MIDI chain - channel allocation?

[Agent47]

I'm buying a new synth very soon (probably a Novation or Access for some nice analogue weirdness) and I need to know about MIDI chaining.

My currenty set-up is Cubase VST with a Yamaha SW1000XG card. Cubase drives the SW1000's own synth sounds internally, plus my Roland module via the SW1000's MIDI Out socket.

I know I'll be using the MIDI Thru socket on one of my synths, but how do I set-up MIDI Out channels in Cubase? What I mean is, do I have to split up the 16 channels into say 8 for the Roland and 8 for the Novation/Access?

Is there any way of getting 16 channels per synth module, or do I have to divide up the 16 channels between them and use MIDI filtering?

Any help or advice would be great...

 

[James Argo]

Single MIDI port can only transmit 16 channels. Since your MIDI port (SW1000's out) is single port, you'll have to split it to be used by both synth (one connected to another's MIDI thru). It's not necessary 8 channels for each synth (could be 15 - 1, 14 - 2, 13 - 3, etc) using MIDI filter.

Some synth (Like Korg X5, Roland XP-10, etc) has their own PC/MIDI port via serial port (using dedicated cable), which devides "synth port" and "out port". Synth port drives first synth (the X5 for example), and out port drives whatever connected to X5's MIDI out. Both can have 16 channels each (total 32) config'd by software.

If your motherboard has onboard MIDI/joystick port, then you can use it as extra MIDI port using Joystick MIDI cable (~$15).


Jaymz

 

[drstawl]

I'm buying a new synth very soon (probably a Novation or Access for some nice analogue weirdness) and I need to know about MIDI chaining.

My currenty set-up is Cubase VST with a Yamaha SW1000XG card. Cubase drives the SW1000's own synth sounds internally, plus my Roland module via the SW1000's MIDI Out socket.

I know I'll be using the MIDI Thru socket on one of my synths, but how do I set-up MIDI Out channels in Cubase? What I mean is, do I have to split up the 16 channels into say 8 for the Roland and 8 for the Novation/Access?

Is there any way of getting 16 channels per synth module, or do I have to divide up the 16 channels between them and use MIDI filtering?

Any help or advice would be great...

Why run your signals like that?

Use a multiport MIDI adapter and cut down on problems inherent in sending a relatively slow signal through unnecessary paths.

 

[Agent47]

Thanks guys. That clears up that question. To get more than 16 channels, I need another port. 16 should be enough I think...

I don't think I'll be using the game port option - I'm sure Cubase will throw a hissy fit if I try to use more than one MIDI output port!

drstawl -

I'm pretty sure MIDI thru is fast enough for driving an extra synth. After all, that's what the 'thru' option was designed for. Maybe in the future when I've got racks of MIDI gear I'll need a multi-port adapter!

Cheers,

Agent47.