Topic by Ralphiano

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  • Ralphiano
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  • Registered: 23-02-2021
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Topic: Can't get Linux Mint & Pianoteq to recognize Kawai VPC1 MIDI signals

I just abandoned Windows 10 and replaced it with Linux Mint. Until about 3 years ago I had been a happy Ubuntu user for a blissful span of about 10 years. But, a couple of years ago I bought Garritan CFX and therefore, had to utilize a Windows 10 machine. As before, Windows brought nothing but suffering and failures. After 3 years of wasting all my piano practice time screwing around with the computer instead of playing piano, I have decided to dump Windows and Garritan. It is my purpose to use Linux Mint as my operating system and use Pianoteq as my VST.

This evening I installed Mint, erasing Windows in the process. I installed the Linux version of Pianoteq 7.5 successfully. When I use my mouse to click on any key of the virtual keyboard at the bottom of the Pianoteq user interface, the key lights up and the key sounds appropriately through my sound system.

But, my computer/Pianoteq does not recognize MIDI input from my VPC1. When I play a key on my VPC1, no sound comes through. And, the virtual keyboard at the bottom of the Pianoteq user interface does not light up to show that the MIDI signal has been received and the key has been played.

The MIDI screen under the ‘Options” menu shows no midi events when I attempt to play my VPC1.

These are the settings under the Options>Device menu:

- Active MIDI Inputs: “Listen to All MIDI Inputs”, and, “MIDI Through Port-0” appear. I get no MIDI input from the VPC1 regardless of which one or all of these are checked. Oddly, when I used Windows 10, the VPC1 controller appeared in this box by name automatically as if the computer and Pianoteq automatically recognized the VPC1.

These are the settings under the Options>MIDI menu:

- Everything is left at the default, including Global MIDI Mapping = Minimalistic

I suspect, but do not know, that my Linux Mint operating system does not recognize MIDI input over USB. But, I am clueless as to how to determine if this is the problem, or if it is, how to solve it. Or, is it a Pianoteq problem?

The exact same setup (VPC1, USB cable) was always automatically recognized by Windows 10.

How can I get my Linux Mint computer to recognize the MIDI input from my VPC1 controller?

Reply by mprimrose

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  • From: Otautahi, Aotearoa
  • Registered: 08-02-2021
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Re: Can't get Linux Mint & Pianoteq to recognize Kawai VPC1 MIDI signals

The following article may be of some use to you, as it goes into the question of the VPC1 and Linux USB drivers

https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads...ected.html

The problem turned out to be associated with the length of the cable connecting the VPC1 to the USB port on the Linux system. As the post states at the end:

"I just looked it up, USB 2.x cables must not have more than 5m. Besides that, cheap no brand cables may not have the correct impedance and/or signal quality that may impair communication. Maybe Windows drivers are more resilient, they do more retries to try to establish the connection and Linux's drivers are more restrictive, privileging reliability.

The longest cable I dared to use was 3m (10ft)."

The post also references a rather interesting article on "Audio and MIDI Controller on Ubuntu Linux" which you might like to read

https://kaerumy.medium.com/audio-and-mi...58e00bc7d0

Hope this helps a bit.

Michael

Pianoteq 8 Studio plus all Instrument packs; Organteq 2; Debian; Reaper; Carla

Reply by dv

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  • Registered: 01-11-2021
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Re: Can't get Linux Mint & Pianoteq to recognize Kawai VPC1 MIDI signals

mprimrose wrote:

"I just looked it up, USB 2.x cables must not have more than 5m. Besides that, cheap no brand cables may not have the correct impedance and/or signal quality that may impair communication. Maybe Windows drivers are more resilient, they do more retries to try to establish the connection and Linux's drivers are more restrictive, privileging reliability.

Interesting! For me Pianoteq and Linux worked always flawlessly, even with the crappiest USB cable (and USB extension cords, which are forbidden by the USB standard) that I could put my hands on. That was with a variety of digital pianos from various brands, including Yamaha and Kawai (but not with the VPC1)

Where do I find a list of all posts I upvoted? :(

Reply by Ralphiano

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  • Registered: 23-02-2021
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Re: Can't get Linux Mint & Pianoteq to recognize Kawai VPC1 MIDI signals

Happy Easter, everyone. And, thanks for the replies.

I am not sure what to make of this, but, I just got my Mint/Pianotq/VPC1 to work. While in Windows 10 world, I had stopped turning my VPC1 off when not in use. It was always on. And, for several weeks, the "On" button had been hidden from view by a small stack of sheet music atop the piano.

In my desperation to get Mint working, I looked to see if I had inadvertently switched the VPC1 to "Off". It was "On", but, I decided to see what effect switching it off and on would have. For reasons unknown to me, it worked. The Mint OS was now accepting MIDI data and sending it to my Pianoteq and making music.

I have no idea why this worked. I've shut down and replicated the success a couple of times, so, I think I am ok.

Thanks to all who replied or looked into this for me.