Midi routing problem

[paul4pa]

Hi

I hope I can describe this problem clearly , here goes.
I have Kirnu Cream and a new Midi device called Stochas. Both devices have layers that can be routed to different midi outputs. Thus enabling 2 or more VST synths to be played simultaneously from the midi device.

I am trying to be able to press any note of C2 - C3 and synth 1 plays a sound/s . and then any note from C#3 - C4 and the other synth plays a sound /s. On Stochas it is simultaneous ; so messages from both layers go out on different midi channels at the same time to the 2 synths .

I would expect to only need 1 midi track for the device and one for each of the synths , a total of 3 midi tracks in live.

The following is what I do to set up the midi device and synths:-

In Stochas and Kirnu cream you go to the midi output tab and change the number for each layer. e.g. layer 1 to midi out 1 layer 2 to midi out 2.

I would then expect to be able to put 2 midi tracks into live and place a synth in each .

After that, I'd hope to find in the 'midi from' drop down box (probably the lower of the two) an option to select either output 1 or 2 from that midi device.
HOWEVER
Live only sees the midi device , it doesn't seem to register that the divice is splitting its 2 layers and pointing each to a different midi output.

The cumbersome workaround is to use 2 instances of the midi device and direct each to its own midi track which has a synth on it.

Just for clarity I will explain the usual way to set up midi VSTs so anyone helping me knows I understand that much.

The usual set up is :- make a second midi track for the VST that is producing the audio and locate the midi device/Vst in the 'midi from' boxes in the routing panel then click 'IN' on the monitor and the Midi device is driving the audio vst.

I have emailed the midi device company for Stochas and they say they're looking into this problem, but seeing it happen on Kirnu Cream made me think it may be something more to do with Ableton than the midi device design. Hence this post.

If anyone understands, and can be of help , even if it's to say something like ; "to do that you need use another DAW", please don't hesitate to reply.
Midi routing has always baffled me (been using Ableton since it's early days in 2005).

Many thanks

[Richie Witch]

Rather than using different MIDI outputs, how about using different MIDI channels? That would also reduce the number of MIDI tracks needed in Live from three to two.

Your MIDI device would come into Live on the same port, but the pulldown list below the port list would be changed to match the appropriate channel. Each instance of the vst would then respond to MIDI data only on that channel.

[paul4pa]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. I think 'channels' is the right terminology rather than outputs, and what you describe is the way I think it's supposed to work. However, the midi device VST is seen as an instrument by Ableton, so It can't be on the same track like Ableton Midi devices can (sit in front of a synth on the same track). MAybe that's the reason for the problem, I don't know. The 'midi from' drop down menu on the track with the midi device gives me all the channels in the lower drop down menu but the same isn't true on the tracks with the vst synths on them. Once I pick the midi instrument in the top menu of 'midi from' the bottom menu doesn't give me a selection of channels.

[Richie Witch]

Maybe you could provide a sceenshot? I can't make sense of what you're describing. You shouldn't need any MIDI tracks for the hardware controller--you should have already set that up in Live's MIDI preferences.

That would put the controller on the upper pull-down list of the MIDI track, and then you would just select the right channel for the instrument on that track... so, I don't think I'm clear on what you've got set up.

[paul4pa]

Hi

Thankyou for your reply.
This is all VST - software routing midi channels. What I mean by that is the midi VST software that sends midi messages is on track 1 and it can send out midi information on channel 1 , 2, 3, and 4. However when I put a VST software synth onto a track to be played by that midi device the drop down menu 'midi from' can only recognise the device. It doesn't offer all 16 channels (or even 4) in the lower drop down box.

I took a screenshot and tried to us 'Img' but it doesn't seem to upload my image to this chat.