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Organizing several hardware synths and single MIDI-controller
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
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1132
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 12:45:41
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I have currently 2 hardware synths (rack) and a midi-keyboard.
Currently the synths are connected into a small mixer, which is plugged into internal soundcard with one stereo input.
The MIDI-keyboard is plugged into PC via USB, and the MIDI cable connects the soundcard and the synth I'm currently using.
I am going to get another synth soon and I don't want to switch the MIDI cable between them all the time...
As far as i understand, what i need is something like M-Audio MidiSport, several MIDI-cables and a bigger mixer.
But maybe i'm missing something and there are better desicions, like cool multi-midi-channel-soundcard or whatever?
The current scheme:
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2640/syn.gif
  http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
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Eleusene
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
117
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 13:37
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The best method is to have a dedicated midi in and out for every synth, not a chain. An interface like the MidiSport would do the job.
I have the Motu Midi Express 128, but its a bigger one with 8x8 ports.
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Outolintu
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Dec 29, 2010 14:37
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yup, put a midi-interface on your shopping list 
i have the m-audio midisport 8x8/s with every port occupied and it's the piece of equipment i'd like to kick the most. i sometimes switch it between a mac and pc and it gives me all this crap warnings all the time about not finding the driver etc. i've got the latest drivers intstalled (which are btw several years old since m-audio doesn't seem to care to update them!) on both computers so it's really tiresome to fight myself through the same process everytime after i plug it to a computer.
i've also had some midi glitches with this interface and the old blue version of 4x4.
here are some options:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/midi_interfaces.html
if i were you i'd probably get this one:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/motu_micro_lite.htm
5x5 midi ports with one pair at the front which is quite convenient at times (especially if you'll install the interface in a rack or the likes).
i don't know what kind of a small mixer you are using (4 or 8 channels?) but if you're using the midi-kb just as a controller you don't need it to be hooked on the mixer.
so you might not have to buy a bigger mixer yet...
but if you're thinking of expanding your studio with several hardware synths i'd suggest that you'd get a 2nd hand (8,12 or)16 cha mixer with a proper eq section and aux inputs.
like this:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_xenyx_x1222_usb.htm
or
http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_mg_166c.htm
or
http://www.thomann.de/gb/mackie_1642_vlz3.htm
or
http://www.thomann.de/gb/soundcraftspirit_fx_16_ii.htm
"no one ever sweats on a plug-in" -moby |
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 14:49
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MOTU looks good and not so expensive...
So, I will be able to switch between channels via software that comes with it, yes?
http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
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Outolintu
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
63
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Posted : Dec 29, 2010 14:54
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Quote:
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On 2010-12-29 14:49, Medea wrote:
So, I will be able to switch between channels via software that comes with it, yes?
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midi channels?
you choose the midi-port and the midi channel settings in the sequencer you're using.
"no one ever sweats on a plug-in" -moby |
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 14:57
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freechameleon
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
91
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 16:53
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willsanquil
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
93
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2822
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 19:19
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Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi
Started Topics :
75
Posts :
1848
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 20:29
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Which DAW do you use?
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
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1132
Posted : Dec 29, 2010 22:20
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Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi
Started Topics :
75
Posts :
1848
Posted : Dec 30, 2010 20:23
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Sorry don't know anything about Reaper... in general, you'd either need a USB/MIDI interface (as mentioned above) and possibly a MIDI hub. Or all hardware synths that sport direct USB interface. Also what helps is to have a controller that allows you to easily switch MIDI channels or mappings. At least in Ableton, only the track armed receives incoming MIDI, so in that DAW you can have a synth routed to its own MIDI track and use the arm buttons to send to the one you want. Alternatively, you can have one MIDI track with a MIDI rack on it, with different chains which only accept different MIDI channels/CC messages, and a knob assigned to the rack's chain selector. Ummm.... that's all I can think of at the moment and I guess it would only apply to Ableton users.
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willsanquil
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
93
Posts :
2822
Posted : Dec 30, 2010 20:36
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What sound card/interface do you have axis? I know (or think I know) that you have a large MIDI/hardware component to your live set and a similar setup is a long (long, long, did I mention long?) term goal of mine...and my current interface just sucks for that. All I really need is the ability to have two stereo outs for the mixer and enough MIDI in/out for a couple hardware synths...pretty similar to aedem/medea's needs I would bet.
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch...you must first invent the universe
www.soundcloud.com/tasp
www.soundcloud.com/kinematic-records |
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Outolintu
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
63
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Posted : Dec 31, 2010 00:02
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