I can string a bunch of MIDI devices together?

[GuitarGoblin]

So I'm about to add some more MIDI controllers.

Right now it looks like it will be some m-audio keyboard along with a Korg pad kontrol and a behringer BCR2000.

How would I hook all these up to my interface? (Motu 828 Mkii)

[Dags]

Originally Posted by GuitarGoblin

So I'm about to add some more MIDI controllers.

Right now it looks like it will be some m-audio keyboard along with a Korg pad kontrol and a behringer BCR2000.

How would I hook all these up to my interface? (Motu 828 Mkii)

GG

The 828 has only 1 MIDI in and one MIDI out so you'll need to utilise the MIDI THRU ports on your gear to connect them serially (for example: M-audio OUT -> Korg Pad IN, Korg Pad Thru -> BCR2000 IN, BCR2000 OUT -> MOTU IN)

You'll have a maximum of 16 channels to work with which may limit the flexibility of the BCR2000 or the pad controller (uncertain - I don't own one of these so I don't know if it is able to work on several channels at once). You will have to decide what channels each of the three bits of MIDI gear will operate with in order to prevent the wrong message being sent to the wrong piece of equipment.
Example: BCR2000 Channels 1-12
Korg Pad Channel 13-15
M-audio Keyboard Channel 16
(or something like that)

Or you could get a USB MIDI interface with multiple ports and have each piece of gear connected to its own port which will make setup & maintenance a hell of a lot easier!

Dags

[Gandalf]

You can connect the BCR2000 via USB and then use the MIDI in and out on that for an extra device

[GuitarGoblin]

Originally Posted by Gandalf

You can connect the BCR2000 via USB and then use the MIDI in and out on that for an extra device

This is what I was planning on doing.

Awesome.

[Dags]

Originally Posted by Gandalf

You can connect the BCR2000 via USB and then use the MIDI in and out on that for an extra device

I was forgetting about the USB connection!
Sweet fix, Gandalf!

Dags

[SonicAlbert]

You don't want to daisy chain more than three midi devices, as you'll start to get delays. You'll also be more prone to dropouts like note offs being lost, that kind of thing.

Better to use a midi patchbay/interface as has been suggested.

[TexRoadkill]

Originally Posted by Dags

GG

The 828 has only 1 MIDI in and one MIDI out so you'll need to utilise the MIDI THRU ports on your gear to connect them serially (for example: M-audio OUT -> Korg Pad IN, Korg Pad Thru -> BCR2000 IN, BCR2000 OUT -> MOTU IN)

That won't work. Thru's don't pass on the info generated on that controller. In the above example the Korg Pad couldn't send out any midi, only pass on what was sent to it's input.

You can daisy chain sound modules for receiving midi but you can't daisy chain controllers unless the next controller in the chain will allow you to merge the Thru/Out.

You either need an interface with multiple midi inputs or a Midi Merge box.

[Gandalf]

Originally Posted by TexRoadkill

That won't work. Thru's don't pass on the info generated on that controller. In the above example the Korg Pad couldn't send out any midi, only pass on what was sent to it's input.

You can daisy chain sound modules for receiving midi but you can't daisy chain controllers unless the next controller in the chain will allow you to merge the Thru/Out.

You either need an interface with multiple midi inputs or a Midi Merge box.

Some devices merge the thru and outs together on 1 connection. I don't know if any of the mentioned devices do though.