Analog Four plays with external MIDI keyboard but does not record

So I have this glitch that wasn’t here yesterday. I have a setup where my MIDI keyboard goes into Ableton for MIDI processing than the signal goes to Octratrack and then goes into Analog Four MK2. Today it stopped working for some reason. I can play A4 with an external keyboard, but if I do live record, or simply hold a trig while in step record, whatever I play on MIDI keyboard has no effect. Weird thing is that I do hear correct sounds, when I press the keyboard - so A4 certainly receives MIDI.

To simplify what exactly is wrong with it I minimized my setup to a keyboard plugged directly to MIDI IN, and headphones so I don’t have USB or anything else connected to A4. What I found is that if I’m on Auto Channel - then the device behaves correctly. However, if I’m on track 4 and the channel’s MIDI channel is 4 and my keyboard is set to MIDI channel 4, I can play whatever is on that track, but not record notes. I’ve tried creating a new project and what not - nothing worked. I hope there is some deep menu that I’m missing.

MIDI CONFIG > PORT CONFIG > RECEIVE NOTES enable?

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Yes.

Do you have ‘live record on track’ checked in the port settings?

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Yes - checked. I tried both on and off and it had no effect. Still can record only on auto-channel, but can play both on track channel and auto-channel.

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Check your output channel and see if it’s set to ‘Track’ or ‘Auto’. That might be the problem. In Port configuration.

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Tried both Track and Auto - has no effect on the problem.

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That is strange. Were you using Overbridge when you were connected to Ableton? I’m on an mkI and I can’t find a setting that replicates your problem. I tested Auto and Track recording in various settings, but I could be missing something. I’ll keep playing around and see if I can figure it out.

You don’t have any midi channels duplicated anywhere by chance, do you?

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What OS (Computer and A4)are you on?
Also check the Midi Routing in Ableton.

It’s iMac Pro with latest MacOS and 1.40A on A4 MK2. This is also not very relevant as I minimized my setup to a keyboard (Arturia Keystep) plugged directly into A4 and I’m using headphones to monitor (also plugged directly into A4). There is no other hardware.

Hm, its a weird Problem . Hardly to see If its hard- or Software related. You wrote that you get this also with a new project. Did you check the Keystep settings via Editor? Maybe there is something set, that shouldnt be?
I suggest that you open a support Ticket with Elektron.
Did you try another Midi cable?

Try ruling out the computer in the equation.
Then the Keystep, computer sending the midi notes.

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I think it’s time to create a ticket with Elektron. Just did factory reset, also tried to use Octatrack as a keyboard - same effect.

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Apparently this is the correct behavior. This is what I got from Elektron support:

In grid recording mode, notes from an external MIDI controller can only be recorded via the auto channel. In the live recording mode, notes can also be recorded on the track channels. This works the same way on all Elektron products.

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Thanks for the follow up.

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