HELP!!! MIDI Question

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HughJasol

HughJasol

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A few months ago, I purchased a Rane MPE-14 MIDI programmable equalizer. It turns out that the MIDI implementation on this unit is apparently too old to be able to keep up with today's MIDI devices. Here's a copy/paste of most of what Rane technical support told me:

Here's the short answer: the sending device is causing the issue and that's where you need to look for advanced settings.

MIDI implementation within the MPE series is circa 1985 or thereabouts.
This means most any newer CPU and / or software will have much higher performance capabilities than almost any MIDI unit built during the same time period as our MPE series.

Something to check in your software / hardware control system are delay of transmit (how long to wait before sending a message), which addresses overall system "sync". This parameter keeps other units in time with those which may process MIDI data more slowly. So far as baud rate and speed related parameters, these settings vary in description as well as advanced options, so reading the documentation from the controller vendor are a first step. If no options exist to reduce speed and message size to manageable levels, then some third-party MIDI synchronization and master-clock system may be required. Details and use of this type of hardware is far beyond the scope of our support and is better handled by a MIDI hardware specialist, perhaps someone that is knowledgeable in synthesizer MIDI sequencing devices.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what specific devices may be available out there to act as some sort of user-configurable "buffer" to do what I need? Thanks!
 
I'm not a synth/sequencer guy, so I don't know all the ins & outs of MIDI beyond what most guitarists would need to know. So there are standalone Master Clock devices that do just that? As I think about this, I believe I would need separate OUT and THRU jacks because I only want to slow down the MIDI data going to the EQ (connected to MIDI OUT), and have the MIDI data going to the rest of my devices pass on unaltered (MIDI THRU) . . .
 
Shark Diver":l1hmqeer said:
What do you need it to do?
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Slow down the baud rate, and perhaps tweak other data transfer parameters . . .


CaseyCor":l1hmqeer said:
It sounds to me you just need a Master Clock? :confused:
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Thanks! - I did some searching, and sure enough there are standalone MIDI master clock devices. I'm not 100% that's what I need, but it sounds like it. The only problem is that the devices I saw range in price from $300+ to $1100! :shocked: If that what it's going to take to use my circa 1980's equipment, forget it - I'll sell the Rane EQ and get something current. :cry:

Any other more price-conscious solutions, or are my choices pretty limited?
 
racerevlon":3pl3ify0 said:
Find yourself a Digitech MEQ-14 or a TC1128
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Thanks! That gave me something to go on . . . But from what I'm reading right now, the MEQ-14 was manufactured from 1989-1993; which doesn't make it much (if at all) younger than my Rane MPE-14 - so won't I just be back in the same boat? They also seem to be just as non-existent in the used market as the Rane is too (there are none available on eBay - current or recently completed).

And while I don't know when exactly the TC 1128 was released, from what I'm reading on the web I know they were being manufactured at least as early as 1992; and it appears they're almost as scarce as the MEQ-14 and the MPE-14! Plus, the TC 1128 is mono not stereo :aww: . . .

I don't get it - in today's day and age, doesn't anyone currently make a rackmount 2-channel MIDI programmable equalizer that doesn't cost fortune (maybe $400-$500 new, $250-$350 used)? :confused:
 
HughJasol":3kfmxfbp said:
I don't get it - in today's day and age, doesn't anyone currently make a rackmount 2-channel MIDI programmable equalizer that doesn't cost fortune (maybe $400-$500 new, $250-$350 used)? :confused:
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David:

Alesis was making one for a few years recently. I think it was the DEQ-230D. Do some research on it online. Anyways, it was a 1U unit and you might have better luck finding and using one of these - given they were produced much more recently!
 
I'm lost on what it's not doing. Changing presets fast enough?

I think I have one of those Alesis eqs brand new, never opened. I bought it for a PA and never used it. I will look if you are interested.
 
Thanks Rob - you da man! :rock: I'll check it out . . .

Shark Diver: I just noticed that you mentioned an Alesis EQ as well (I never even noticed that until I was typing this :lol: :LOL: ). Let me know what model it is, and maybe we can do some sort of deal for it - Thanks!

