LP MIDI - Just why is it so frustrating?

[Horseface]

Hello fellows!

First post, but it's unfortunately not a cheery one.

Late last year I bought myself a Stage II Phatty to use with Logic. I've got a few vintage analogue synths and they all behave themselves nicely with Logic. The Phatty is my first modern analogue synth and I expected great things from it. I like the sound, but the MIDI is driving me insane.

At least 5 times per session, the Little Phatty stops sending or responding to MIDI and I can't make it begin sending/receiving again unless I turn the Phatty off and back on again. Sometimes that works, other times I have to restart everything in order to get things working again.

But, it's not just Logic and the USB MIDI. I also tried hooking up the Phatty to a Line 6 MIDI interface and running it off a sequencer on my iPad. Same problem. The Phatty eventually loses MIDI connectivity meaning that I have to restart the Phatty. I also tried using the Phatty as a MIDI controller for iPad audio software and again, it loses MIDI connectivity after a while.

So, it appears that it's not just MIDI over USB, but also MIDI over the DIN cables that's problematic.

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong here. Is there a setting in a sub sub sub menu I just haven't set right? Judging by all the MIDI problems others are having on this board, I think there might be something seriously wrong with the LP MIDI implementation. If something is wrong, is it possible to fix with a software update, or is it hardware related?

This is quite possibly the most frustrating synth I've owned as far as MIDI is concerned. I'd really love to know if there's a solution for this or whether I should just sell it and be done with it. I love the LP sound and interface and the idea of an analogue synth sitting on my desk which doubles as a controller keyboard, but it's really not working which is a huge shame.

[Set]

Hum quite a shame nobody didn't tried to give some helps. I understand your frustration...I'm not sure about those problems. Two reasons :

• First, i don't have that problem because i'm just basically using midi (note on/off velocity pitch bend but not advanced fancy stuff)

• Second, saw a lot of thread in the forum that confused me

I remember a thread on the board where some users were complaining about midi note freeze. Seems that Amos (one moog dev) did try to fix those out but i'm not sure this is finally fixed and btw why does those firwmare updates aren't officially available on the moog website.

Can someone that followed the forum more actively cast some lights there ?
Btw does Amos just disappeared from the forum ? That was nice to saw some guys of the moog staff involve here. I just feel like this board is dying since some months.

[Voltor07]

Amos hasn't disappeared, he's just really really busy. He's pretty much the only software developer at Moog currently, and he's got a LOT on his plate. As to why the updates aren't on the Moog Music site, I dunno.

[Set]

Yup I guess he must be. Didn't wanted to sound like mean.

Aside from doing music, get on tour or being in studio i'm also a programmer myself so i understand and can't blame him. That's also the reason why i'm not that much active on this board.

However, it's a bit a shame to see all those posts relating phatty's issues without any answers. It's kinda confusing too.

So finally does the midi problems are all fixed with the latest amos updates ?
Where can we download those updates ? Is it an official moog solution for the midi issues ?

Can someone summarize all this for future readers or maybe pin a thread about this.
That'd be nice.

[Voltor07]

You could try e-mailing Amos {at} moog MUsic d0t com. He's usually quick to respond via e-mail.

[Sir Nose]

Here is the tread where the "usb firmware" is offered by amos for the slim.
http://forum.moogmusic.com/viewtopic.ph ... =75#p93748

Not sure if it is the same code for the stage 2. I do know both the slim and stage 2 have a second processor for handling midi (both din and usb). I appears to have never been finished and offered for official release. A version for the slim that could only be load from a windows machine was offered in the thread above.

[mrkeeny]

I have exactly the same issue. LP Stage II USB MIDI

Is there an update for this model? The synth is bliming unusable curently!

[misterpete]

FYI~ i feel your pain
but i have never ever seen this problem with the Slim Phatty and Logic
with USB or DIN
is that because i am still running 10.6.8? ...what OS are you guys running?

Hello fellows!

First post, but it's unfortunately not a cheery one.

Late last year I bought myself a Stage II Phatty to use with Logic. I've got a few vintage analogue synths and they all behave themselves nicely with Logic. The Phatty is my first modern analogue synth and I expected great things from it. I like the sound, but the MIDI is driving me insane.

At least 5 times per session, the Little Phatty stops sending or responding to MIDI and I can't make it begin sending/receiving again unless I turn the Phatty off and back on again. Sometimes that works, other times I have to restart everything in order to get things working again.

But, it's not just Logic and the USB MIDI. I also tried hooking up the Phatty to a Line 6 MIDI interface and running it off a sequencer on my iPad. Same problem. The Phatty eventually loses MIDI connectivity meaning that I have to restart the Phatty. I also tried using the Phatty as a MIDI controller for iPad audio software and again, it loses MIDI connectivity after a while.

So, it appears that it's not just MIDI over USB, but also MIDI over the DIN cables that's problematic.

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong here. Is there a setting in a sub sub sub menu I just haven't set right? Judging by all the MIDI problems others are having on this board, I think there might be something seriously wrong with the LP MIDI implementation. If something is wrong, is it possible to fix with a software update, or is it hardware related?

This is quite possibly the most frustrating synth I've owned as far as MIDI is concerned. I'd really love to know if there's a solution for this or whether I should just sell it and be done with it. I love the LP sound and interface and the idea of an analogue synth sitting on my desk which doubles as a controller keyboard, but it's really not working which is a huge shame.

[funkerstronic]

I've got the same problem with the lp exactly. but not in logic... fl studio works not better with th lp. the lp misses a slave funktion. it really was not make for.midi. I've searched the whole internet to get a solution but nothing... did you solved the problem?

Sry for.my bad english but i'm from germany ^^

[Amos]

one quick suggestion, make absolutely sure you're not sending "MIDI TIme Code" (MTC) -- this is different than MIDI Clock, which is not a problem... but MTC causes bad behavior on the Little Phatty. I'll fix this as soon as I can.

-Amos

[funkerstronic]

I have set it to Midi Clock & MTC but no difference

[Amos]

I have set it to Midi Clock & MTC but no difference

don't do that. never, ever send MTC to the Little Phatty. It *will* cause problems, until I fix it.

current USB firmware is v33 for LP Stage II, v34 for Slim Phatty. This number is displayed in the System Utilities. If you are running an older version of the USB firmware, then you might have problems which would be solved by the newer firmware. If you only have a Mac, then take your Phatty to a PC or bring a PC to your Phatty to do the update. If that's simply not a realistic option, you can order a replacement USB board from Moog, or send yourUSB board to Moog for programming.

[Ledbetter]

I've never had any midi problems with my LP, but the newest firmware I can find at the Moog Music site is 3.12 at this link:

http://www.moogmusic.com/products/phatt ... nloads-tab

[funkerstronic]

Ok i will check it when my lp is back...

[Stuka]

FWIW -

As I posted in another thread, I'm using an Akai MPK25 as my controller for my Slim Phatty, and as my master clock source for my Dark Time sequencer, MoogerFoogers, etc.

I was getting some weird results with my SP - reduced volume levels, hung notes, issues transferring patch sets with the stand-alone Editor etc., especially when or after using the MPK transport controls to start/stop my sequencer and drum apps. It turns out that the default transport setting of the MPK uses a combination of MMC (MIDI machine control) and MIDI clock. After I saw the comment from Amos about MTC, I changed my transport settings on the MPK to send MIDI clock only, then did another factory reset on the SP. Since I did that, I have had NO issues with my SP, even after using the Editor to change patch sets several times.

Might be worth a loook...