Newbie questions about MOTU 896mk3 hybrid and using MIDI

[tomschaeffer]

Hello!

I'm a newbie and hopefully this is the right place for my question. I searched other discussions and didn't find an answer so I'll try here--thanks in advance for listening!


I have a MOTU 896mk3 Hybrid audio interface and have been using it directly with Logic (on an iMac) with my keyboard (Korg Triton 75-key Workstation) with success--but thru the analog inputs/outputs from the keyboard to the A/I.

I would like to now experiment with and learn MIDI. The korg has the old-school 5-pin MIDI in/out/thru. The 896 specs says it supports "CoreMIDI." However, there are no MIDI jacks in the AI, so I'm assuming I need to pick up a MIDI interface (looking at the MOTU MIDI Express XT).

I saw other threads on other forums that advised against daisy chaining a MIDI interface, but that didn't sound right to me. Anyone out there know how to start connecting MIDI devices to my 896mk3? I know the MOTU 828 has midi I/Os, but the 896 doesn't. Hopefully I didn't buy the wrong audio interface for my needs/expansion!

So yep, newbie question, hahaha how do I plug this stuff in!?

Help!

Cheers,
Tommy

 

[DrumRookie]

Hi Tommy, the audio interface you have does not have any MIDI inputs like you mentioned.

You'll need something like this. Thats the simplest way I can think of that will get your keyboard hooked up to your iMac. (Something even simpler)

You just need to plug the MIDI cord into the MIDIsport, and plug the USB end into your computer. It should work just fine from there

Good luck, let us know if you have any other questions!

 

[tomschaeffer]

You'll need something like this. Thats the simplest way I can think of that will get your keyboard hooked up to your iMac.

Thanks, DrumRookie! That's certainly a more affordable approach than the MOTU MIDI XT.

So (and still noob-i-questioning, heh heh) looks like I should connect MIDI device(s) directly to computer (through the MIDI interface) instead of through the audio interface? In other words:


[MIDI controller/keyboard] ---> [MIDI interface] ---> [iMac] <---> [audio interface] ---> [monitors, etc]

right?

 

[DrumRookie]

Thanks, DrumRookie! That's certainly a more affordable approach than the MOTU MIDI XT.

So (and still noob-i-questioning, heh heh) looks like I should connect MIDI device(s) directly to computer (through the MIDI interface) instead of through the audio interface? In other words:


[MIDI controller/keyboard] ---> [MIDI interface] ---> [iMac] <---> [audio interface] ---> [monitors, etc]

right?

Yep, your right on! If you go the route of any sort of MIDI interface, that would be the correct setup. The MIDI interface will be separate from the audio interface, and will plug right into the iMac via USB.

If you plan to ever get more MIDI controllers, instruments, etc.. and use them at the same time, you may want to look for a larger MIDI interface. They are more expensive than the small ones I mentioned but will have more inputs for you to use.

Glad I could help some, we're always here for ya!

 

[tomschaeffer]

Yep, your right on! If you go the route of any sort of MIDI interface, that would be the correct setup. The MIDI interface will be separate from the audio interface, and will plug right into the iMac via USB.

If you plan to ever get more MIDI controllers, instruments, etc.. and use them at the same time, you may want to look for a larger MIDI interface. They are more expensive than the small ones I mentioned but will have more inputs for you to use.

Glad I could help some, we're always here for ya!

Awesome...and I love your support--thank you! I already feel more confident in plugging a bunch of junk in and banging on keys in hopes to make music, hahahaha! Not that it matters to this thread but yeah, I'm probably gonna splurge and get a nice rack mountable MIDI interface so that I can expand in the future--and adds to the sexiness of the studio having a another unit in the rack ...guess we'll always be gear sluts, haha!

Thanks again for your help--I'll never forget you when I'm huge! hahaha