Hi there. I think I know what you are talking about. I once encountered this issue with my MODX6 where the sound seems to cut off, first I thought this was due to a bug or something because it happened after I have updated the OS. Apparently though, I found out that this was happening when I had my Iphone connected to the USB host. I was playing music through the MODX during band rehearsal. I kept switching the keyboard on and off and the same thing kept happening. But when I disconnected the mobile everything was normal! Since then I have connected my Ipad by the same way and everything was normal. I never connected my Iphone to the keyboard again though so I don't even know if that was the real reason.
I don't know if you had that happening under the same conditions, but this is what I've experienced and I hope it can help!

No idea about the knobs cycle thing.

Hi there. I think I know what you are talking about. I once encountered this issue with my MODX6 where the sound seems to cut off, first I thought this was due to a bug or something because it happened after I have updated the OS. Apparently though, I found out that this was happening when I had my Iphone connected to the USB host. I was playing music through the MODX during band rehearsal. I kept switching the keyboard on and off and the same thing kept happening. But when I disconnected the mobile everything was normal! Since then I have connected my Ipad by the same way and everything was normal. I never connected my Iphone to the keyboard again though so I don't even know if that was the real reason.
I don't know if you had that happening under the same conditions, but this is what I've experienced and I hope it can help!

No idea about the knobs cycle thing.

Thank you, I do connect my MODX8 to my MacBook Pro (with Power Nap feature on) all the time, and I did think it might have something to do with the "USB 10-out-4-in audio interface" feature. While I have Power Nap on and running MainStage background, even when I put my Mac to sleep, I can still receive a message tells me how many Midi device current connecting to my computer if I connect or disconnect my midi keyboards. Maybe it is the T1 chip gives my Mac a hard time to recognize my MODX as a sound interface, and then the sound cut off happened.

But... Do the knobs on your synth locate on the center of the cycle?

I think the knobs are probably supposed to be like that. Mine are certainly offset slightly to the right of the blue circles and I hadn't noticed it until I saw your photo 🙂

It is highly recommended when working a computer or external host, that that host be set to NOT go to sleep, or hibernate or nap... this is recommended by your software, in most cases, and is common sense; since depending on your routing at the time a sleeping computer could break the connection between the synth Tone Generator and it’s own Outputs. If “Direct Monitor” is Off, quite naturally the path from the Tone Generator to the Analog Outputs which feed your speakers is broken. And if working with MIDI, If “Local Control” is Off, the communication between the Keyboard and the Tone Generator travels through the computer and a sleeping computer is going to cause an issue by breaking an essential connection. The MODX is both an audio and MIDI interface via USB.

When doing music you require 100% of the computer’s attention, you don’t want it searching for updates between the verse and the chorus and you don’t want it napping while you’re in take 12 of the synth solo! There are many magazine articles dedicated to setting up your computer to do music... first among the tips is always defeat any kind of sleep/hibernation.

A year or so later, I too have a MODX that suffers from very brief, intermittent sound cutoffs.
I only use it at home at the moment so it's not a massive issue but it is concerning.
It is hooked up to my Macbook Pro, so I shall have to see if there is any change when it is turned off.
I'll try running it completed disconnected and see if that sorts things.

Alan,
When a good connection exists between the MODX and your computer, the bright blue USB icon will appear on the top line of the screen. If this icon flashes you have an issue - you should check the connection, and then re-establish the connection, and reboot your MODX hardware and your computer software.

There is a cause... When you discover you are having the issue, document exactly what you are doing at that time. MIDI routing is the second most common cause.

Hey guys

I'm using 3-5 Layers in Performance mode and when I play sounds cutoff. I am not connected to laptop or iPad. Just using headphones or keyboard amp. Keyboard is a couple of months old.

Thanks

Are any of the layers "All 9 Bars!" or a similar organ? They tend to eat up polyphony. There are likely other Performances that are "expensive" - but this type of drawbar organ implementation is really, really polyphony hungry by nature of the drawbar "emulation" method using AWM2.

If you have "5 layers" (or 5 Parts layered) then that could be up to 5x8 elements = 40 elements sounding per note. If you press 4 notes for a chord that 4x40 = 160 elements sounding at once. The maximum polyphony is 128. 160>128 means elements would be cut off to fit within the polyphony envelope.

However, 5 Parts would generally not be so expensive. Usually a Part will not use all 8 elements. Usually even if all 8 elements were used - only some of them would sound at once (not all at once) depending on velocity or note range rules. Or key on vs. key off.

Pressing the sustain pedal is also expensive because elements would overlap even when you move on to the next notes.

Long releases can be expensive because the release will sound while moving on to the next notes as well.

The fix, if polyphony is the "issue", is to balance your element utilization more efficiently. Using "less expensive", polyphony-wise, Parts (or modifying the organ, as an example, to just specific elements used and deleting any elements that are at "0" level). Using sustain more sparingly. Taking some sounds away from AWM2 and using FM-X (or vice-versa) to help transfer the polyphony burden since both AWM2 and FM-X have their own separate polyphony budget.