I have been playing my new Vortex W2 for the last couple of weeks and I experience note hangs mostly after kbd slaps or scrapes, or fast legato parts. Shutdown does not send panic message, (a good idea for a firmware update) and the only way I've found to silence the hanging notes are to find the specific note(s) and push or play them again to send midi note off message. Sometimes it's a note I hadn't touched. I have been troubleshooting all I can, (and I'm pretty good at it) and all my gear is up to date and pro. The clincher is that last night I met another pro who just got the V2, and we are having the exact same issues. I mean EXACTLY the same, we discussed it thoroughly. I am a longtime Vortex user, I own 2 V1's and it does not happen with them. I am putting hours and hours into setting up the V2 with my samples, and I love the new layout... but. I have tried using it onstage and I always have to put it away and pick up the V1. We need a fix, and fast!!!
As some of you have already reported, we have released firmware version 1.1.5, which addresses these hanging MIDI notes. You can download the update from the product page linked here.
Thank you for your patience. We have confirmed this as a bug on our side and are currently working on a fix. However, please keep in mind that updates concerning this update will not be posted on the forum; however, I will let everyone know once the fix is live. In the meantime, please stay tuned to the product page on www.alesis.com for all updates and announcements. Thanks!
Could it be a kind of hardware problem in some specific units?
Why so many people in youtube, forums, instagram, etc without any issues?
Hi! Just one more question... Could it be a kind of hardware problem in some specific units? Why so many people in youtube, forums, instagram, etc without any issues?
They asked me the serial. They verified and replied that they could not identify the group of faulty keytar.
There was an exchange of emails between me, the store and the Italian distributor of Alesis. In the end, the store full refunded me because Alesis told the distributor not to be able to replace the product with a working one ... fear!!!
The disturbing thing is that this is their support forum. They read, but do not answer!
Yes. There was an exchange of emails between me, the store and the Italian distributor of Alesis. In the end, the store full refunded me because Alesis told the distributor not to be able to replace the product with a working one ... fear!!! The disturbing thing is that this is their support forum. They read, but do not answer!
It is a lie... All products are affected, the patch didn solve anything and next patches wont solve the issue. This is the official forum and they disappeared, so this is a lie. Never buy an Alesis product again!!!
This reply was removed on 2018-07-12.
Can confirm patch 1.1.5 does indeed work! Messed around aggressively for over an hour and not a single hang note.
Wow. Good news? If is that true I'm gonna buy it back as well.
Actually even previous update (1.1.4) did make some improvements to hanging notes and corrected the issue I was describing in my first post (at least I couldn't reproduce it anymore). But the hang note problem was still definitely there.
After updating to 1.1.5, I've been playing with it for about two hours, used ribbon, tilt, aftertouch, also tried some glissandos... and not a single hang note. I even deliberately went so far away from the receiver that it was causing it to miss the notes, which before almost every time also caused some of them to hang, but still nothing.
Doesn't solve anything for me. I still get disconnections and note hangs.
mine too has this issue, how can I fix it?
Hey Everyone!<br><br>As some of you have already reported, we have released firmware version 1.1.5, which addresses these hanging MIDI notes. You can download the update from the <a href="http://www.alesis.com/products/view2/vortex-wireless-2">product page linked here</a>.
Could you please keep us informed about the results of this new update?
I have found some guys on the internet that state that the hang notes issues was related to the batteries they were using. In fact I tested my Vortex with "generic" chinese rechargeable batteries.
The techs from the store (the one I have returned my unit) swear they are not able to replicate the issue, even doing glissandos, fast notes, getting apart far from the usb receiver, etc.
If the problem is really vanished with this update I really would like to re-buy it. But I have to be sure. It's SO expensive here un my country so I cannot take the risk.
Well, I'm using very good new Duracell batteries and I had really bad issues with hang notes. It was the same when using it connected and powered via USB cable, so I don't think it was batteries fault in my case. Although if bad batteries would cause bad wireless connection, this could also be responsible for the problem.
I will report back in a while, after using it a little more.
The update patch is good, believe me. Keep an eye on your CPU, using up too much can create hang notes with any midi controller, I've had this happen to me with my Roland ax-7 keytar... That's the best advise I can give you. Good luck Guys, and thanks again Bill for your help.
Hello everybody, Could you please keep us informed about the results of this new update? I have found some guys on the internet that state that the hang notes issues was related to the batteries they were using. In fact I tested my Vortex with "generic" chinese rechargeable batteries. The techs from the store (the one I have returned my unit) swear they are not able to replicate the issue, even doing glissandos, fast notes, getting apart far from the usb receiver, etc. If the problem is really vanished with this update I really would like to re-buy it. But I have to be sure. It's SO expensive here un my country so I cannot take the risk. Thanks for any help.
Thanks so much for sorting this issue out (installed the update last night and it seems to be working great), it's been bugging me since I bought my Vortex 2 a couple of months ago. I've also noticed that the sustain button controls both zones now - you guys are really great at listening to players' feedback.
Actually, after testing a bit more, I'm still getting the hanging notes issue - it appears to be when I go out of range of the receiver (10m (30ft) at the most, which doesn't seem like a lot...) it receives the note on message, and then doesn't receive the note off, which on my Roland Juno DS, just ends up sounding like an absolute mess until I hit the 'panic' button.
