Set up yamahasy85/or a rolland eg101 as a midi controller

[nirvana2]

I recently xame into possesion of a sy85 for use with my setup. What i would like to do is use it as a midi controller (being as it has a few faders and button that could be used as scene launchers etc.

What i'd like to know is this.

1. How to set up as a midi controller. If i turn on my comp with the sy85 running it transmits midi messages, but as soon as i press anything on the control surface, it stops.

2. I've read through the owners manual, but at the end it says refer to the features manual for more on midi features...i dont have this. Can anyopne point me in the direction of where i can find the docs to do all this, or take me through the steps to do it.

If the sy85 cant be used, then iol just use it for its synth sounds and try my rolandeg-101, which i can get to work (keyswise) for midi transmission but as yet not assign any control faders, rotary buttons etc for use.

Please help. I really like the sounds im getting, but would love to be able to use them as a controller as well.

[coconut8]

Hi nirvana2, I have also the yamaha sy85 and it's a fantastic keyboard with great piano and other sounds. For using it as controller for ableton it's possible, but only if you use the keyboard keys to trigger the clips and maybe the on/off buttons for effects. You have also go to preferences - midi page to enable the midi remote input for your soundcard (or directly the sy85 midi remote input).

Maybe there's a way to bypass these limitations, you can check out http://www.yamahaforums.co.uk/forum/, you can find many good information there.

[nirvana2]

Thanking you kindly. Il sure give that a go. The problem is that when I do use it, I have to unplug the USB to midi converter, then turn off ableton. When I then restart the program the cable shows the midi is coming out and being received by ableton and all is well. But then it stops again and the midi cable "midi being sent" glows bright yellow as if it's sending a constant midi message. Maybe there some loop going on I don't know about. But it does it with every keyboard I've tried, from the yamaha tithe Roland to a friends m-audio. My prefs are set up exactly how I want. All I wante was one half of keyboard as clip launcher and one half for mapping to an instrument for on the fly playing. But I think the problem may be lying with this generic midi to USB cable I got off eBay. It's was only a tenner, think I might have to spend a bit more and see if the problem continues, otherwise it's smash hell out of proposed scenarios to make it work. I hate restarting my computer every five mins.

Thank you so much for your suggestion

I guess il stick with using my iPhone and touchOSC or Griid as my midi interface. Unbelievable software programs, great fun, just fiddly on the iPhone.