MIDI sound problems

[bitterpearl]

[Using FINALE 2007, Mac OS 10.4.8, Fatar Keyboard controller, MOTU micro express, Internal Playback]


I have two excruciatingly frustrating MIDI problems:

(1) in order to hear notes inputted with my MIDI keyboard, I must be in Speedy Entry AND have clicked on a staff. In any other tool, there is no sound whatsoever;
(2) very frequently (on average--once every two minutes!) the MIDI sound cuts out althogether--sometimes, in the middle of a note. In order to fix this, I have to go into the MIDI menu: MIDI thru: check "off": close window; go back into MIDI through, and (re-)check "Smart" (or "Direct", or "channel 1"--it doesn't seem to matter.

Finale told me "this is an Apple CoreMIDI" problem. I have no MIDI problems at all with Sibelius, but I'm in the middle of a big project, and simply don't have the time right now to get as adept at Sibelius as I am at Finale (using it for 10 years).

Help!!