No longer able to input MIDI via step input or live recvording

Cubase
,
1

I’ve been using Cubase since probably early-mid 90s - we’re talking a 386 CPU, 4 MB (not GB!) of RAM, 120 MB HDD, in Windows 3.11. It was “Cubase Score”, came on (I think) a single 3.5" Floppy Drive. And it was the scoriong capability I was after, then MIDI sequecing, basically no audio. I loved it. Went through VST, SX, forget what came after that.

Anyway, I’m now using Cubase 13 Pro, which has been very useful and has way more capability; also using it for audio recording, which has been great as well (for my limited needs - I’m well aware I’m using maybe 5% of it’s capability). But (to finally get to my point!) I’ve had very intermittent problems using a MIDI capable keyboard to step input notes in Score edit. This has been going on in previous versions, with two different keyboards, same problem. I can no longer record live notes and chords either - but it recognizes my Keyboard as a MIDI device, and it registers in the little gauge in the lower right corner of the screen. Same for my EWI USB wind controller. Both work fine in Band-in-a Box (recording MIDI live), so it seems this is a software problem, not hardware (and yes both the keyboard and EWI show up as active and working properly in Windows Device Manager).

Last night it had worked fine earlier, but soon became totally unable to enter notes, or record live input, at all. I had just installed 15 Pro as a trial, and it has exactly the same problem. And same issue with all three available drivers.

I’m at a total loss as to what to do at this point. It has always been pretty easy and simple to step input in Score edit - which is great because I use that method a lot. But it has gone from an intermittent to frequent to all the time problem.

Any help or suggestions of any kind would be much appreciated. Dorico seems to be getting almost all the attention here, but Cubase is still a Steinberg product, and I would really appreciate some help. I am pretty frustrated and desperate.

Thanks. So sorry for the lengthy post!!

2

The Band in a Box app is working on the same PC, even when Cubase is not?

What exact version of Windows are you on? (if you type “winver” into search and run it, and then paste in the build info, that will help)

What MIDI devices do you have attached? Not just the ones being used actively.

Pete
Microsoft

3

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  • The Band in a Box app is working on the same PC, even when Cubase is not? > YES
  • What exact version of Windows are you on? > see above
  • What MIDI devices do you have attached? Not just the ones being used actively.

    Just the Casio CT-S1 keyboard; the EWI was just to see if it worked when the keyboard didn’t.

Thanks so much for the very prompt reply!

4

If either of those devices, which are probably only intended to send MIDI information to the computer, show up as “MIDI Out” in your MIDI Setup in Cubase, disable the output and enable only the MIDI Input / Source.

I’m not sure if Cubase 13 does this, but other recent releases of Cubase would send an identity request to some devices, and if those don’t respond properly, it would hang Cubase.

The fact that the Band in a Box app works regardless makes me think that’s not the actual issue, but worth taking a look at.

Pete
Microsoft

5

Thanks again Pete!

No, I only have my keyboard as MIDI input, output is to the Steinberg Halion Sonic software synth.

6

I think you misunderstood. Go to your Studio Setup in Cubase. Look at the page listing MIDI Input and Output ports. Is your Casio keyboard listed under Outputs? If so, disable that output.

7

Looks like that was the problem. Step input is now working, and consistently, but only in some projects, others still not. But at least this appears to be the culprit - I just need to figure out why some still don’t have it.

THANKS! I really appreciate the prompt response - I did not expect that :slight_smile: