# solenoid not responding

**URL:** <https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/solenoid-not-responding/454>\
**Category:** dadamachines\
**Created:** [August 21, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/solenoid-not-responding/454 "2020-08-21T01:04:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mdawg](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mdawg](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/mdawg)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/solenoid-not-responding/454/1 "2020-08-21T01:04:37Z")

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Hey there,

I saw this on a thread last night, tried this again today, came into the forum and I’m not seeing the thread. I’m using Ableton Live - setup exactly how it’s setup in the startup section. I got the Automat to read the rhythms correctly BUT the solenoids are not responding/working. How do I fix this? I tried the different solenoids, tried all channels. What am I missing?

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**Author:** ![mdawg](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mdawg](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/mdawg)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/solenoid-not-responding/454/2 "2020-08-30T17:41:08Z")

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Still in the same place… If anyone has any advice or solutions that would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/user_avatar/forum.dadamachines.com/bad_gateway/32/158_2.png) [@Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Bad_Gateway)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/solenoid-not-responding/454/3 "2020-08-31T18:22:55Z")

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hey mdawg!  
I am running ableton as well. works great with the Automat.  
Is your automat channel indicator lights turning on when notes are received?  
Is your ableton sending extremely short midi notes? I find I have to add a “note length” module to my ableton tracks to always have control of how much the solenoids are extending out.

In my experience, midi note length = velocity. A lot of dynamic range there, depending on what you’re hitting. but if the note length is super short, the solenoid barely responds to it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mdawg](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mdawg](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/mdawg)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/solenoid-not-responding/454/4 "2020-09-09T16:09:05Z")

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Thank you for the response! You are indeed right, the solenoids started moving when I adjusted the length. I’ll have to play around with this a bit but that seemed to be the issue. Thank you!