Windows XP midi ports issue

[shad0wfax]

Hi to everyone,

I hope there's some kind of windows guru here, as I've got a quite weird problem with windows XP. Suddenly, for some reason (?!?), I cannot select midi ports in the Audio settings of the Control Panel in windows XP. The midi port settings remains blank, and although I still can list all available midi ports, when I select one, actually it isn't selected, and when I open the control panel again, the midi port settings still remains blank.

The midi ports themselves actually work, as all applications which access the midi ports directly, such as Cubase or MidiOX, work properly and sends out the data. The problem is when I want to use applications which rely on window's midi port settings (for instance, windows media player or DosBox). In those cases, I get absolutely no sound, as if it was no midi port assigned at all. I got around this problem in DosBox, because you can select especifically which midi port you want to use (and it works!), but the problem is there when you cannot select the midi port because the application relies on window's settings in the control panel.

Anyone does know which is the problem and how to solve it?

Many thanks in advance.

[Alistair]

What MIDI ports do you use, would be the obvious question.

With my Roland SC-8850, those MIDI ports might not show up if I've only switched the device n at a certain time, due to the USB connectivity.

With my FireWire Audiophile, with the external MIDI port, a similar thing applies- if the device is off or if it's not hooked up correctly, the ports won't show.

Also, are the latest drivers installed?

I'm probably not being helpful at all, but that's a really weird one.

- Alistair

[shad0wfax]

Thanks for your reply Alistair,

I'm referring to ALL midi ports (even the microsoft GS synth), and of course when they're switched on!. It's really strange, I've never had this kind of problem. The fact is that the midi ports are actually there and they work, but for some reason the control panel cannot cope with them and whenever a program relies on its configuration for handling midi data, it's as if there wasn't midi at all (even windows' softsynth).

In fact, the problem is not very big, because the "important" applications (Cubase sequencer, DosBox, etc.) work properly, but it's still quite annoying.

[MusicallyInspired]

That is weird. Did you like email Microsoft to report the problem or anything? Or go throug the troubleshooting help? This would be a point when I'd probably be formatting and reinstalling Windows to get rid of weird problems like that.

Maybe (one of) your sound card(s) driver(s) is conflicting with something?

[shad0wfax]

Yeah, reinstalling everything would surely solve the problem. But it's very annoying, so I'd like not having to do this if possible. On the other hand, I suppose that if I finally do this I'll try the 64-bit windows version or the Vista either.

[dvwjr]

The midi ports themselves actually work, as all applications which access the midi ports directly, such as Cubase or MidiOX, work properly and sends out the data. The problem is when I want to use applications which rely on window's midi port settings (for instance, windows media player or DosBox). In those cases, I get absolutely no sound, as if it was no midi port assigned at all. I got around this problem in DosBox, because you can select especifically which midi port you want to use (and it works!), but the problem is there when you cannot select the midi port because the application relies on window's settings in the control panel.

Anyone does know which is the problem and how to solve it?

May not be the reason, however please checkout this article at RME Intelligent Audio Solutions about The 10 Entry Limit in Windows NT/2000/XP.  I found with un-installs and re-installs of the Realtek HD audio drivers I was using up WAVE, MIDI, MIXER and AUX slots.  You might have the same problem.


Hope this helps,

dvwjr

[shad0wfax]

Thanks a lot for the info; it seems to me that this was probably the cause. However, I've already done a total re-install and I've installed the 64-bit version