I lose the browser in my mkb 88 S3's onboard display using Presonus Quantum ES2 USB WIN ASIO driver.

travtek
travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

I'm absolutely baffled that I can't create anything musically since purchasing NI KCE ver. 14 as my primary virtual instrument library, Kontrol S Series MK3 88 as my sole MIDI Keyboard Presonus Studio One 6 Pro as my DAW, and Presonus Quantum ES 2 Audio Interface as my USB Windows 11 driver for MIDI inpout and output using Type-B 5-DIN pin cables.

When I tried using ASIO4ALL USB Windows 11 driver for MIDI, I could open either Kontakt 7 or Komplete Kontrol in Native Access, and the onboard display on my S Series MKB33 88-key MIDI keyboard would properly display and function the edits either in the Kontakt 7 library or a third-party instrument like Vir2, or Spitfire.

When preview on my Windows 11 desktop I built in December 2023, everything is visually displayed on my desktop's monitor, and functional for drilling down to preview a library and load it, using the MIDI GUI via the mouse and edits using mouse and keyboard as expected. 

Once I bypass the MIDI In and Out cables and plug in my USB-C data from my mkb 88's data  out directly to my desktop's direct USB-C input on its from panel, and change the ASIO USB driver to ASIO4ALL for Windows 11, the onboard mkb3 88's display properly loads the browser from either Native Instruments Komplete or Kontakt 7.

All software and firmware is up to date, including my desktop's Windows 11 drivers and BIOS for my ASUS motherboard, including Nvidia GPU, RAM, and NVME Controller for SD RAM Storage. All music related software I listed initially in this post are up to date.

I've swapped out MIDI cables for In and Out, shipped by Sweetwater Music.  Nothing changed.

I've confirmed the Audio and MIDI ASIO settings are correct in the DAW, Kontakt and Kontrol. 

Has anyone else with a similar build run into this.  I can't use ASIO4ALL because it's freeware and Presonus Support won't support it, and it crashes Kontakt and Kontrol if I open any other app like a web browser, or Spotify.  But the Quantum ES 2 Series audio interface resolves these apps to live in harmony with their ASIO USB driver, so long as can live without the onboard display of the browser functions. 

My fear is opening support tickets with Native Instruments and Presonus and have them playing the blame game on each otherrather than digging into the settings I've described in this post.

Any thoughts?

Best Answers

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod
    edited September 24 Answer ✓

    So I would use a USB c to a cable/adapter for the keyboard, I guess you already have a power supply for the keyboard connected to the USB c port with the lightning sign (right one if you look from behind If i remember correctly) the other one is for data transfer over usb, so you need to connect this one to your PC. You can use the cable from native instruments with the round ending thing to connect it to your computer. With an extension cable or short adapter. If you use that socket now for power you maybe will need another standard USB c to c cable for the power supply to the keyboards power connector, just a normal USB c cable as all phones have now with an USB c plug on each side.

    Adapters like:

    Or as extension cable something like that:

    If you find a similar product and you are not sure just ask.

    The thing with midi is, it just transferes notes and control data, maybe some sysex and it's still fine for things you described above but for a keyboard like that you need way more data than a midi cable can transfer. You also have 2 midi ports from the keyboard, one to play and one to control your daw and of course the physical ports too you then can use via your daw.

    You have some nice 80 vibe tracks, reminds me strong of some 80ies films and of course some tracks from that time. And a very nice setup btw.

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod
    Answer ✓

    Yes you are absolutely correct about the queen member names I combined, queen is my first music love since I was a little kid, so that's why. The mashup is not my creation I just shared it, my stuff is all with that 3d landscape picture.

    So I mean you can use one of those adapters to connect one of the devices to a "normal" USB port, cause I guess they are USB 3.1 and most devices even don't use its capabilities in terms of data transfer. They just use usb-c cause it can provide the power. For example I had the same issue and I bought a usb-c to a cable and connected my focusrite audio interface to a USB a 3.1 port and my focusrite also needs power but it came with a power brick so that was no problem. I have an kk 49 MK3 and just use one USB c cable to my mainboard and that powers it and is for the data transfer. Also if you have all connected that way the keyboard can also control your daw., play, stop, record, mixer and via the new midi templates even more if you wish, and that's what your are loosing too if you just connect it via din midi. Also you can if course use the es2 midi ports but not for the keyboard, maybe if you later add some outboard gear you can connect and chain it like you described with midi in and through.

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Answers

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod

    Hello,

    you don´t need asio4all, you have a good audio interface with asio drivers from presonus (universal control app maybe contains them?).

