by ericL » 06 Aug 2014, 21:19
I've just started using my NS2 as a controller for a Yamaha Motif XS Rack and I've stumbled onto what I believe is a bug in how the NS2 should be transmitting note off messages upon program changes. It does not appear to be doing this as I'd expect, which results in hung MIDI messages on sustained notes when changing programs. This seems to only happen when changing from a program sending MIDI out via External to a new program that is not sending MIDI or is focused on a slot with a different MIDI channel.
I am on version 1.72. I have turned off MIDI for each section and only plan to use MIDI out via the External section.
For example, I have a simple program using Slot A sending MIDI on channel 3 to the XS Rack. If I am holding a note on the keyboard (or with sustain pedal) and I switch to my next program, a simple program using Slot A, but no MIDI, only internal NS2 sound...the MIDI from the first program will hang after I make the program change. The Panic button does not fix the problem if my new program is not sending out MIDI, but the hung note will disappear if I move back to the first program that was sending out MIDI.
I need to do some further testing on it, but I ran across several scenarios similar to the above upon my first try at configuring a small number of my programs to send out MIDI via External. It seems like the NS2 is simply not sending a note off message upon program change, which is what I'd expect.
It does seem that one way to work around this (a bit of effort involved) is to program EACH and EVERY program I use to have the External section enabled with MIDI out on the same channels (I am using channel 3 for Slot A and channel 4 for Slot B). Even if I don't actually send any program or cc changes and I have the External MIDI volume turned to zero, having each program configured like this seems like it would solve my problem of hung notes. It will be time-consuming to do all this programming, unless I can find a quick cut and paste way to do it (not sure if the editor software has this, I need to check).
Essentially, the hung notes are occurring when the MIDI stream is clipped by program change, unless the new program is also transmitting on the same MIDI stream. I hope this makes sense - I am curious if anyone else has encountered this and has any solutions. Also, would Nord consider adding this to their list of bugs to try and fix in the next OS update?
Last edited by
ericL on 06 Aug 2014, 21:21, edited 1 time in total.
Nords: NE2, NS2 88, NS3 Compact x 2
Live rig: NS3, Vent, Radial KL-8, Shure PSM-900 IEM Rig, UE18 & UE7 IEMs.
Studio: Hammond A-101 & Leslie 122, Yamaha CP-80, Yamaha S90, NS2, DSI Prophet-6, Vent II, Roland JX-8P.