MIDI woes!

[moskus]

Hello! I have a problem that's driving me nuts!

I have connected two seperate midi-controller-keyboards to my computer via M-Audios Midisport 2x2. The one playing on midi channel 1 is in port A, the other (playing on channel 2) is connected to port B.

The problem is that I want to be able to record MIDI input from those keyboards simultaniously on two different channels, say the first keyboard plaing piano and the second one playing bass.

I thought this was simple and just said that the MIDI In on the"piano-track" to recieve from MIDI-Channel 1. The "Bass-track" to recieve from MIDI-Channel 2. But whatever I set the MIDI In to, both keyboards play whatever sound I have selected on the ACTIVE track!

How can I choose different instruments for different MIDI channels?

This is driving me crazy!!!!! AAARGH! I've not worked with two controller-keyboards before, but Sonar must shurely have a way to do it. The manual is no help at all!

[AlChuck]

You have the MIDI Input set to channel 1 and 2, but what's the MIDI Output of each track set to? And is the synth that's playing the sounds set to respond to individual MIDI tracks or is it in OMNI mode?

[moskus]

what's the MIDI Output of each track set to?

The first track is set to play LiveSynth Pro and the second one is set to play an external device (Korg NX5R)

is the synth that's playing the sounds set to respond to individual MIDI tracks or is it in OMNI mode?

It's set to play individual MIDI tracks.

But I've found another thing. During recording I can record different instruments, even if they echo on the same synth.

So how can I (i.e. in a live situation) play different instruments with two keyboards using external end synths? Say I want to play both the Native Instruments B4 and use the LiveSynth Pro at the same time, how do I set it up (using two keyboards of course)?

[AlChuck]

Hmmm...

Sorry, I have no experience with trying two MIDI input devices at the same time... hopefully someone else will chime in. It seems like it should be do-able...

[Clemie]

By theory it should be done... BUT... SONAR has pretty lack of bugs down there on the MIDI routing. Yes, specially when you use internal sound synth (Native, LiveSynth, SoundFonts, etc...). SONAR is not that good for multi MIDI devices user. I must admit it is a great audio & looping based sequencer software, but MIDI ? big zero. An old Cake Pro Aud 9 had better approach. Even if you can achieve good result once, next time you try you might be failed...

Love
Mama Clemie

[moskus]

SONAR has pretty lack of bugs down there on the MIDI routing

Isn't "lack of bugs" good?

[James Argo]

Hey Mama..., do you mean a lot of bugs ? or a lack of support ?
Whatever... you said the truth about SONAR's MIDI capabillity...
Agree with you the consul does... Your apprentice, young moskus will be...

[crosstudio]

you can have both midi keyboards set for midi channel 1 if you want as long as you have them set for different ports.

key1 should be midi 1 with port 1 input and output

key2 should be midi 1 with port 2 input and output