Topic by amyjer

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  • amyjer
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  • Registered: 25-05-2008
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Topic: Roland RPU-3, Yamaha S80, Mainstage Sustain Pedal Issue

I have used Mainstage on my 2009 MacBook Pro for several years driving Pianoteq as my main piano instrument. Recently, I have developed a problem using my sustain pedal (Roland RPU-3) controlling Pianoteq in Mainstage. Every time I switch a patch in Mainstage and then switch back to my Pianoteq patch, the notes are cutoff and will only sustain with the pedal depressed. If I switch pianos in Pianoteq, the problem disappears only to reappear when I switch Mainstage patches and then return to the Pianoteq patch.

Note that I have no problem with full continuous control of the sustain pedal in standalone mode and in Logic - only in Mainstage. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling Mainstage. I am using the latest version of Mainstage from the app store and the latest version of OSX Lion.

I have tried deleting and adding the sustain pedal in my Mainstage layout.  I have also been able to reproduce the same issue using a switch type sustain pedal in my Yamaha S80 controller and also using my Analog Factory MIDI contoller.

Any comments or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Jeremy

Reply by jcfelice88keys

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  • jcfelice88keys
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  • Registered: 22-09-2008
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Re: Roland RPU-3, Yamaha S80, Mainstage Sustain Pedal Issue

Hello Jeremy,

Assuming that if you use Mainstage, you must also have Apple's Logic sequencing software at your disposal.

I might suggest recording your Pianoteq / Mainstage setup directly into Logic (note cutoffs and all), and then do a line-by-line search of the midi data that Logic is receiving.  Usually when a note cuts off quickly, it may be responding to a midi note-on and note-off message "almost" simultaneously.    I say "almost" because the midi protocol requires that individual messages must be sent 'in series' (one after another) rather than 'in parallel'.

Hope this suggestion helps you diagnose the way you had set up Mainstage.

Cheers,

Joe

Reply by amyjer

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Re: Roland RPU-3, Yamaha S80, Mainstage Sustain Pedal Issue

Thanks very much for the suggestions. When I was adjusting the MIDI settings in Pianoteq, I noticed I had not set a custom MIDI map I made for use with a MIDI pedal (SoftStep) as the default. When I set my custom MIdI map as the default, the problem disappeared. While I would like to understand why the problem existed, I am pleased the plug is apparently working properly.

As an aside, I have set up the Keith McMillan Soft Step to function as a continuous controller sustain pedal with Pianoteq. Once you adjust the "gain" setting, it works very smoothly as a sustain pedal for half pedaling. It is much more portable than my Roland Unit for live use plus it controls many other plug ins etc.

Thanks.

Jeremy