Solving MIDI Mysteries: Human Intuition and AI Assistance in Reaper

When troubleshooting complex MIDI issues in Reaper, the combination of human intuition and AI assistance can be remarkably powerful. This story demonstrates how I solved a perplexing controller problem with my Live Logic foot pedal and Super8 plugin—showcasing that while AI provides valuable analysis and keeps track of complex processes, human creativity and willingness to try unexpected approaches remain essential.

The Problem: A Mysterious MIDI Malfunction

My setup included:

- Reaper DAW with the Super8 JSFX plugin

- Live Logic foot controller

- Roland A-Pro 800 MIDI controller

The issue seemed simple on the surface: When I pressed a specific button on my Live Logic foot controller (assigned to CC 84), Super8 would display "CC 84" in its interface, acknowledging it received the message, but the "Play All" function wouldn't trigger. Strangely, clicking the same button with my mouse worked perfectly, and my Roland A-Pro 800 controller also worked flawlessly with the exact same MIDI message.

Even more puzzling, other functions on the foot controller worked correctly—only "Play All" refused to respond. I tried different CC numbers, different buttons, and even different message types, but nothing resolved the issue.

The Collaborative Troubleshooting Process

Step 1: Detailed Problem Analysis with AI

I began by explaining the issue to Perplexity AI in detail, providing:

- The exact hardware and software configuration

- MIDI monitor output showing the messages being sent

- What worked and what didn't work

- Previous troubleshooting steps I had tried

The AI helped organize the information and suggested potential causes to investigate.

Step 2: Examining the Code

The AI analyzed Super8's JSFX code and identified a critical line:

nextmsg_1 == 0xb0 ? ( nextmsg_1 = 0x90; nextmsg_2 += 129; )

This revealed that Super8 was converting CC messages (0xB0) to Note messages (0x90) and adding 129 to the controller number—meaning CC 84 would become Note 213, which exceeds the valid MIDI note range (0-127).

This insight helped us understand why certain CC numbers might be problematic, but didn't fully explain why the Roland controller worked while the Live Logic didn't.

Step 3: Testing Multiple Solutions

With the AI tracking our progress and suggesting options, I tried several approaches:

1. Using different CC numbers that would convert to valid note values

2. Sending Note messages directly instead of CC messages

3. Using ReaControlMIDI to translate the messages

When none of these worked, we seemed to be at a dead end.

Step 4: The Breakthrough Moment - Human Intuition

After methodically trying various solutions without success, I decided to try something completely different. While exploring the options in ReaControlMIDI, I randomly selected "MIDI input disabled" – a counterintuitive choice that logically shouldn't have helped.

To my surprise, it fixed the issue! As I exclaimed during our troubleshooting session: "WHOA! I just selected 'MIDI input disabled' and 'play all' works!"

Step 5: The Root Cause - Human Analysis

After this unexpected solution, I proposed the correct explanation: both controllers were on MIDI Channel 1, creating a feedback loop where:

1. The foot pedal would send CC 84 (Play All command)

2. The Roland A-Pro 800 would "echo" this message

3. Super8 would receive two rapid messages, effectively toggling Play All on and then immediately off

This also explained why the Record/Play/Off cycle always started on Play instead of Record - Super8 was advancing to the second state in response to what it interpreted as two button presses.

The AI helped confirm this theory and explore its implications, but the key insight came from human intuition.

The Human-AI Partnership

This troubleshooting journey perfectly illustrates the complementary strengths of humans and AI:

AI Contributions:

- Systematic analysis of complex MIDI data

- Identification of relevant code sections in Super8

- Tracking multiple variables and test results throughout a lengthy troubleshooting process

- Providing technical context about MIDI standards and implementation

- Organizing information and suggesting methodical approaches

Human Contributions:

- Creative problem-solving and intuitive leaps

- Willingness to try unexpected approaches when systematic methods failed

- Recognition of patterns across seemingly unrelated symptoms

- The crucial insight about controller interaction and feedback loops

- The decisive action of trying "MIDI input disabled" that led to the solution

As I noted during our troubleshooting: "AI really acted as a very smart, tireless assistant, not a magic genie." The AI couldn't have solved this problem alone, and I would have struggled to track all the variables and technical details without AI assistance.

Lessons for Other Musicians and Producers

This experience offers valuable insights for anyone working with MIDI in complex setups:

1. MIDI Channel Conflicts: Be cautious when multiple controllers share the same MIDI channel

2. Signal Path Matters: How MIDI messages flow through your system can be as important as the messages themselves

3. Feedback Loops: Watch for situations where MIDI messages might be echoed or duplicated

4. Human-AI Collaboration: Use AI to analyze complex technical issues, but trust your intuition to try unexpected approaches

5. Systematic + Creative Troubleshooting: Combine methodical testing with creative problem-solving

How to Effectively Collaborate with AI on Technical Problems

If you encounter similar technical challenges, here's how to effectively use AI assistance:

1. Provide Detailed Context: Explain your setup, what you've tried, and exactly what's happening

2. Share Diagnostic Data: Include MIDI monitor outputs, error messages, or code snippets

3. Engage Iteratively: Respond to the AI's suggestions with results and new observations

4. Trust Your Intuition: Don't hesitate to try unexpected approaches when systematic methods stall

5. Synthesize Information: Use the AI to keep track of complex details while you focus on the big picture

Conclusion: Humans + AI = Better Problem Solving

What began as a frustrating technical roadblock turned into a fascinating exploration of MIDI signal flow and plugin behavior. The solution—breaking a feedback loop between two controllers—came from a combination of AI-assisted analysis and human intuition.

This experience demonstrates that while AI can be an invaluable partner in technical troubleshooting, human creativity and willingness to try unexpected approaches remain essential. For musicians and producers working with increasingly complex digital setups, this human-AI partnership represents a powerful approach to solving technical challenges.

As we continue to integrate AI into our creative workflows, it's worth remembering that the most effective solutions often emerge from the unique combination of AI's analytical capabilities and the human capacity for intuitive leaps and creative problem-solving.

Have you encountered mysterious technical issues in your music production workflow? How might a human-AI partnership help you solve them? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments below.

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*This troubleshooting journey was documented in April 2025 using Perplexity AI. All MIDI monitoring was performed using Reaper's built-in MIDI monitor, and the solution was verified across multiple sessions.*

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Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share