How do you use external MIDI sound modules with Live?

[Pasha]

I really found every single answer very helpful.
Just discovering that with minimal personalization
I went through all the various workflows described here
means that everybody is trying to overcome the limitation
I described.

@Hertz SM
I programmed the "Jog Wheel" by using a some BCF2000 patches to address PG in my Roland JV1010. It works fine and I'm able to have 8 MIDI channel controlled that way. What's more is that Live 'reads' PG from the BCF2000 without my input in the clip except that I have to select if first. This spares some time but again it's the 'what you hear' way not the 'what you see' I'd like

@Akshara
The 'Performance Patch' is a good idea I will try to implement it.
I have 32 Presets in User Bank for those and my Editor/Librarian
it's a Windows 2000 only e-Magic software that come with the unit.
Now lives in a VmWare Fusion Win2K Machine and I use it to edit the unit.

@Chisel
I have given up the software solution as well. MIDI Quest is so expensive that
I'd better buy Max4Live instead. It costs exactly the same, 249 Euros.
For one Sound Module it's pure robbery. Unfortunately the Mac OS version
of my Roland editor works only on version 9 and Rosetta has some troubles
with it.

@3dphase
This question originated from my Cubase background where I had (Version 2 SX - the last one before Live for me) the ability to setup midi modules and patch names to select in my tracks.

@Subfunk
Using a Sound Module like I use my guitar (record the sound) would be fine but I play guitar better than I play keyboard and having an handy MIDI edit possible it's good to correct errors, primarily fingers slipping from black keys down to white ones..


Thanks guys! It was really helpful. The combined limitation of stereo outputs in MIDI modules (except the very expensive ones with multiple track outputs) and Audio Cards Stereo inputs (except the expensive one with multiple in/outs) makes usage of MIDI modules different from a VSTi but I'm actually re discovering the warmness of hardware and I want to use my Roland JV again.
I guess Max4Live could be the way we build something to fix the 'patch list by name' limitation even if I think this should be part of the external instrument FX as well.

- Best
- Pasha

[amsonx]

I think that Midiquest XL is an application (and VST) that do what you want http://www.squest.com/Windows/MidiQuest ... About.html

i've tried it (standalone version) with a some external modules : Wavestation A/D Roland R( ER-1 etc and for me do the works .

[UKRuss]

I think it's an excellent idea to add the PG change to the 'External Instrument' device as native in Live. Pop it in the features request list!

[Chisel]

I think it's an excellent idea to add the PG change to the 'External Instrument' device as native in Live. Pop it in the features request list!

Even better would be to add MSB/LSB/PG selection from the External Instrument device and to support text -> data config file for each device. That way, we can make config files for all of our outboard gear and share! It would be fantastic to select patches for all my outboard gear directly in Live. I've already suggested this feature to Ableton. Hopefully they'll implement it soon. For now, I'll stick with my 'really expensive monitor stand'!

Pasha - You were a big help to me when I was learning to customize my BCF2000! I'm glad I can finally return the favor.

Peace \/
chisel316