Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI

Subject: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 May 09 - 09:44 AM

Recently I had to get a new computer. (The hard drive & on button on the old one were burning out.) The shop went behind my back and changed my XP Home to XP Pro. XP Pro doesn't seem to like MIDI. Result - I can't get my MIDI or NWC files to sound and I can't get the MIDI controller to make a sound. It types notes in, but no sound.

I sent a query to Noteworthy with my customer number and all, but the e-mail has come back. They don't put their address or phone number on their website. (Hell of a way to treat a customer.)

I've kept a record of what was on the Options and MIDI tabs before the lads f*cked up my happy home, but still no sound.

My controller came with a program called MusicStar. I've put MusicStar on my computer (used their CD) in case it sets up the files which make the sound happen. Perhaps MusicStar is 'hogging' the MIDI now so that Noteworthy can't get at it.

My plan was:

Install MusicStar (which I don't need)
Install Noteworthy Composer (which I have been using for 10 years)
Remove MusicStar
Use Noteworthy


MusicStar is so old it doesn't have Uninstall. When I try to remove it with Add/Remove programs on the Control Panel, it's not on the list of programs to remove. Yet it is on the Start menu under All Programs. Some 'Pro' OS, eh? Can't even find a program which is on itself.

Apparently Big Brother (Microsoft) is out to destroy the world of MIDI. How can we fight back?

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: Bernard
Date: 18 May 09 - 09:56 AM

It's probably a lot simpler than you think - try looking in your soundcard settings to see if the MIDI playback is just switched off, or the volume dropped to nothing.

It happens quite randomly on my XP home and XP Pro machines ... so you may find it isn't a 'permanent' fix, but something you have to do almost every time you want to use it.

Either right click on the volume control icon (bottom right) if it's there, or access it through control panel.

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 18 May 09 - 10:09 AM

This is a fairly well known issue. It's always worth looking on the noteworth FAQ page.

FAQs

cheers

Brian

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 18 May 09 - 10:09 AM

There's a bug in Noteworthy whereby if you import a multi-channel MIDI file into MWC, it sets the MIDI volume control to 0.

In that event, until you go into Volume Control and turn your MIDI input back up, the results are exactly as you describe. Volume Control is accessed as detailed by Bernard above, although it's also under Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> Entertainment >> Volume Control, or by typing
sndvol32
into the Run box.

Apparently Big Brother (Microsoft) is out to destroy the world of MIDI. How can we fight back?

That's one heck of a logical leap you've just made there :)

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 18 May 09 - 10:11 AM

MWC = NWC, NoteWorthy Composer, sorry.

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 May 09 - 09:39 PM

The volume control is not it. I know all about the volume control, and the slider for the synthesizer is comfortably in the middle.

As for Microsoft destroying MIDI, one of the techs at the computer shop told me that MIcrosoft is dropping all MIDI functions in 2010. A clerk at the local rock instrument store told me that Windows Vista support of MIDI is 'crappy' and to stick with XP for as long as possible. I do know what I'm talking about.

Anybody have any ideas on how to remove MusicStar when the Control Panel claims it's not on the computer?

Anybody know how to find a phone number for Noteworthy Software, either toll-free or not?

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: Bill D
Date: 18 May 09 - 10:09 PM

Microsoft itself does not 'control' MIDI. If they don't provide an interface within Windows that plays MIDI, there are many other programs which do. I doubt they could...or would... try to set Windows to be unable to play MIDI files.

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: Bill D
Date: 18 May 09 - 10:10 PM

I have plain XP on one machine and XP Pro on another, and both play MIDI just fine.

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 May 09 - 05:42 AM

I use XP/Pro and have no problems with midi playback. I should look at Control Panel/Sounds and Audio Devices/Audio tab and check what you've got selected in the Midi music playback Default device dropdown.

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 09 - 05:59 AM

It is not helpful to spread the myths bandied about by computer shop/rock instrument shop 'experts'. These people are as likely to be computer wizards as your local newsagent. Some know what they are talking about others don't.

"Microsoft is dropping all MIDI functions in 2010"

They are not! There were problems running WMP on a few sub releases of Windows7 (Vistas future replacement). If you read the later posts on the link below, you will see they have been resolved.

Sevenforum

As Windows7 will be around for the next few years midi functions won't be disappearing for a while. In any case MS have no control over software companies creating packages exploiting midi input files or devices to send to sound system.

"A clerk at the local rock instrument store told me that Windows Vista support of MIDI is 'crappy'"

I run midi files on XP Pro and Vista Home Premium. Support for midi on Vista is no better or worse than on XP. The output quality depends on the sound card and its drivers not on the Operating System. (XP Home is pretty much XP Pro with some functionality taken away. Vista is .... er well lets say roll on the full release of Windows 7).

