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A midi controller controlling 2 laptops at the same time?

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:34 am
by strand
Hi I am currently setting up a project for my live performances and wanted to have a synchronized response between audio and video.

I was thinking of my midi controllers controlling audio on one laptop and the same action movements controlling video on another laptop (the efects programmed by me°.

As I have a midisport 2*2 I was wondering if a 2 exiuts usb cable did exist so the midi message is sent over usb to the 2 laptops.

I do not know if such a cable exists. If it does not I will try to build one myself.

I was thinking of this solution as it seems very easy to implement (using a software like resolume for example).

ANother solutions could be building some little app in max or pure data to recive via ethernet the midi messages form the other laptop but this seems more difficult.

what program do you use to synchronize live visuals?

thanks

www.myspace.com/giltertre

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:51 am
by polemans
dont know if a double exit usb cable exists? but, i do the same thing, i bought a second midisport for the second laptop, a lot less hassle and they are quite cheap ( or any other usb midi interface).
just set up a midi track in ableton to send the midi data to the midi out on your first midisport, and connect the midi out to the second midisports in. i use resolume or arkaos (depending on my needs as they are quite different)
i do think it is possible via ethernet but i haven't looked into it, as using the 2 midisports works great.
let me know if you look into the ethernet solution eh.. all the best.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:44 am
by rikhyray
CME and some other company have midi/USB cable with build in interface, space saver over another box+cables.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:16 pm
by polemans
great... :) will be getting one of them. found a dirt cheap one here,

http://www.thomann.de/gb/swissonic_midiusb_1x1.htm

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:45 pm
by 3dot...
I use BCR and EZBUS on 2 computers...

just make each preset send midi to a diff. output...

MIDI / Visuals / etc.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:43 pm
by pip
Wow, you've got alot of options here :-)

You can get a midi thru box; 40 bucks from a quick search on musiciansfriend:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=702507
This will split one signal into two.

You can also sync/transfer midi over a network. You can connect the two computers with wifi, a crossover ethernet cable, or even a firewire cable. For mac, Tiger has native MIDI over lan support. For PC, I use ReaStream from http://www.reaper.fm

For visuals, I've dabbled with FLxER; http://www.flxer.net. It has midi support now.

If you're passing midi through ableton, make sure your midi output device under preferences has "Remote" enabled.

Good luck!