9:49 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 18, 2015 10:50 PM in response to The Art Of Sound

Actually... Dowload Midi Monitor (free app) here to test...

http://www.snoize.com/MIDIMonitor/

Now connect your Axiom and watch the monitor to see what is being sent by it..

It should give you a clue as to the real cause/controller that is the issue....

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Answer 2

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,428 points

Jan 18, 2015 11:45 PM in response to dulcimer

What Nigel says: first check what it is exactly. If it is fixable by recalibrating the pitchwheel (don't know if you can on the Axiom), then do that. If it can't be fixed but you can't afford or are just not in the mood to get a new controller, then you can filter out pitchbend in the project settings:

or you could insert a Transformer in the environment that filters out Pitchbend. Optimus Prime won't work though 😝

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Answer 3

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,428 points

Jan 18, 2015 1:34 AM in response to dulcimer

Andy, when this happens (I know you posted over at LPH, without resolution so far: http://www.logicprohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=111819&start=20) could you insert a Tuner and see how much detuning is happening?

Also, have you disconnected any and all of your MIDI hardware to exclude it? Because to me this still sounds like you hardware is sending out unwanted (tuning, pitchbend?) messages.

http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html

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Answer 4

dulcimer Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 18, 2015 8:35 PM in response to Eriksimon

Hey Erik, I only had about 15 minutes to experiment this morning so I didn't insert the tuner, but I did unplug my Axiom. Sure enough, the stuff I'd recorded before played in tune, over and over again. I plugged the Axiom back in, and sure enough, things went haywire after a few seconds - radically out of tune. So yeah, I'd say my controller is doing something bizarre, which is what I thought in the first place. Now the question is, is this something I can fix myself by programming the Axiom or does the unit need repair? whst would you do in this situation?

thanks,

Andy

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Answer 5

dulcimer Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 19, 2015 1:41 PM in response to Eriksimon

OK guys, here's the scoop. I've been using MIDI Monitor and it's an interesting app. I've seen unwanted pitch bend events appearing as the song plays. There were about 30, some of them even when there was no audible MIDI part happening. Somewhere in the midst of my experimenting and researching I found instructions for resetting my Axiom, which I didn 't even know was possible. So, I saved my first MIDI Monitor report, turned off the Axiom and turned it back on while holding the + and - keys. Then I played the song again and got a second MIDI Monitor report. Amazingly enough, there were maybe two pitch bend events in the report. I tried the procedure again, but by the time the third report showed about eight pitch bend reports I just stopped.

So thank you. I am now convinced that my Axiom is basically a tool of the Devil. I realize I could filter out pitch bend events, but since I like pitch bend, in its place, I am going to look for another controller.

Know anyone who wants an Axiom 25, real cheap? 😉

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Answer 6

Jan 19, 2015 1:47 PM in response to dulcimer

If you are using speakers..

Make sure the Axiom isn't picking up vibrations from the speakers..... as that can affect sensitive 'controllers' 🙂

To test, use headphones....

If thats the case.. maybe some foam rubber underneath the Axiom, will resolve the problem....

However, I suspect it's going to be faulty gear to be honest.. but it's worth a try....

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Answer 7

dulcimer Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 19, 2015 2:03 PM in response to The Art Of Sound

No speakers this time. It's the controller, I'm sure of it now. The funny thing (which is not really THAT funny) is that it's been happening for months on a variety of projects, monitor, headphones - doesn't matter - and I've been investigating all kinds of things within Logic that I've never even dreamed of looking into, and in the end, my first reaction was true - " I think something is wrong with my controller." well, I was forced to learn some stuff about MIDI, so that's good.

I sure hope this isn't a false new start. I can't wait to actually get back to work on music again.

thanks again for your help.

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