connecting my city of midi devices.

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cortexx

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Scenario

1 computer with edirol USB to midi interface and a SB audigy midi interface.

2 keyboards (v-synth and korg ms2000b)

various different synth modules

What i want to do is connect the 2 keyboards midi in /out to the computer and have full control of the synth racks.

I want to be able to play live on 1 keyboard and record into sonar , then play it back through which ever module i want, I also want to be able play on keyboard and have it play back through the module as i play it.

So can i do this ?

.midi in/out on both keyboards plugged into the 2 seperate midi controllers on the PC , then have the rack modules daisy chained from the through ports of the keyboards so that I effectively have 2 channels each with 16 midi channels on for playback to distribute to each appropiate rack.(effectively 32 midi ports 2X16)

even though the in/out midi ports on the keyboards are plugged into the computer, will the midi information from the keyboard being played be echoed in the thru port also ? thus sending the midi info to the racks plugged into it ?



So if the above doesnt work I bought a MOTU MTP AV off ebay and cant find a damn manual for it anywhere, after calling MOTU they told me they dont supply PDF manuals for download , and would sell me a new one for $15 but dont have any left and wont be having anymore in the future.

So can I achieve the above using the MOTU midi time piece and if so how do i utilize the damn thing ? :D


Ohhh and somewhere I need to setup MTC so that everything plays in synch ;) is the PC the best place for this to happen ? or one of the keyboards ?
 
Whats your hardware list?

The way I'm set is I have everything hooked up on a separate port, but that is mainly for progarming via midi which requires communication in both directions. The big thing for daisy chaining large rigs is that its not to hard to bog down. A lot of newer equipment is always putting a mountain of superfluous midi data out so if you chain a bunch of those, you will run into timing problems (roland stuff in particular). Try to keep a handle on controllers sends i.e. dont be sending 10 CC a, pitchbend, mod wheel, and note info at the exact same time

BUt it sounds like your pretty much set up right. The master keyboard should be in local off so think of its sound source as just another rack. The other keyboard does not need the out connected to anything

will the midi information from the keyboard being played be echoed in the thru port also ?
No, Midi through only echos what is received on the midi input.

So think of sonar as the Hub for all this. The master keyboard is your only input. Make midi tracks for everything you have set to their coresponding Midi Port and Channel. Select the the midi in as the input for each channel and that it. I'm not sure how it works for sonar but for cubase, if you have one controller set for all inputs, it will on will play on the track if it is either selected or monitored. done

You dont need MTC if your running sonar as the master
 
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Here is what i plan to have setup.

network 1
roland v-synth midi out plugged into my SB audigy midi in
E-MU orbit connected to the SB audigy midi out
E-mu proteus 2000 connected to thru of the orbit
E-mu Xtreme lead connected to thru of the proteus
roland v-synth midi in connected to the thru of the xtreme lead

network 2
MS2000b midi out plugged into the ediriol USBmidi in
access virus B plugged into the ediriol USBmidi out
Roland JP8080 connected to thru of the virus
MS2000b midi in plugged into the thru of the jp8080

Roland Varios plugged into USB of the PC

still have a dr880 to hook up , midi for lexicon mx200 , midi for behringer virtualizer pro and midi for behringer ultradyne pro and maybe the midi on my Fostex MR8HD.

I want to be able to play the v-synth and MS2000b individually or use them as midi controllers for the racks.

I want everything to be sync`ed with MTC , as you say probably from sonar as the PC has now become the hub for 2 seperate midi networks.

I figure splitting all the midi up into 2 seperate midi interfaces will alleviate overload and lag of the midi information.

with the exception of the xtreme lead most of the racks do not use more than 2 midi channels at the same time.

Also the JP 8080 rack can only use its arp if the keyboard is plugged into the remote keyboard socket and it doesnt have a thru port which seems retarded to me. It reduces it effectiveness of the rack in a midi chain. If anyone knows of a way around this i`d like to know it.

thanks
 
Pick up an 8-port MIDI interface or patchbay. I would sugest trying to find something like the Emagic AMY8, or maybe a MOTU MTP.

I have both the above to do what you are trying to do.
 
yeah, thats alot of shit for 2 ports. Track a manual down for that motu that you have, its a pretty good peice of kit
 
thats just it , i cant find a damn manual for it anywhere , even called MOTU and they cant supply one.

all i need to know is how do i connect these modules to the motu and then how do i setup the motu to control the gear , i dont find fiddling with the knobs on the motu too intuative :(
 
Oh! damn, gotta learn to read. Your MOTU will do you fine. Send me an email through this board and I'll help you get setup with it, OK? It will do everything you want it to do.

You can do everything through Clockworks.
 
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