How does Live handle MIDI channels? I'm stumped!

[paddyb]

Hi!

Help a total noob here. I tried the manual but couldnt find where it explains this.

I have a Yamaha CS6X on MIDI channel 1 in and out of my Echo AudioFire 4.

I have a Roland MKS-50 on MIDI channel 2 connected from the Midi In to the MIDI thru on the CS6x.

So as you can see, I need to run both through Live (which is the idea, anyway, isnt it?)

I cant figure out how to map this out in Live and how to tell Live what MIDI channels to look on.

Can someone walk me through this?

[UncleAge]

Does the Echo unit show up in preferences as a midi port?

[paddyb]

Yes my AudioFire shows up. I did make some progress in that I now know how to use the mixer window and I'm pretty sure this is where it's done. I just dont know what channels to set my MIDI ('From' and 'To') on. And I still don't fully understand how MIDI thru to the MKS-50 is supposed to work. It bounces the Live sequencer data and CS6x note info into the MKS-50 which outputs audio only back to Live through the interface? Also maybe there is something else I'm missing? Can someone walk me through how to set this up? *head explodes*

[transology]

Yes my AudioFire shows up. I did make some progress in that I now know how to use the mixer window and I'm pretty sure this is where it's done. I just dont know what channels to set my MIDI ('From' and 'To') on. And I still don't fully understand how MIDI thru to the MKS-50 is supposed to work. It bounces the Live sequencer data and CS6x note info into the MKS-50 which outputs audio only back to Live through the interface? Also maybe there is something else I'm missing? Can someone walk me through how to set this up? *head explodes*

Probably not the best way to ask a question ...

[0fps]

You only need to route two MIDI tracks by selecting the Echo's output and the propriate channel in each track. U can also use external instruments within MIDI tracks.

[paddyb]

You only need to route two MIDI tracks by selecting the Echo's output and the propriate channel in each track. U can also use external instruments within MIDI tracks.

Thanks, but I already did that. The AudioFire 4 is setup as my MIDI in and Out. It's talking to the CS6x but there is nothing from the MKS-50. Neither triggering a note in live nor pressing a key on the CS6x gets any sound or blinking MIDI light on the MKS-50.

The only way I can get sound from the MKS-50 is to hook it up CS6X->MKS-50->AudioFire

I must have something set up wrong in the CS6x or MKS-50 then? I have Omni off on both synths, the CS6x set to transmit and receive on Channel 1, thru channel set to 2 and the MKS-50 set to channel 2, with MIDI clips for each in Live, set on channels 1 and 2 coming in from the AudioFire. I also did a factory reset on both synths then tried it again and still nothing!

What am I doing wrong?

[3phase]

You only need to route two MIDI tracks by selecting the Echo's output and the propriate channel in each track. U can also use external instruments within MIDI tracks.

Thanks, but I already did that. The AudioFire 4 is setup as my MIDI in and Out. It's talking to the CS6x but there is nothing from the MKS-50. Neither triggering a note in live nor pressing a key on the CS6x gets any sound or blinking MIDI light on the MKS-50.

The only way I can get sound from the MKS-50 is to hook it up CS6X->MKS-50->AudioFire

I must have something set up wrong in the CS6x or MKS-50 then? I have Omni off on both synths, the CS6x set to transmit and receive on Channel 1, thru channel set to 2 and the MKS-50 set to channel 2, with MIDI clips for each in Live, set on channels 1 and 2 coming in from the AudioFire. I also did a factory reset on both synths then tried it again and still nothing!

What am I doing wrong?

you choosed ableton live? even when its the dumbos choice its not really good for midi... however. ine of the quirks is that you have to set the track to input monitoring in order to pass the midi from the midi in to the device..


you can also dobblclick in the clipmatrix and create an empty midi clip this way and than use the paint tool to do create some midi notes in the editor..

on playback the monitoring of the track has to be on auto or off...

you also can monotor incomming midi when set on auto and reord enable on

[paddyb]

thanks for the advice.

i eventually figured out I had to select monitoring 'in' not 'auto' to be able to use the MKS-50.

one other question. when using a hardware synth in a MIDI clip, is it generating an audio clip 'under the surface' or do I need to setup separate audio clips as well? Like say I want to move my sequence into arrangement mode, MIDI isnt generating the sound so what exactly is Live doing with the audio portion of a MIDI clip?

[savyurrecords]

Midi is simply control data. It contains no sound.
In order to record the sound of your keyboards and not just use them as controllers, you need to connect their audio outs to your Echo's audio ins.

You need to setup a separate audio track that corresponds to the input on the Echo and enable record. Then record the audio of the keyboard there. I would do them one at a time.

[paddyb]

Midi is simply control data. It contains no sound.
In order to record the sound of your keyboards and not just use them as controllers, you need to connect their audio outs to your Echo's audio ins.

You need to setup a separate audio track that corresponds to the input on the Echo and enable record. Then record the audio of the keyboard there. I would do them one at a time.

Yeah I understand all that, I'm just confused by the way things are visualized in session view. My first instinct was to make separate audio and MIDI tracks but I thought that because I had to enable monitoring on the MIDI clip that maybe Live is generating an audio clip somewhere as well.

[savyurrecords]

Look I am just trying to help. It is a little hard sometimes to convey thoughts through this forum. Try not to get so defensive, life is short.

Anyway, like many things you can use your synths, laptop, sound card, ableton in a bunch of ways. One way, that is pretty slick, is to use the External Instrument under Live Devices/Instrument. That will keep your MIDI data going to the synth and editable on the clip. It will also route the audio from the sound card inputs that you plugged your synth into.

I don't use external MIDI for my synths. I like to just plug the audio output of them and record into separate clips using the audio editing features of Live to, but hey that's just me.