Problem with sticking keys/unresponsive Korg K-Series Midi Controller

[CHiZZoPs]

Hi everyone, thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

I'm running a WinXP setup with 1.5 gig of ram, a 3200+ AMD and a E-MU 404 sound card. I just picked up the sound card yesterday, upgrading from my onboard realtek crap, because I had hoped to solve this problem I have with keys on my Korg K-25 midi controller sticking to the "on" position. Also, the midi controller eventually stops responding, and I have to exit Sonar 6 or the native soft synth program and sometimes even turn on/off the midi controller to get it to work again. I'm running it through USB, BTW.

I'm running the ASIO drivers, which have low latency and all. I feel like it might be the midi controller.

Anyone experience this?

[Baron]

Originally Posted by CHiZZoPs

I'm running a WinXP setup with 1.5 gig of ram, a 3200+ AMD and a E-MU 404 sound card. I just picked up the sound card yesterday

More information please

Was there any USB issues before you got the new sound card?

Have you de-activated the on board sound card in BIOS?

Are you running an anti-virus program?

Is the PC connected to the Net?

What other USB devices are connected?

Are you certain the system is running USB 2.0?

Cheers

Baron

[CHiZZoPs]

Thanks for the reply Baron. Here goes:

Yes I was having the problems before with the on-board sound, which is what pushed me to get the E-MU (hoping it would go away with the latency).

I disabled the onboard sound card before I installed the new sound card, removing old drivers as well.

I am certain programs are using the proper E-MU asio driver, too.

I tried re-installing the keyboard drivers, and downloaded new ones from the net.

I am running USB 2.0, and additionally have a USB mouse, hard drive and DVD Burner hooked up as well.

No anti-virus proggie, and yes, connected to the net at all times.

Also in the stand-alone M1 Le midi keyboard program that came bundled with the K25 does this happen.

Thanks again.

[Baron]

Originally Posted by CHiZZoPs

Thanks for the reply Baron. Here goes:

Yes I was having the problems before with the on-board sound, which is what pushed me to get the E-MU (hoping it would go away with the latency).

I disabled the onboard sound card before I installed the new sound card, removing old drivers as well.

I am certain programs are using the proper E-MU asio driver, too.

I tried re-installing the keyboard drivers, and downloaded new ones from the net.

I am running USB 2.0, and additionally have a USB mouse, hard drive and DVD Burner hooked up as well.

No anti-virus proggie, and yes, connected to the net at all times.

Also in the stand-alone M1 Le midi keyboard program that came bundled with the K25 does this happen.

Thanks again.

If you don't have any antivirus program but you are on the net, how do you keep the bugs out?

I see more spyware than virus issues with PCs so have you checked your pc for spy/ad ware.

The ideal is to keep your music machine separate from the net. With all the stuff (anti virus, spyware scanners, firewall, etc) that you really need to explore the net safely, you need a much more powerful machine to still be a reliable DAW.

Anyhow try the following:

Go to the device manager and select your 'USB root hubs
(Plural because you will no doubt have more than one) and, if the option exists, uncheck the box for "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" and reboot.


If that has no effect, then answer these questions:

Have a look at your “PCI to USB advanced host controller” and see if there are any conflicts.

What operating system are you running?

What video card (they can suck resources if underpowered)

Have you tried disconnecting all non essential gear (modem, drives, etc) to see if the problem persists?

Have you tried lowering your screen resolution?

How many processes are running on your system? (Task manager)

Is the USB port your controller is plugged into an original port (motherboard connection) or is it on a PCI card?

Sorry for all these questions but there are just so many G’d damn variables with PCs.

Cheers
Baron

[brandondrury]

Your problem is a unique one, but I have a feeling that the solution will not be.

Like Baron, I'm concerned that you may have a contaminated operating system.

Brandon

[CHiZZoPs]

Thanks for the replies guys. I set the usb power options and will test it tomorrow when I get home. Too busy with work and taking lessons/going to rehearse. GAH!

