Windows 11 MIDI devices duplicating and causing DAW freezes #6332
Description
Describe the bug
I am experiencing a persistent issue with MIDI devices on Windows 11.
Steps to reproduce the bug
Every time I connect or reconnect a MIDI controller (e.g., Launchkey MK4 or Casio USB-MIDI), Windows creates duplicate MIDI device entries under Device Manager (Software Devices). These appear as multiple instances such as MIDIIN2, MIDIOUT2, etc.
Over time, the number of duplicate devices increases, even after uninstalling them. The duplicates reappear after reboot or reconnecting the device.
Impact:
- DAWs such as Ableton Live and Cubase freeze or stop responding
- Standalone plugins stop detecting MIDI input
- MIDI ports become unstable or unusable
- Workflow is severely disrupted
What I have tried:
- Reinstalling device drivers
- Using different USB ports and cables
- Disabling and uninstalling duplicate devices
- Restarting Windows multiple times
- Reinstalling Windows completely
The issue still persists and affects multiple MIDI devices, not just one brand.
Expected behavior
Windows should maintain a single stable MIDI device entry per connected device and not create duplicates on reconnect
Screenshots
NuGet package version
Not using any NuGet packages. Issue occurs at OS level with Windows MIDI device enumeration.
Packaging type
No response
Windows 11 pro
No response
IDE
No response
Additional context
This appears to be related to the Windows MIDI service or device enumeration system. It may also be linked to MIDI 2.0 virtual device handling.
Please investigate this issue, as it is affecting music production workflows significantly.