Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

I feeling that im doing somesing wrong in my current midi routing.

How would you put together a set of tools:

E-mu MP7 as main sequencer
Novation ReMote SL 49 compact as mici keyboard controller
Access Virus Rack
Korg KP3
Focusrite scarlett 8i6 as audio/midi interface for MAC computer with Logic 9.

For addition i have usb to midi Emu 1x1 Xtab interface.

Especialy i need to record midi data from Virus in MP7 sequencer, MAC is only for master audio recording.

I am not familiar with all those, but I don't recognize anything as a midi router listed there which would be essential to have with that much connected gear.

For example, I have an old parallel port MOTU 8x8 midi router. Each I/O port can be filtered and routed using computer software. There is room to store 8 User configurations in addition to 8 factory presets.

It might be that one of these is a router and I just don't know that.

If you had an E-Mu 2x2 midi interface, a dumb midi thru-box, and one of your pieces of gear had midi I/O through the computer, I think you should be able to get most of what you want done.

If you don't have a midi router, it would help to know what gear and software you have with midi I/O so you can use the computer as your midi router.

It might be that the midi I/O of some of your gear shows up to the computer as midi devices through their own usb connections. That would give you some additional options.

You could plug and unplug midi cables to reconfigure your midi routings, but that is so 1980s. It's much better to use hardware or software to do the cable swapping.

I am wondering if you are trying to get a complex set up by daisy chaining gear.

Very simply, if you want to record the Virus on to the MP7, I would just connect the midi out of the Virus to the Mp7. If the Virus has a midi thru and the Novation has a midi out, you could route the Novation to the MP7 via the Virus. (Again, I do not know what I/O the Virus has, so I am speaking in terms of possibilities.)

Hope this helps. 

Steve 


--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "nikitsanpsix" <nikitsan@...> wrote:

>
> I feeling that im doing somesing wrong in my current midi routing.
> 
> How would you put together a set of tools:
> 
> E-mu MP7 as main sequencer
> Novation ReMote SL 49 compact as mici keyboard controller
> Access Virus Rack
> Korg KP3
> Focusrite scarlett 8i6 as audio/midi interface for MAC computer with Logic 9.
> 
> For addition i have usb to midi Emu 1x1 Xtab interface.
> 
> Especialy i need to record midi data from Virus in MP7 sequencer, MAC is only for master audio recording.
>

Addendum: I tried looking for manuals for some of you gear to see what midi i/o/thru each has. I found lots of info, including synth engine capabilities and videos, but I did not find the midi i/o/thru details.  (Possibly I looked at the wrong sites and I gave up too soon.)

As best as I can tell, though, you do not have a midi router, though it seems as though you have 1 In and 1 Out on the focusrite and 1 In and 1 Out on the E-Mu 1x1 that might let you use the computer as a router. However, as a PC person, I don't know what midi filtering/routing software you would use.

It seems to me that you could have the Virus going to your Mac with 1 Midi In, and your Novation going into the Mac with the other Midi In.  If the Novation will pass midi data to the Mac via usb, you could have the KP3 going to the second Midi in of you Mac.

So, with appropriate sofware you either have 2 in 2 out or 3 in 2 out routing capability (assuming you have Mac software that will do that).


Virus --> Mac via focusrite
Novation --> Mac via 1x1

Mac --> Mp7 via focusrite
Mac --> KP3 via 1x1

OR (if Novation can send midi to Mac via usb):

Novation --> Mac via usb

MP7 --> Mac via focusrite
Virus --> Mac via 1x1

Mac --> Mp7 via focusrite
Mac --> KP3 via 1x1

Would one of these two setups work for you?

Also, if the virus rack has a thru, you could daisy chain a module to it.

Hope this helps.

Steve

PS: I found a Virus manual. Out of curiosity, why do you want to record midi data from the virus on the MP-7?  It seems to me that the Virus is basically a sound module.  If so, I would want a controller [or sequencer] going into the the Virus.

It makes sense to me that someone might want something like this:

Keyboard --> Sound Module X --> Sequencer --> Sound Module X

Is that what you are trying to do?

If so, maybe you could do that using Midi A going to the MP7 and Midi B going to the KP3 and not have to use the Mac as a router.