Brandon, that Chucky graphic gives me the creeps

Baron, thanks for the detailed list of things to check. As far as viri and the like, I just don't click on crazy crap in E-mails and on websites, and use mozilla! Has worked so far I ran a scan with adaware and just had a few cookies, and used the Trend Micro online virus scan, which also came up clean. Also, I just use the built-in video, which is sufficient for everything I do (no games--besides Civ of course ), and shouldn't be drawing any more power than is already prescribed by the system.

You guys don't think this midi controller is broken, right? I mean I just bought it and have barely used it. Then again, this is Japan and the summer is damn humid and my inlaws make me close the windows upstairs to it gets pretty hot. Meh. Seems like a software issue at any rate.

Thanks again.

Kell

[brandondrury]

You guys don't think this midi controller is broken, right?

I haven't ruled that out. Can you try it on another computer (even if it has a crappy stock soundcard?)

I'm guessing the problem is in your corrupted Windows install. You can read my rant about it here. Format Windows XP On Your Dell, HP, Gateway, or other Name Brand Computer ...

Brandon

[CHiZZoPs]

Well before I go re-formatting my PC, I went ahead and took back the midi controller in exchange for a new one. It will get here on Friday or Saturday, so I'll let you guys know what happens.

BTW, after disabling the power setting for USB, while I'm not sure it is related, the keyboard, upon first plugin, read in the "choose midi device" section as, "K?5," or something like that, and wasn't readable. When I restarted it, it was no longer even found on my system. I reinstalled the drivers for it to no avail. That's when I went and returned it.

If that doesn't work then I will definitely consider reinstalling Windows.

[Baron]

Originally Posted by CHiZZoPs

Well before I go re-formatting my PC, I went ahead and took back the midi controller in exchange for a new one. It will get here on Friday or Saturday, so I'll let you guys know what happens.

BTW, after disabling the power setting for USB, while I'm not sure it is related, the keyboard, upon first plugin, read in the "choose midi device" section as, "K?5," or something like that, and wasn't readable. When I restarted it, it was no longer even found on my system. I reinstalled the drivers for it to no avail. That's when I went and returned it.

If that doesn't work then I will definitely consider reinstalling Windows.

I should have mentioned this sooner but the first thing I do, if I suspect an external piece of gear, is try it on another PC. If that is not possible, then you have no alternative but to return it. As just about everyone has at least one PC nowadays, it is usually easy enough to buy a friend a beer and try it on theirs.

The power setting you disabled simply stops the system from going into a semi hibernate mode and shutting down the power to the external device if it has not been used for a pre-determined time. With any system used for DAW you should shut all sleep/hibernate/power saving functions off as they can create all sorts of issues. You have to treat your PC like you make your living from it and only shut it down when you have finished for the day.

Similar issues appear with some presets in some operating systems. For example: in XP Pro, 'Simple File Sharing' is defaulted to 'on' and unless you are on a network this is irrelevant. What it can do is stop you from reading, copying or moving files if you ever change the initial configuration of your system i.e. adding another drive. This can be a major pain until you find the problem. I have seen people re-format their drives because of this when all they had to do was turn off this feature and reset the permissions.

Like Brandon said, I think you might be looking at an OS issue or possibly a USB incompatibility.
I have one printer that refuses to do anything but crash the system if it is connected to the USB 2 port of an installed USB/PCI card on the PC. It works fine on my other PC at USB 2 and all my other USB gadgets work on this card. I am on the latest drivers etc etc, but it still won't work!
Frustrating? You bet but I have worked around it, so all is good.

Hope it all works out for you. Keep us posted.

Cheers

Baron

[CHiZZoPs]

Well, during the wait for my replacement keyboard I updated drivers, did a virus scan (found a couple trojans) and defragged my drive. I got the new keyboard, plugged it in and it's butter. I still think it was just a bad unit, but maybe it was software-related. At any rate, thanks a lot for your guys' help!

Kell