Multiple MIDI controllers

[chromatica]

Is it possible to record two MIDI channels using MIDI THRU? Or is MIDI THRU only for playing sounds?

I am setting up to record some two-piano pieces that my parents have played over the years. Right now I have two keyboards - a Yamaha P70 and an M-Audio controller. I plugged the MIDI OUT from the M-Audio into the MIDI THRU on the Yamaha. Then I plugged the MIDI out from the Yamaha into my MIDI interface (then USB to my computer). I hear a signal on the Yamaha but not on the M-Audio. I know the M-Audio is broadcasting MIDI because I hear it if I plug it directly into the MIDI interface.

Should this wiring configuration work for recording two MIDI instruments at the same time?

[richiebee]

I've never used MIDI Thru - I always felt it was a last resort, since traditionally synthesizers were a little fussy about settings with this kind of thing. I think it should work, though I guess you need two record enabled MIDI tracks, one set to each device. I'm not sure how you'd define each device either... I don't know whether you can only go as far as having them transmit on different MIDI channels (16), or whether you could define them as separate devices and therefore have 2x16 channels.
Does the M-Audio keyboard not have a USB connection? If it does, use this. You can connect each device directly to the computer, and definitely define each one so that they remain totally independent.

[brandondrury]

I am setting up to record some two-piano pieces that my parents have played over the years.

I'm confident that if you use MIDI through, all of your data will be on the same MIDI track as if one person played it. The USB option would be the simplest. Your next bet is using a MIDI interface with more than one input.

Brandon

[chromatica]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I'm confident that if you use MIDI through, all of your data will be on the same MIDI track as if one person played it. The USB option would be the simplest. Your next bet is using a MIDI interface with more than one input.

Brandon

I bought an EMU MIDI interface with two MIDI IN/OUT pairs (from Musicians Friend). When I open up a new project in Logic Express and select External MIDI for the object type, I get two tracks and I have a menu that allows me to select channel 1-16 for both EMU Port 1 and EMU Port 2. When I record I can see the notes appearing in the proper regions, I just don't get any sound. There's a step I am missing that assigns each of these tracks to one of my software instruments. I think I am closing in on a solution. Any Logic experts out there?

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I'm confident that if you use MIDI through, all of your data will be on the same MIDI track as if one person played it. The USB option would be the simplest. Your next bet is using a MIDI interface with more than one input.

Brandon

If you set the midi channel to ANY, it should at least be possible to split the parts into two MIDI channels. In Cubase if you can record enable two MIDI channels and have different inputs defined on each, you should be able to show them separately as devices.... he's using Logic though. I have no idea about that!

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by chromatica

I bought an EMU MIDI interface with two MIDI IN/OUT pairs (from Musicians Friend). When I open up a new project in Logic Express and select External MIDI for the object type, I get two tracks and I have a menu that allows me to select channel 1-16 for both EMU Port 1 and EMU Port 2. When I record I can see the notes appearing in the proper regions, I just don't get any sound. There's a step I am missing that assigns each of these tracks to one of my software instruments. I think I am closing in on a solution. Any Logic experts out there?

Yes, I'm guessing you need to set up your VI's so that you can hear something. I'm sorry, I have no idea how you do that in Logic, but it would be normal in a DAW to have to set up your midi track for input, AND set up your VI to play it.

[brandondrury]

If you set the midi channel to ANY, it should at least be possible to split the parts into two MIDI channels. In Cubase if you can record enable two MIDI channels and have different inputs defined on each, you should be able to show them separately as devices.... he's using Logic though. I have no idea about that!

I had no idae you could record 16 parts simultaneously, but this makes total sense.

Yeah, it sounds like his problem is a little more basic than I had thought.

If you are getting MIDI into Logic and are recording without a problem, it's time to open Chapter 1 in the manual and learn how to use VST instruments in Logic. In Cubase, you load up a VSTi and then route the MIDI track to that virtual instrument. I'd expect it to be very very similar in Logic.

Brandon

[lukemacg]

I was going to make a post asking something similar. I was just wondering if I could use my m-audio Oxygen 8 controller and a midi pedal board to control ableton live?

Thanks.

[tacman7]

Midi thru is an output, not an input, it's used to send a copy of the input to another device.

I record 6 channels at once (one track) in cubase for midi guitar. Axon editor is pretty cool in that it can load cubase scripts and it sends program changes on 6 channels at once, can be a hassle to make 6 program changes every time you want to try a patch.

Cubase can separate the channels in to tracks if you want it to.

[garww]

A Logic Expert is il-logical. But you suggest the recording meter moves, so it's just a matter of hooking up the monitoring if you need to hear it live. You didn't say you are broadcasting each keyboard on a separate channel.

Two inputs at the MIDI box is the way to go. So just follow the chain, but it sounds like you just don't have monitoring set-up.