Ableton Forum

I have one big problem with an hardware synth and ableton live.
This hw synth I have is a rack unit, and really difficult to program, so I use a standalone app on my pc that works as a midi virtual editor.
And here comes the problem:
I want to use the hw synth into live, while tweaking its parameters with the standalone virtual editor... but it's impossible.
The virtual editor communicates with the hw-synth via its midi out and midi in ports, BUT if I want to simultaneously use this hw-synth in live (i.e. to send it some midi notes on a clip) I can't, because the midi out port is already in use by the virtual editor, and live can't access it!!!

Naturally, if I first start live, and then the virtual editor, I can't tweak any parameter of the hw-synth, because the virtual editor says that the midi out port is on use by another app (ableton live, of course).
Is there a workaround?
The hw synth has just three midi ports: in, out, thru.

program patches that allow you to control your HW via MIDI CC's.

trying to merge SYSEX data (editor) with MIDI note data (live) is far far far from optimal, and there's a reason its not even possible under standard situations.

hm, ok. But why two apps can't share the same midi port?

Can you route the virtual editor to Live first on the PC and then send everything from Live to the hw synth using Midi From "All Ins" in an External Instrument track?

I know it's not the same, but I have no problems controlling my hw synth via two separate external midi controllers, plus Ableton GUI at the same time. I think you just need to find a way to route the virtual editor to Live - maybe some PC midi utility...? I hear midi-yoke and bomes mentioned a lot, but I don't use Windows, so can't suggest anything concrete...

Marcus_Hertz wrote:hm, ok. But why two apps can't share the same midi port?

MIDI is old, lots older than multitasking computers.

It is possible to merge midi data... but ...

you are not trying to merge 2 sources of MIDI protocol data, you are asking if its possible to mix SYSEX data and MIDI data.

So even if you manage to merge both types of data into one cable, your hardware may not like it.

The easy easy easy way to do this is just set up patches on your HW that you can control via MIDI CCs, like aftertouch, mod wheel, or other CCs.

Got it!

There was a problem with my usb-midi (cheap esi rom-io) interface.
Switched to mi Ozonic external midi in and out, and now everything seems ok. Ableton can send midi to ozonic ext. midi out, and so does the software editor (midiquestXl), no errors saying "the port is already in use by another application".
May it be something related to different midi driver design?