    You have native access installed and all you products you want, have you tried to open kontakt, for example, stand alone first, not as plugin in studio one. Same with komplete kontrol, open it up stand alone. Go into the settings and check if the correct driver\device is selected. Maybe i don´t understand your problem, could you phrase it again please.

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    Hi @Uwe303,

    Yhank for replying. Yes I forgot to mention both apps are open as stand-alone, but not at the same time.

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod

    And what are the exact audio settings?

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    @Uwe303

    Here's my rig and the various connections and setting as images.

    This is part 1 of my reply using images.

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    Here's part 2 of reply with images:

    Quantum ES2 Univetsal Control and Kontakt 7 stand-alone settings. Part 3 is next.

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    Part 3 images includes stand-alone Komplete Kontrol settings.

    Part 4 is next showing Presonus Studio One 6 Pro.

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    Part 4 images showing Presonus Studio One 6 Pro settings:

    When adding instruments to a track, both Kontakt 7 and Komplete Kontrol are functional in loading and playing a preview sample and my mkb3 88 plays the notes on its keyboard. But still no display of browser as instruments or stand-alone apps playing a library from the browser. I also update Native Access today preparing for the new Komplete.

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod
    edited September 24

    I think we first concentrate to get it running with kontakt stand alone, then build up on that. On your midi input settings of kontakt I can't see the keyboard midi ports of the keyboard. Have you installed the device driver in native access. And have you only opened up kontakt without running something else that could occupy the midi keyboard.. you don't need to enable the quantum midi ports, only if you use some external gear via midi. You also don't need the midi cables from the keyboard to the pre sonus interface, you need the keyboard to work over usb, and to show up it's midi ports, then the screen and everything will work as it should.

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    Since there is only USB port that goes directly to my desktop's USB-C imput, how the does midi data connectvdirectly into the audio interface to use the USB-C windows 11 driver?

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod

    That will not work that way, you need an USB c to a adapter cable and use it for the audio interface. And use the USB c for the keyboard, that would be the easiest way. You could use the adapter cable for the keyboard too, and power it via an USB c power supply, as you do it now. But we need a direct USB connection with the keyboard for sure!!

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    @Uwe303

    Thanks for your quick response.

    I've been trying to conceptually understand this connectivity locally and online for today's MIDI, but I need visuals, videos, articles, current specific brands, models, settings, etc., to get through. Please know that I've been prepared to experience an 'AHA!' at any moment since I started this music tech back in April.

    To be clear, I only use one keyboard, which is totally MIDI only, with no audio, just the virtual instruments via Kontakt, Spitfire, Virfa2, etc., on my desktop Windows 11 PC. There are no other instruments. I will be using vocals later after I can successfully record tracks.

    My experience in the 1980s - 1990s was using MIDI IN and Out Cables to send and receive MIDI data (no audio) to and from my keyboard and desktop. Since I won't have any other MIDI instruments, I have no use for the MIDI THRU port to daisy-chain MIDI. A DAW usually controls MIDI controllers in my studio, but my Kontrol S88 MKB 3 can also control other keyboards, external drum machines, etc. But the DAW creates two MIDI connections, one for the controller and one for the instrument.

    I can play virtual sounds using the MIDI IN/OUT connections in the standalone mode of Kontakt and Komplete Kontrol. But it's ONLY possible to have the MKB's onboard display show the Kontakt or Komplete Kontrol Library/Instruments. These libraries/instruments ONLY appear if I bypass the Quantum ES 2 Audio Interface entirely and connect directly to my desktop's USB-C using the same cable plugged into my MIDI keyboard's DATA output port.

    My primary goal for purchasing the audio interface is to reduce roundtrip latency for MIDI data, not audio from my keyboard, since there are no audio instruments on my MIDI keyboard.

    My secondary goal is to convert vocals from a studio microphone's audio to MIDI into the DAW.

    Please advise me on the specifics (name, brand/model, description with image given by your last reply) and where it needs to be plugged into the back of my Quantum ES2.

    Many thanks,

    Travtek

    PS: Cool tracks on your account at SoundCloud. Here's my archive that I want to update: https://soundcloud.com/michael-w-rogers-1

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod
    edited September 24 Answer ✓

    So I would use a USB c to a cable/adapter for the keyboard, I guess you already have a power supply for the keyboard connected to the USB c port with the lightning sign (right one if you look from behind If i remember correctly) the other one is for data transfer over usb, so you need to connect this one to your PC. You can use the cable from native instruments with the round ending thing to connect it to your computer. With an extension cable or short adapter. If you use that socket now for power you maybe will need another standard USB c to c cable for the power supply to the keyboards power connector, just a normal USB c cable as all phones have now with an USB c plug on each side.