Novation --> Virus [Out/Thru]--> MP7 [Midi A] --> Virus
MP7 [Midi B]--> KP3

Would this setup give you what you want?

Steve

Hi ...

First of all, you don't say exactly what's wrong/ not working in your setup from your perspective. So, it's not possible to give more than 'generic' help. But, I'll try ...

You need to clarify if you are trying for a 'hybrid' setup that includes your computer and logic as well as the hardware, or a straight hardware setup where the use of the computer and sound card is an after thought.

Steve has mentioned a 'midi router,' which I think of more as a 'midi patchbay.' In a hybrid setup, you can use your sequencer, logic, itself as a virtual patch bay for routing ... provided you have adequate physical midi inputs from/ to your hardware to your computer so that the sequencer can have access to all those midi ports for routing within the computer.

The way I read it, you have 4 physical midi ports available: 1 with the emu; 1 with the Scarlett and 2 with your Novation SL. I don't know the Scarlett well, but if it's USB, than you also need one USB port (possibly use a powered hub) for each of these three items. Once all are working within  logic, you will be able to send midi through logic to all the midi hardware. The midi sent through logic could then be recorded to the MP7 and the MP7 then set to sequence back through logic the virus and korg ... as well as it's own audio output.

Once you've recorded the sequences to the MP7, you could then 'unplug' from logic and the computer and run one of the MP7's midi outs to the virus and the other to the korg.

If you want to start from hardware and only later attach to the scarlett to record audio, it's a different route. You seem to say you want to record the output of your Virus to the MP7. Does the Virus have midi through? If you want to use your Novation for midi input without the computer, you will have to purchase a power supply for it. From my view point it would make more sense to be sending the midi from the Novation to the MP7 and then on to the virus. Just like recording any other midi you would be triggering with the Novation and recording 'what you hear is what you get.' But, maybe there are some arp features on the virus that you also want to record, in which case you'd record with the virus between the novation and the mp7 and later reconnect the virus to the mp7 output.

As long as you only have the two pieces of hardware and the mp7 it should work without any need for a patchbay.

You can get the excellent MOTU parallel patch bays dirt cheap these days. They will work stand alone and you can create routing presets. You can also buy a new MOTU USB Express for less than $200 ... but they are nowhere near the quality of the old ones. The old ones had great software called 'Clockworks' with which you could route and configure from your computer ... but the software probably won't work on a recent MAC, the drivers were for 32 bit systems and few computers have parallel ports any longer. Sadly, I've two of them gathering dust in my closet from when I went from XP x86 to Win 7 x64.

DF








 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.


________________________________

 From: nikitsanpsix <nikitsan@...>
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Saturday, June 8, 2013 1:16 AM
Subject: [xl7] MIDI setup. Help needed...
 


  
I feeling that im doing somesing wrong in my current midi routing.

How would you put together a set of tools:

E-mu MP7 as main sequencer
Novation ReMote SL 49 compact as mici keyboard controller
Access Virus Rack
Korg KP3
Focusrite scarlett 8i6 as audio/midi interface for MAC computer with Logic 9.

For addition i have usb to midi Emu 1x1 Xtab interface.

Especialy i need to record midi data from Virus in MP7 sequencer, MAC is only for master audio recording.

Ha! Steve!

I shouldn't have wasted my time responding, realizing that you are always up to 'supplementing' your help till every 'i' is dotted and every 't' is crossed!

Anyway, seems we're thinking about this pretty much the same way.

DF


 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.


________________________________

 From: steve_the_composer <smw-mail@...>
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Saturday, June 8, 2013 9:39 AM
Subject: [xl7] Re: MIDI setup. Help needed...
 


  
PS: I found a Virus manual. Out of curiosity, why do you want to record midi data from the virus on the MP-7?  It seems to me that the Virus is basically a sound module.  If so, I would want a controller [or sequencer] going into the the Virus.

It makes sense to me that someone might want something like this:

Keyboard --> Sound Module X --> Sequencer --> Sound Module X

Is that what you are trying to do?

If so, maybe you could do that using Midi A going to the MP7 and Midi B going to the KP3 and not have to use the Mac as a router.

Novation --> Virus [Out/Thru]--> MP7 [Midi A] --> Virus
MP7 [Midi B]--> KP3

Would this setup give you what you want?

