First MIDI Connection - some questions.

[Dr. Varney]

I've had a Roland Keyboard MIDI controller lying about for a couple of months and now I'm about to unleash the power of MIDI for the very first time on my computer.

Firstly, what cables do I need? Is that MIDI-MIDI from the controller to my soundcard or would it be MIDI-USB?

Secondly, since this is the first time I've ever made a MIDI connection, can I expect any hassles with it? For instance, I've got to map the controller to the computer somehow. What hidden frustrations am I about to uncover?

The DAW I am using is FL Studio.

Thanks

Dr. V

 

[anppilot]

unleash the power of MIDI

Ben working with midi for over 25 years and never quite heard anyone describe MIDI that way! May want to write yourself a script for that thought pattern doc )

JK

Okay first, a few questions.

1. What model Roland board do you have?
2. Are you going to use it as a synth if its a synth or is it just a MIDI controller like the A90 or something like that?
3. Are you going to trigger VST instruments with it?
4. Are you planning on adding on other synths someday?

1. You will need a serial or usb MIDI interface. I LOVE the emagic interfaces. I have used them for years. ZERO MIDI timing problems. I would recomend the Unitor-8 USB or serial, or Emagic MT-4. Emagic is out of business, but they can be found DIRT CHEAP these days of ebay. I just 2 more Unitor-8's for my studio for $100.00 ($50/ea) Unitor-8 has 8 ins and 8 outs. MT-4 has 2 ins and 4 outs. If you dont want to go the Emagic route, then the MAudio/MOTU stuff will do.

2. Next, just plan for adding more synths later so I say go for a 8 in / 8 out type. Ususally about $250 (well worth it)

3. You will need a serial or usb cable (depending which flavor connection is on your interface you buy) and 2 MIDI cables. One for kybd midi out to interface in / kybd midi in to interface out. This is so the keyboard can send note data to the interface then to the daw app, then if you do any sysex dumps from your computer to your synth for patch, performance or setup stuff on the keyboard.

4. Hassles. Usually no. If your just using the keyboard to trigger a vst, things should go easy. Just set your DAW app to what ever # interface connection your connected to. If your going to send patch data to your synth, it can get tricky. You will have to make sure that your device id on your keyboard is matching the device id, midi port number and channel on the app your sending data from. I would recomend using Emagic's sounddiver app or Unisyn to edit patches and librarian to store edited patches.

I dunno what else to tell you.

I'll brag and say I am quite the MIDI guru (IMO)

Look at my sig and I have all of them hooked up to my computer at once through 3 unitor-8's (24 midi ins/outs) going to a 32 channel yamaha mixing board and a mackie 1202 mixer.

 

[dintymoore]

Does the Roland keyboard have a USB jack on it?

If it does you don't need MIDI cables or a MIDI interface. Only older keyboards don't have USB and require a MIDI interface.

 

[Dr. Varney]

Ben working with midi for over 25 years and never quite heard anyone describe MIDI that way! May want to write yourself a script for that thought pattern doc )

Heh, well... What I mean is - the power to trigger with piano keys, rather than drawing little blobs with a mouse.

1. What model Roland board do you have?

Roland ED PC-180A

2. Are you going to use it as a synth if its a synth or is it just a MIDI controller like the A90 or something like that?

It's not a synth, it's a controller. It has a pitch bending/modulator wheel and another slider, marked 'Data Entry' and a couple of other buttons. Then the keys are marked with various things, like 'After Touch', 'Velocity', 'Reverb Level', etc...

3. Are you going to trigger VST instruments with it?

I hope so.

4. Are you planning on adding on other synths someday?

Not in the foreseeable future.

1. You will need a serial or usb MIDI interface. I LOVE the emagic interfaces. I have used them for years. ZERO MIDI timing problems. I would recomend the Unitor-8 USB or serial, or Emagic MT-4. Emagic is out of business, but they can be found DIRT CHEAP these days of ebay. I just 2 more Unitor-8's for my studio for $100.00 ($50/ea) Unitor-8 has 8 ins and 8 outs. MT-4 has 2 ins and 4 outs. If you dont want to go the Emagic route, then the MAudio/MOTU stuff will do.

I'm not planning on buying anything else, other than a cable. My soundcard has MIDI in. I take it that will be sufficient?

2. Next, just plan for adding more synths later so I say go for a 8 in / 8 out type. Ususally about $250 (well worth it)

My sound card has both MIDI IN and OUT. The controller only has MIDI OUT.

3. You will need a serial or usb cable (depending which flavor connection is on your interface you buy) and 2 MIDI cables. One for kybd midi out to interface in /

I'm reading you up to this point but...

kybd midi in to interface out. This is so the keyboard can send note data to the interface then to the daw app, then if you do any sysex dumps from your computer to your synth for patch, performance or setup stuff on the keyboard.

You've lost me now... What's a sysex dump? Patch, performance or setup on the keyboard? Sorry, that's just gone right over my box...

4. Hassles. Usually no. If your just using the keyboard to trigger a vst, things should go easy.

Great! Though I hope so... I don't have a manual with my controller. Will I be able to set it to trigger more than one instrument? Not all at once, because I tend to work in just one instrument at any one time.

Just set your DAW app to what ever # interface connection your connected to. If your going to send patch data to your synth, it can get tricky.

Well, this 'patch' thing... I have no idea what that means but as long as not having it still means I can enter notes into my computer with it, then I'll be happy.

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The reason I had it is because I have musicians contributing to my work who can play keyboards, but who aren't so familiar with DAW applications and piano rolls. I can enter notes into a piano roll but I reckoned on learning the keyboard myself and what better place to start, than playing my VSTs with it.

I'll brag and say I am quite the MIDI guru (IMO)

Well, you know more than me, so I'm very glad to make your aquaintance . Thanks for your help.

Many thanks

Dr. V

 

[Dr. Varney]

Does the Roland keyboard have a USB jack on it?

No. Just MIDI out.

Dr. V

 

[gecko zzed]

Midi out on the keyboard is fine, just so long as you have a midi in on the interface somewhere.

Using onboard midi sounds can be done, though quite often, if it is an MS Wavetable, you can experience latency and the sounds may not be as nice as you can get elsewhere.

However, there are plenty of VST instruments around which you will find satisfactory.

I use a combination of VSTi and external module (SC-88), and that seems to work okay for me. I avoid the soundcard's sounds.

 

[Dr. Varney]

I don't want to use MS Wavetable. I just want to trigger the VSTs in FL Studio.

Dr. V

 

[mikemorgan]

Ah, I have fond memories of my first midi connection.......



thanks for bringing that back!