Edirol UM-880

[Krakit]

Hello, I've got an Edirol UM-880 connected to my PC via the USB connection.

When I try to sequence multiple MIDI sources simultaneously in realtime the events record just fine, but playback goes out to all instruments.

That is to say that all MIDI events are sent to ALL the synths and modules in my system.

Does anyone know what configuration error I am making?

I've tried assigning different channels to all my devices (however, it is my understanding that port assignments should have been enough) and when I do this, NOTHING plays back. The events still get recorded ok, but no MIDI information makes it back from my PC to my synths/modules.

If it matters, I'm using Powertracks Pro version 8.

Thanks,
Carl

 

[altitude909]

My guess is that there is some patching going on in the midi interface, im not familiar with either that or powertracks so its a guess but make sure you do not have any patches running that route ins to outs

 

[Krakit]

Actually, I think I figured it out but I'm disapointed if this is what I had to do.

I had to change all of my MIDI channels on my devices to unique numbers (yuck, never had to do that with my MotU XT) and be sure to not select "Controller" in my device list for in or out.

That worked just fine but it's very klugey.

I'm going to call Edirol this week and ask them if there's a better way. I had thought that this thing was sophisticated enough to seperate devices by port alone when the PC is connected via the USB cable.

:sigh:

Carl

 

[stray411]

I can't tell what steps you're leaving out, so here's an example of the whole routing procedure.

First, forgive me for asking the obvious, but you do have your devices connected to seperate physical ports on the 880, right?

Record a MIDI track into your sequencer and route it to the first port of the 880. To send that output to one of your devices, you have to select USB mode on the 880. You do that by pressing the USB/MIDI button until it's lit.

Then press Patch, select input 1 and then the output you have your device connected to...or multiple outputs if you want.

As far as channels, you just need to make sure that the MIDI track in your sequencer is sending on the same channel(s) that the device you are outputting to is set up to receive on. Each port can send 16 channels from your sequencer to each device giving you 128 channels to work with.

It's a great interface and standalone patchbay, but the UI is definitely confusing and the manual isn't much help.

Hope that helps.

 

[Krakit]

So you are saying that I CAN keep my channels on my controllers and modules set to one after all. I only have to set up my USB patches for 1 on the in and my modules on the out.

Is that right? If so I'm very happy about that.

Having to change my volitile channel information on my MIDI controllers everytime I want to make a recording sucks.

Carl

 

[stray411]

So you are saying that I CAN keep my channels on my controllers and modules set to one after all.

Yes, you can leave everything on channel 1. If you do that though, you will be limited to one MIDI track per module.

I only have to set up my USB patches for 1 on the in and my modules on the out.

Sort of. Let me explain that part better.

Let's say you have 5 modules connected to the 880 and 5 MIDI tracks in your sequencer (this is assuming you're only using channel 1). You route and patch the first track like the example I gave.

For the 2nd track, you route that to the 2nd port on the 880. Select input 2 and then the output you want to send it to.

For the 3rd track, you route that to the 3rd port on the 880. Select input 3 and then the output you want to send it to.

Repeat for tracks 4 and 5.

If you want to send more than one MIDI track to a module, you will have to use different MIDI channels. So, if you had 3 MIDI tracks you wanted to send to the module connected to output 1, you'd have to use 3 different channels, one for each track. You would route all 3 tracks to the same 880 port (1 for example), then select input 1 and patch it to output 1 to send it to the module.

I wish there was an easier way to explain this...but on the bright side, once you get your head wrapped around it, it's very easy to use.