Crumar D9X Drawbars freeze Cubase/Nuendo 13

Cubase
1

I’ve had this problem since I got the drawbars. They work fine if I’m using the VB3II standalone or in GigPerformer. When using in Cubase, 9 out of 10 times, Cubase freezes. I can’t move anything or click anywhere. As soon as I unplug the midi to the D9X, Cubase/Nuendo works fine again. The D9X is using an Arduino processor. I’m not sure if they have some known issue. It also doesn’t always create a dmp file, but I’ve attached one from yesterday.

Are there any tricks to getting this working reliably? I’ve already tried different USB ports. The problem became better for a day or so but it’s the same now; freezes Cubase/Nuendo 13.
Nuendo 13.0.51 64bit 2025.2.12 8.09.24.025-freezedump.dmp (1.2 MB)

2

Yes I can confirm this.

My work around is to plug a phone charger USB to power the unit then use a midi cable into a midi interface (midex 8 still working here) .

It took me a while to work out what was freezing Cubase but this turned out to be it.

it worked perfectly in any other DAW though.

There’s something about the midi implementation since V12 that causes this.

I had no joy from Crumar or Steinberg about this unfortunately.

:frowning:
M

3

Just an idea, have you tried different Device drivers in the “Studio Setup”->“MIDI port setup”?

4

I have not tried switching to different midi driver version (WinRT) in Cubase/Nuendo. I will give that a shot.

I will also try powering the D9X some other way other than through the USB port. It is going into a Hub right now, so it’s sort of isolated from the computer.

5

Is the external hardware configured to MIDI THRU ?

If yes, that could explain freezing, since that can trigger a infinite MIDI loop, causing an overwhelming MIDI message storm.

So either disable MIDI THRU in the hardware or in Cubase.

6

I have just been connecing it via USB, so Midi thru isn’t part of that.
I just made an adapter to try running it via midi instead of USB. I will report back.
It’s a very cool device, but has cause a lot of freeze problems over the couple years I’ve had it. It would be great to have it working fully.

7

MIDI THRU can be software coded/enabled in USB MIDI just as much as in 5pin MIDI.

8

The solution was in fact to connect the D9X using the mini phone jack Midi port. No freezes now at all. I tried the other option of changing the Midi in the Cubase settings but that had no effect. Thank you all for the help. I just ordered a larger Midi to USB as I needed more than the two ports I have currently. Problem solved.

9

yes, that’s what I ended up doing.

However I still think this is workaround for a probelm that needs addressing via Steinberg and or Crumar.

I had zero issues with the D9X in Reaper or Studio One for a year.

M

10

I would agree about that. Have you noticed that if you use the speed button on the D9X that Cubase records it not as on off, but a slow ramp? My Midi data looks like triangle waveforms. Maybe it only happens with the USB connection, I have not tested it as Midi yet, but it seems that Cubase can’t handle the mod wheel info (Leslie speed) toggling from zero to 127. I’m hoping that is cured by using the midi port as well. That would make it infinitely more useful.