Do you really have to completely restart Pro Tools when connecting a MIDI controller?

[SigFriedChicken]

I'm testing PT 12 on Windows 10 and I've found that if I do not have a MIDI controller connected at the time that PT opens, it will never detect it. Even if I have a controller connected, disconnect and then reconnect the same one, it will still not detect it.

I'm seeing this behavior with multiple controllers, USB ports and cables.

Is there any way to get PT to rescan MIDI controllers without having to restart the entire program? I've tried restarting the audio engine, unchecking/rechecking input devices, etc. Nothing seems to work.

[albee1952]

Its hit and miss here. I find the best solution is to plan ahead. Of course, if you use a fast SSD for a system drive, rebooting can take 30-35 seconds

[Top Jimmy]

I've never gotten it to work like that either. I don't think the handshake / oh happy day routine Pro Tools follows is plug n play. Always have to quit and launch Pro Tools again.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[SigFriedChicken]

Based on some research and feedback from other forums, it looks like this is typical Windows behavior. I guess Windows users are just accustomed to having to restart their DAW every time they plug a MIDI device in. This would drive me crazy, but whatever flips your wig.

I believe this concludes my brief PT-on-Windows experiment. Back to OS X!

[albee1952]

With 2 of my midi controllers, they can be connected any time and will be available, and if not, just turning the keyboard off/on brings them on line. The 3rd controller I use is the Komplete Kontrol S49 and this one needs to be connected when I boot the machine. Since the only time I need the S49 is for self-recording(it gets placed in front of my preamp rack). That's why I said "hit or miss".

[SigFriedChicken]

Are the keyboards that let you plug and play connected to a USB port on the computer itself, or via a traditional MIDI cable that is connected to the audio interface?

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by SigFriedChicken

Are the keyboards that let you plug and play connected to a USB port on the computer itself, or via a traditional MIDI cable that is connected to the audio interface?

The pair that work most any time are coming in via a Midi>USB interface(was using a MOTU Fastlane USB, but it didn't like Windows 10, so now using an iConnect2). Now that you sparked thought on this, I bet its because the iConnect(in my case) is always connected, even if the keyboards are off or disconnected). As long as Pro Tools can find the input path(which is the iConnect box), then what happens in the "outside world" doesn't matter. When my Komplete Kontrol is not connected, its path is missing from the drop-down list in Midi studio setup window.

[SigFriedChicken]

OK. That makes sense.

Way back in the mists of time, I ran Cakewalk on Windows and recall plugging keyboards into a separate MIDI box, which then connected to the computer via USB, or possibly serial (in the ye olde days). Nowadays, I just plug them directly into the computer via USB.

[leftalive]

I'm seeing this too. Requires a restart for PT to recognize either of my controllers. I don't remember if this was a thing under MacOS, as my midi stuff tends to stay plugged in all the time anyhow, but it's definitely a thing under Win 10.

[SigFriedChicken]

On a Mac, you can definitely unplug and plug-in MIDI devices without having to restart the DAW.