In your opening post you said that you cannot open any midi or NWC files. In which case the problem is unlikely to be with Noteworthy. It is possible that the file 'Sndvol32.exe' in

Windows\system32\

has been corrupted or is having compatability issues with your sound card drivers. Try running Windows updates (do full updates not just express) and look for updated sound card drivers. If that doesn't resolve the problem replace the file Sndvol32.exe. Sndvol32.exe can be extracted from a Windows XP disk.

Sndvol

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 19 May 09 - 06:17 AM

The difference is not likely to be a matter of WinXP Home versus WinXP Pro, but is more likely to be due to a difference in the sound processors installed in the two machines and the setup done by the maker/seller.

The "sound card" can be a separate card that plugs into an "expansion slot," or it can be a removable "module" that plugs into a socket on the motherboard, or it can be an "integrated sound" set of components that are physically part of the motherboard. Each of these will be accompanied by the individual "controller" with its own methods of setup and "adjustment" picked by the computer maker. Controls may be in different places on different computers, but the differences are mostly due to the "sound hardware" and associated drivers in each specific computer rather than to the OS.

With a new computer, you may need to check to see whether the builder/seller installed the "wave tables" that are required to play midi, and whether they're turned on. The program that you use to create and/or play midi may also need to be set to use the same ones that the system setup is using.

WinXP should have default tables installed, but they may not necessarily be turned on (in Control Panel), or Noteworthy may be asking for different ones.

XP Pro has all of the same widgets and gadgets that were in your XP Home version, but has a whole bunch of additional stuff to make it a lot easier to maintain, manage, and, when necessary, to fix the system. You shouldn't see much difference in daily use, but if you (or your techie) should need them when things go askew, the tools are much better in Pro.

You got a different machine. It was set up differently when it arrived. It's the setup that's your problem - not the OS version.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 19 May 09 - 06:43 AM

Apparently Big Brother (Microsoft) is out to destroy the world of MIDI.

Does the MMA know about this?

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: pavane
Date: 19 May 09 - 12:20 PM

"A clerk at the local rock instrument store told me that Windows Vista support of MIDI is 'crappy'"

All I can add is that my USB MIDI cable works fine on XP, but cannot be selected on VISTA. There doesn't seem to be any way to select a MIDI output device, even inside my VB code which can pick up the device list. And no MIDI mapper.

OK, programs can play MIDI files OK on the internal sound card - but that's NOT what I need.

Remembering back to when I first had my XP laptop, I couldn't find the MIDI mapper, but after going round all the drivers etc, but NOT making changes, it suddenly appeared. Never did find out why.

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 May 09 - 04:11 PM

It's comforting to hear other people's comments about the future of MIDI. Thanks.

But Pavane has good points, too. My XP Pro doesn't have MIDI mapper in Help, and its info on MIDI consists of a few sketchy lines. No help in Help, to tell you the truth.
=========
Mike Pearce, I tried your suggestion about the Control Panel.   (I've it tried before.) There are two choices under the MIDI playback, Microsoft Wavetable GS synth and SoundFusion Blah blah. I've tried them both, and neither works.

I checked the Hardware tab, and it says that all the hardware is working okay.

=====
John, I looked up 'wave table' in help. Here's what it said:

'You can use the Dr. Watson for Windows dialog box to change the behavior of Dr. Watson.'

Isn't that helpful?

Trouble is, I don't need Dr. Watson, I need Sherlock Holmes.
=======
Bill D, thanks for the encouraging words.

Do you use Noteworthy Composer?

1. Under Tools-Options-MIDI tab what do you have under Devices Used by Playback?

2. Under Tools-options-Record what do you have for Input Device?

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 May 09 - 04:45 PM

News flash! Somebody at Noteworthy replied to my e-mail and gave me a secret code so I could re-download 1.75 (the old version) from their site. This improved the situation to the point where MIDI files now produce sound when played. (F5)

The MIDI controller (piano keyboard) doesn't produce sound, but maybe now any e-mails from me to NWC will go through.

Subject: RE: Tech: XP Pro versus MIDI
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 May 09 - 11:41 AM

Further developments:

On May 24th, a friend who used to be a service person for IBM came over. (She is now a top programmer for Sprint.) Apparently she gave off vibes that affected my computer, because as I was showing her how the MIDI files would produce sound but the keyboard would not, the keyboard suddenly started making sound.

Nothing had changed in the settings (MIDI or Record tabs) or the volume, which has always looked okay.

I noted the date and time when the sound came back so I can use System Restore if the keyboard sound disappears as mysteriously as it came.

Seriously, I think an update or a restart repaired or connected something, perhaps the wavetable that JohnInKansas referred to. Although after all the struggling I have done with this problem, I am not going to discount my friend's aura, either. It's just too coincidental that the computer suddenly started co-operating the minute she stood before it.

She says there's a program called Snag-it that I should have. Now I'm off to look into that.