    Adapters like:

    Or as extension cable something like that:

    If you find a similar product and you are not sure just ask.

    The thing with midi is, it just transferes notes and control data, maybe some sysex and it's still fine for things you described above but for a keyboard like that you need way more data than a midi cable can transfer. You also have 2 midi ports from the keyboard, one to play and one to control your daw and of course the physical ports too you then can use via your daw.

    You have some nice 80 vibe tracks, reminds me strong of some 80ies films and of course some tracks from that time. And a very nice setup btw.

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod

    If You need I can also look for an adapter/cable in your location on amazon if you can't find them.

  • travtek
    travtek Member Posts: 15 Member

    @Uwe303

    Thanks for the kudos on my music and home studio. I've had a dream since 1986 when I saw that it was possible to produce music from a home studio with quality High-Fidelity sampled instruments that could be edited like synth keyboards.

    I've been reading your replies repeatedly. In addition to getting 10 GB/s USB-A to USB-C cable adaptors, you've described what Native Instruments instructed initially: connect the Data USB-C cord with the MK3 keyboard directly to my desktop's USB-C port, followed by connecting the second USB-C cable from a powered brick like the Anker GaNPrime 67W IQ4 to connect back to the MK3 (lightning icon) port. The USB-C cord I'm using is also an Anker product that can handle up to 240 watts. The MK3 S88 likes the power arrangement.

    I started using this keyboard there and began having dropouts. My desktop's motherboard came with an ASIO USB driver from Realtek with decent roundtrip low latency settings, most likely used by PC gamers and content creators using video and audio post-production work.

    But I can't recall if the Realtek ASIO USB driver corrupted Kontakt and Komplete Kontrol (KK) apps when I needed to access Windows 11 sound card drivers for everyday PC sounds like web browsing for videos, Spotify, alarms, etc.

    That's when I considered using a virtual mixer like Voicemeeter Banana, a freeware solution from vb-audio.com. It played well with ASIO4Free and Windows 11 sound drivers, but ASIO4ALL wrecked Kontakt and KK.

    I think you're implying that I should not use the PreSonus Quantum ES2 Audio Interface for MIDI at all. If I do need to use ES2, it's to add vocals to my vocal tracks in the Studio One Pro 6 DAW. Am I correct in my assumption? I'm okay with that if that's the only workaround to connect me correctly.

    The only thing left is to connect the ES2 USB-C to another USB-C port on my PC. I don't have any other available USB-C ports on the desktop's motherboard or front side 10 GB/sec. I'm still determining if I can split off to a powered USB 10-port splitter like the Rosonway brand sold on Amazon for data, but I can for the power USB-C connection, which powers the ES2 currently using the 20W PD. The ES2 has the same design for the power and data USB-C ports as the MK3 keyboard.

    If all else fails, I can lay down all virtual tracks in the DAW, then disconnect the MK3 data USB-C from the desktop to connect the ES2 USB-C Data cord in its place.

    Let me know if this workaround solution is the best plan.

    Thank you so much for your attention and participation.

    Travtek

    PS: I liked your Flash Gordon Mashup on SoundCloud. Your real-world first and last name tripped me up for a moment since the Queen band members share both of your names, just not as ONE person! 😎

  • Uwe303
    Uwe303 Moderator Posts: 4,017 mod
    Answer ✓

    Yes you are absolutely correct about the queen member names I combined, queen is my first music love since I was a little kid, so that's why. The mashup is not my creation I just shared it, my stuff is all with that 3d landscape picture.

    So I mean you can use one of those adapters to connect one of the devices to a "normal" USB port, cause I guess they are USB 3.1 and most devices even don't use its capabilities in terms of data transfer. They just use usb-c cause it can provide the power. For example I had the same issue and I bought a usb-c to a cable and connected my focusrite audio interface to a USB a 3.1 port and my focusrite also needs power but it came with a power brick so that was no problem. I have an kk 49 MK3 and just use one USB c cable to my mainboard and that powers it and is for the data transfer. Also if you have all connected that way the keyboard can also control your daw., play, stop, record, mixer and via the new midi templates even more if you wish, and that's what your are loosing too if you just connect it via din midi. Also you can if course use the es2 midi ports but not for the keyboard, maybe if you later add some outboard gear you can connect and chain it like you described with midi in and through.

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