Anyone wanna buy a Rane MPE-14? I just spent $100 at an authorized service center to get it working (they replaced 4 electrolytic filter capacitors - I could have done that myself for probably $10-$15 :doh: ) . . . so it's all good to go for years to come! ;)
 
Shark Diver":qpqi1hr5 said:
I'm lost on what it's not doing. Changing presets fast enough?
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Here's what happens: Whenever I send any sort of program change on the MIDI bus to it, it just resets - I can't change presets on it via MIDI control, as all it does whenever it receives data is reset. In fact, it can't get past the point of determining if the data coming in is for the channel it's listening on - even with the Rane EQ listening on say Channel 3, and me sending on say Channel 1, the Rane EQ still resets - it doesn't know to ignore the data. And no, I'm not getting bit by OMNI mode here (as is very common for people to do) . . .
 
Wow that sucks. And is weird. I have never heard of that. MIDI Solutions could probably help you, but not sure it would be worth the $ or extra outboard gear. I'll check on the Alesis today.
 
Sounds good . . . looks like the Alesis may be what I need. The 2-channel DEQ230D is now discontinued (go figure!) and has been replaced by the 8-channel DEQ830. I could use either, although the DEQ830 may be overkill, and at about $325-$350 used it runs a little more than twice what a used DEQ230D goes for (about $150-$160).
 
You know, reading the email from Rane tech support again just made me realize something: I've only ever been able to test this with my G-System as the MIDI controller. And I know someone here (or maybe it was on the MTS Forum) has used the Rane MPE-14 in their guitar rig successfully - because that's where I heard of Rane for the first time, and what brought my attention to the MPE-14 in the first place. So maybe a different MIDI controller will use a slightly different MIDI implementation than the G-System, and use default baud rate and data transfer parameters more compatible with the Rane EQ? It just so happens I've got a GCP & GCX shipping out to me on Monday, so later next week I can try the GCP and see what happens . . . this makes sense to me, and I'm feeling pretty optimistic now! :yes:

But Shark Diver, I'd still be interested in your Alesis unit anyway - PLMK . . . Thanks!
 
This is interesting..
I know that Rane unit should work just fine for your application. Ibe never heard of anyone needing any extra gear such as the Master Clock I suggested before to get it working, although that might still do it. Keep us updated on this, I'm curious!
 
I just read the OP again, and came up with a thought. Can you adjust the MIDI message sending speed on the G-System? That might be worth looking into. The message speed might be too fast for the Rane to pick up, since it's an old device. If it's adjustable on the G-System, you could slow it down to a speed in which the Rane can work with.

The Master Clock I suggested would basically do the same thing. It would sync all of your MIDI devices so they send MIDI messages at the same speed.
 
CaseyCor":233e3iof said:
I just read the OP again, and came up with a thought. Can you adjust the MIDI message sending speed on the G-System? That might be worth looking into. The message speed might be too fast for the Rane to pick up, since it's an old device. If it's adjustable on the G-System, you could slow it down to a speed in which the Rane can work with.

The Master Clock I suggested would basically do the same thing. It would sync all of your MIDI devices so they send MIDI messages at the same speed.
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As far as I know, there are no MIDI parameter adjustments available on the G-System. It turns out though that the G-System is the culprit. I just got my GCP today, and lo and behold - tonight I tried it with the Rane EQ it worked like a champ! Naturally, I just bought an Alesis DEQ230 yesterday :doh: :lol: :LOL: (actually, I don't mind - you can see from my earlier post that I had a feeling that the G-System may have been the issue and that I had a good feeling that it might work with the GCP).

Thanks for the help Casey et al . . . :thumbsup:
 
It was just as I thought it sounds like. Glad to hear you've got it sorted out! Are you still using the G-Force for effects? Using the board itself, or controlling it with the GCX?
 
Right now and for the last year I've been using the G-System. I plan to replace it in my rig with the GSP-1101 (until I can replace that with an Axe-FX Ultra in maybe 6-12 months when the price/demand isn't so high), the GCP (which I'd like someday to replace with the Fractal MFC-101 - this thing looks awesome!), and the GCX (which I could very well replace with either an RJM RG-16 or a SwitchBlade 8M - I figured I'd give the GCX a try first though since I got a good deal on it).

However, I have gigs tomorrow and Saturday so I definitely won't be reconfiguring anything before then.
 
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