Soft synths aren't quite as bad, as they seem to retrigger the note when I press the same one twice, so a stuck note will become unstuck when pressing the same key again in range of the receiver.
It's a bit of a deal-breaker having this issue as I wanted to use the thing to be able to go and play in the crowd at pub gigs or move around stage at gigs with bigger stages, but I can barely get a few metres away from my laptop before notes start hanging and I have to constantly hit the panic button that I assigned to one of the pads.
Honestly I think 30 feet is a pretty demanding distance for any Bluetooth device, let alone something like this. I do a lot of festival gigs with the Keytar and anytime I'm concerned about distance or signal disruption due to loads of other frequencies in the area, I go hard wire. Did you own a first generation model? If so, did you go beyond 30 feet with it?
No, I've only had the Vortex 2, and I can barely get 30 feet away from my laptop when I'm testing it in the house, it can often be less at gigs. I wouldn't have thought the Vortex 2 would be using Bluetooth - I'd imagined it was some proprietary wireless protocol.
It's such a great controller, and plays beautifully when I'm right next my laptop or hardwired in that it feels a real shame that it's let down by the range.
I could be wrong about it being Bluetooth, I just assumed that would be the only protocol that would work using a USB dongle that doesn't require RF. If it isn't Bluetooth then it's probably something similar to its unreliability beyond a certain distance and obstructions.
I have a 1st gen Vortex and it was nearly perfect. I never tested distance beyond 15 or so though. Certainly never had any note hang issues. Only reason I upgraded was because my 1st gen got damaged in transport and they discontinued it.
Thanks so much for sorting this issue out (installed the update last night and it seems to be working great), it's been bugging me since I bought my Vortex 2 a couple of months ago. I've also noticed that the sustain button controls both zones now - you guys are really great at listening to players' feedback. Thanks once again!
I wanted to say one more thing about the fix, and why I'm pretty confident about it... I have a Casino type act where I play Keytar on about 40 tunes (out of about 50) every night. I mostly emulate guitar on it, although I do a few tunes with other samples. I was slapping B3 and doing long scrapes on complex guitar solos all night for 3 nights. My style is constantly blending a heaping combo platter of MIDI messages, throwing them at Kontakt fast and hard with no holding back. During those nights I had a total of ONE hung note. Considering I wirelessly Keytar all the guitar solos on 90% of the songs in a classic rock/pop show that is really good. The hung note could have just as well been the fault of Kontakt, wireless interference, or anything really. I'm sitting down right now to assign more Vortex2 controls over my sound, and I'm looking at the V2 in whole new light... a bright one!
Great to hear. Thanks for the update. I'll do the same once I'm back on the road as well.
You can test by doing a glissato... It comes out very soon.
I tested a little bit and didn't have any problems. Looks like it's probably solved but I will play it in a few days and I'll let y'all know.
I upgrade my vortex2 wireless with 1.1.5.
I tested id for one hour - no problem.
Patched to 1.1.5. still get note hangs and even worse - disconnections. This is literally a peace of ****. I have to send it back to store before I pull out all of my hair... So frustrating.
Hi. As far as I understood from the above, the problem with the original receiver. Are there any problems when connecting via third-party wireless midi interfaces or wired connection?
I used a miditech USB-Host-Interface and I have the MIDI-hanger. I get a new Interface from my dealer. I have the same problem with USB-dongle and USB-cable. I have no problems if i use a midi-cable.
Also I tried it without an interface and connect it directly to my macbook air. I get also a problem - but seldom.
At the moment, i send it back to my dealerer and I hope he will find a solution.
I used a miditech USB-Host-Interface and I have the MIDI-hanger. I get a new Interface from my dealer. I have the same problem with USB-dongle and USB-cable. I have no problems if i use a midi-cable. Also I tried it without an interface and connect it directly to my macbook air. I get also a problem - but seldom. At the moment, i send it back to my dealerer and I hope he will find a solution.
I'm using the vortex 2 wired with my Yamaha Genos on stage. I've updated the keytar, but unfortunately, still hanging midi notes.
Please help us, we would be very grateful.
Hi, I'm using the vortex 2 wired with my Yamaha Genos on stage. I've updated the keytar, but unfortunately, still hanging midi notes. I can't use the vortex now on stage, that's a shame Please help us, we would be very grateful.
Hi I have the same problem! 1.15 didnt' fix!!!!
The Vortex Wireless 2 is an utter failure and an embarrassment to a company I once regarded as an industry standard. The first generation Vortex is light years better, never had an issue. Vortex 2 is unusable as a wireless unit under any circumstances. Shameful.
I just bought a new Vortex Wireless 2 red in February 2019, and upgraded it to the latest firmware V1.15. After extensive testing with and without the wireless connection, I was very disappointed to find that the hanging note issue is still a significant problem. My old Vortex Wireless 1 never had this many occurrences of stuck notes, which I was easily able to generate on the Vortex Wireless 2 with simple glissandos or chromatic note runs. There is definitely a design issue that needs to be addressed here. So, I have returned my new Vortex Wireless 2 to the store for a refund and am now waiting patiently for Alesis to address this issue with a firmware update or hardware design change.