Steve

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "steve_the_composer" <smw-mail@...> wrote:
>
> Addendum: I tried looking for manuals for some of you gear to see what midi i/o/thru each has. I found lots of info, including synth engine capabilities and videos, but I did not find the midi i/o/thru details.  (Possibly I looked at the wrong sites and I gave up too soon.)
> 
> As best as I can tell, though, you do not have a midi router, though it seems as though you have 1 In and 1 Out on the focusrite and 1 In and 1 Out on the E-Mu 1x1 that might let you use the computer as a router. However, as a PC person, I don't know what midi filtering/routing software you would use.
> 
> It seems to me that you could have the Virus going to your Mac with 1 Midi In, and your Novation going into the Mac with the other Midi In.  If the Novation will pass midi data to the Mac via usb, you could have the KP3 going to the second Midi in of you Mac.
> 
> So, with appropriate sofware you either have 2 in 2 out or 3 in 2 out routing capability (assuming you have Mac software that will do that).
> 
> 
> Virus --> Mac via focusrite
> Novation --> Mac via 1x1
> 
> Mac --> Mp7 via focusrite
> Mac --> KP3 via 1x1
> 
> OR (if Novation can send midi to Mac via usb):
> 
> Novation --> Mac via usb
> 
> MP7 --> Mac via focusrite
> Virus --> Mac via 1x1
> 
> Mac --> Mp7 via focusrite
> Mac --> KP3 via 1x1
> 
> Would one of these two setups work for you?
> 
> Also, if the virus rack has a thru, you could daisy chain a module to it.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> Steve
>
I would like to do computerless true hardware setup. Ñomputer is used only for stereo recording. I dont want to do midi routing in software.
And yes Virus have midi thru.
As I understand you, I can connect novation via virus midi thru to mp7, But emu have only one midi in and i want record virus into mp7 too. that is my problem.
and for kp3, i only need send to it midi clock, i dont need use midi out from it.

Thanks for the clarification. It makes sense. 

I assume you want to use Novation midi data to the MP7 and Virus midi data to the MP7 at the same time. Unless the Virus has a parameter that will let you merge the incoming midi data and its own midi data, I can't think of any way to do it with some sort of midi merge device. If it does, that would probably be you easiest option.

Since you can sent the MP7 clock out MidiA, MidiB, or both, that part of the routing is solved.

Are you handy with building circuits and programming microprocessor boards (e.g., Arduino)? If so, you could build your own midi merger. You cannot just make a midi Y cord. Trust me, it doesn't work with digital data.

Long shot: Any chance the Novation has a midi in that will merge the data with its own to a single out/thru? I believe my Roland CF-10 (membrane fader) has a switch to turn merge on an off, but I kinda doubt that today's gear has that.

If you would be interested in doing an Arduino-based midi merger, I'd be interested in collaborating on the software. (Its something that I've had on the back burner for a while as part of a larger project.)

BTW, something like the parallel port MOTU router/patchbay (e.g., 8x8 Express XT) should work. There's even a factory preset called "Merge All" (also "Merge Some") "so if your battery dies or pops out in transit to a gig and you lose your customized user settings, you'd still be able to merge the midi from the Novation and the Virus to the MP7.  (There must be others that will do the trick; I only mention the MOTU because its what I have been using for a couple of decades.) 

Anyhow, hope this helps.

Steve





--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "nikitsanpsix" <nikitsan@...> wrote:

[snip]

> I would like to do computerless true hardware setup. Ñomputer is used only for stereo recording. I dont want to do midi routing in software.
> And yes Virus have midi thru.
> As I understand you, I can connect novation via virus midi thru to mp7, But emu have only one midi in and i want record virus into mp7 too. that is my problem.
> and for kp3, i only need send to it midi clock, i dont need use midi out from it.
>

If they are working, you want to part with them, and nikitsanspix wants one, I might be interested in the other as a backup and to take it on the road for a possible midi clock based jam--sending midi clock to up to 8 other performers.
Steve
 

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, D F Tweedie <bienpegaito@...> wrote:

> You can get the excellent MOTU parallel patch bays dirt cheap these days. They will work stand alone and you can create routing presets. 

