Multiple Audio/Midi devices connection

[powersmine]

I'm currently learning as much as I can about my Abelton Live Suite using the settings installed with the program, and those are great, and fun as hack to play with..

But I've got an old Akai MPC 2000 that I have never connected to my computer to try to experiment with...

I also have another couple of pieces of hardware that I'd like to hook into the system, but haven't a clue on where to start to get the information I'd like to get this started. Anybody with examples of how they are set up for the computer/external instrument connection?

I know this is first year midi musician stuff, but I consider myself one of them too.


Thanks, any response would be greatly appreciated

[mode:masters]

Your going to need a MIDI interface or an AUDIO/MIDI interface to get the MIDI from your MP2000 into Ableton. Then use a MIDI cable(s) and plug the output of your MPC into the input of the interface and vice versa. If you are only using it as a control surface and do not wish to have Live follow the drum machine, then you only need output from the MPC to the input on your MIDI interface.

Whatever type you choose you will need to set the MIDI preferences to allow it to communicate with Live. There are 3 different buttons for the Input/Output sections, they are Track, Sync and Remote. Track sends note messages, Sync sends timecode info (tempo, song position) and Remote sends knob/slider info.

My recommendation would be to just use the MPC as an input controller, not as the Master MIDI device, so you will only need to enable MIDI input in Live, for track and Remote.

In the example below you can see the user has enabled track and remote input for 2 devices, iTouchmidi and iTouchmidi2. Whichever MIDI interface you use you will need to do the same. Be aware that in this example they are also sending MIDI back to these devices as well. You will not need to do this with the MPC. This is more for motorised faders or buttons that have lights in them for feedback to the device. The MPC does not require MIDI feedback, so enable only the inputs, not the outputs. Also ignore the top section thats says "Control Surface" as in this example they are using Mackie Control emulation. We are only focusing here on the MIDI input prefs.

Once you have done this you will be able to select the MIDI input on any MIDI track inside Live and the MPC will be sending note and remote messages to Live.

[powersmine]

mode:masters - Great information, just what I needed. Thanks a million.

The input out stuff was worth the price of admission.






Ok, for my next question...



With the mpc, and another midi/audio synth available, theoretically, all I'd need to get started is an interface with at least 1-2 midi in/outs, and at least 1 audio in/out... everything else (with regards to the actual selling points of the interface) are just plus, bonus, extra with some flashing lights and whirring sounds.. right?

Chances are I will find this on my own, and look forward to the fun I can have with my Ableton Live instrument.

thanks again for the information, and I'll be checking in every once in a while with more questions....

[mode:masters]

With the mpc, and another midi/audio synth available, theoretically, all I'd need to get started is an interface with at least 1-2 midi in/outs, and at least 1 audio in/out... everything else (with regards to the actual selling points of the interface) are just plus, bonus, extra with some flashing lights and whirring sounds.. right?

Yeah, this is really something you need to work out as far as your budget will extend, how much use you plan on getting out of said hardware etc etc etc. No point laying down several hundreds or thousands of $$$ if you can't justify spending it.

For quite a long time I used a fairly cheap Edirol UA-25 USB audio/midi interface. You get midi in/out as well as 2-channel audio in/out and some digital stuff too. Inbuilt soft limiter and I think the new version (UA-25ex) has a ground loop eliminator as well. I found this to be a great start, decent quality sound with enough inputs/outputs to do some basic stuff. At one point I had my friends' MPC2000 plugged in to the MIDI just as you are trying to do.

But, again, the hardware choice is entirely up to you and your requirements.

Also be aware that alot of devices have MIDI in/out & thru. The thru can be utilised if you want to send the same midi info to multiple devices, eg. you want to send the same notes to 2 different keyboards or sound modules. If you want to get extra tricky you can send the note messages on different midi channels (there are 16) and set each device to respond to only a specific midi channel. In this way you could essentially chain 16 different hardware devices together using their thru ports and only one cable coming from your interface! This is something that alot of newcomers to midi do not realise.

[powersmine]

Also be aware that alot of devices have MIDI in/out & thru. The thru can be utilised if you want to send the same midi info to multiple devices, eg. you want to send the same notes to 2 different keyboards or sound modules. If you want to get extra tricky you can send the note messages on different midi channels (there are 16) and set each device to respond to only a specific midi channel. In this way you could essentially chain 16 different hardware devices together using their thru ports and only one cable coming from your interface! This is something that alot of newcomers to midi do not realise.

Extra thanks for this..

this sounds like it may make it possible to get a single midi-in/out interface unit and simply connect the synth "thru" the MPC, and throw the synth audio out thru the a/m interface..

I think I have a handle on it now.

Thanks again,

[mode:masters]

Yep, absolutely you could do this.

There is one slight disadvantage to chaining lots of devices with MIDI though, and that is latency. Using the thru's on a lot of devices will cause some timing issues. But again, Ableton comes to the rescue -> If you set up each channel on a different MIDI track in Live you can adjust the delay (both + and -) of the outgoing MIDI, thus compensating for the delay incurred by chaining all the devices.

If this seems difficult to understand, it's not, just PM me and I'll give you a better rundown on how to achieve this.

[powersmine]

mode master you have been a great help!

I needed to know what I needed in order to get that MPC working again.. You supplied the answer..

Thank you very much, my friend.


Hey, while I was looking through my garage for one of the midi controllers I have misplaced, or mistakenly thrown out, I was able to locate a Korg ER 1....


This stuff should be fun to work with.... Your insight and guidance has helped me greatly.


cheers, and if I need anything (limited to this line of discussion, of course).. I'll PM

Thanks again

[powersmine]

Based on the pic mode:masters supplied I was able, just last night, to figure out what my current midi-controller problem was, and how to fix it...

Problem: knobs not working.... Plain and simple.

Fix: duh, preferences, click remote button..

Issue resolved!!!


....and last night I was searching around the internet and brainstorming a bit and found a midi interface that had something like 6 midi-ins 6 midi-outs, and possibly a couple of audio in/outs... unfortunately, I neglected to bookmark the page I visited, so I have to search it out again.....



Again, just giving thanks again to mode:masters for the responses.....


...more later..

Cheers

[mode:masters]

Glad I could help, interested to see this interface you're talking about!