[snip]

Sadly, I've two of them gathering dust in my closet from when I went from XP x86 to Win 7 x64.
> 
> DF

yes im ok with arduino, even have done one controller with uno.
but at first i will try to put novation(out)>virus(thru)>mp7(midiA)>virus>mp7(midiB)>kp3

with merge midi in virus...

thank you for help, i will try this setup tomorow and tell you what result i have.

The dust is getting deeper ... but I'm not yet ready to let them go. 

Matter of fact, I've been mulling over taking an older almost gutless PC with XP and setting it up in my studio just to run a little midi farm. Not much memory or processing power necessary for that, I think. Since the synth modules are all hard patched into my mixing board ADAT'd to my main DAW, I don't really need to run them from the DAW.

DF


 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication.


________________________________

 From: steve_the_composer <smw-mail@...>
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Sunday, June 9, 2013 5:55 AM
Subject: [xl7] Re: MIDI setup. Help needed...
 


  
If they are working, you want to part with them, and nikitsanspix wants one, I might be interested in the other as a backup and to take it on the road for a possible midi clock based jam--sending midi clock to up to 8 other performers.
Steve


--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, D F Tweedie <bienpegaito@...> wrote:

> You can get the excellent MOTU parallel patch bays dirt cheap these days. They will work stand alone and you can create routing presets. 

[snip]

Sadly, I've two of them gathering dust in my closet from when I went from XP x86 to Win 7 x64.
> 
> DF

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, Susan Subtract <ryan.taylor.jorgensen@...> wrote:
>
> program change message sent from command station?
> 

Yes! but how record it for change multisetup? Im using several channels (presets/tembres).

From my experience with a virus (TI if that matters), this works with one caveat - the patch on the global MIDI channel is changed too. My workaround was to use channel 16 as the global, since my multis never use up all 16 channels. Hope this helps.

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, Nathan Steele <XTCaine303@...> wrote:

>
> 
> 
> Not sure which virus you are using but page 120 of the virus c manual 
> states:
> 
> "MULTI PROGRAM CHANGE ENABLE
> This function controls if the VIRUS receives pro-
> gram changes of multi-setups. If enabled, the
> VIRUS switches an entire multi-setup by a pro-
> gram change. The global MIDI channel has to
> be used to receive the program change. Please
> note that the multi program change will no
> work in the single-multi mode, because, in this
> mode, the display is unable to show the
> change."
> 
> This is a system parameter setting. I don't own a viruse so I may not be 
> able to help much further.
> 
> your best bet if you want to use the same multi for a whole pattern in 
> the command station is to put the program change in the Tick 0. I have 
> tried to figure this out myself and followed instructions but couldn't 
> get it to work, can someone who did this and had it work please explain it?
> 
> 
> 
> On 6/10/2013 4:30 PM, nikitsanpsix wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In xl7@yahoogroups.com <mailto:xl7%40yahoogroups.com>, Susan 
> > Subtract <ryan.taylor.jorgensen@> wrote:
> > >
> > > program change message sent from command station?
> > >
> >
> > Yes! but how record it for change multisetup? Im using several 
> > channels (presets/tembres).
> >
> >
>

by a lucky coincidence I use my virus rack (one rack-unit device) on global 16 too, and never use more than 6-8 virus channels in multi. thank for support :-)

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "Boris" <bgutman@...> wrote:

>
> 
> From my experience with a virus (TI if that matters), this works with one caveat - the patch on the global MIDI channel is changed too. My workaround was to use channel 16 as the global, since my multis never use up all 16 channels. Hope this helps.
> 
> --- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, Nathan Steele <XTCaine303@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > 
> > Not sure which virus you are using but page 120 of the virus c manual 
> > states:
> > 
> > "MULTI PROGRAM CHANGE ENABLE
> > This function controls if the VIRUS receives pro-
> > gram changes of multi-setups. If enabled, the
> > VIRUS switches an entire multi-setup by a pro-
> > gram change. The global MIDI channel has to
> > be used to receive the program change. Please
> > note that the multi program change will no
> > work in the single-multi mode, because, in this
> > mode, the display is unable to show the
> > change."
> > 
> > This is a system parameter setting. I don't own a viruse so I may not be 
> > able to help much further.
> > 
> > your best bet if you want to use the same multi for a whole pattern in 
> > the command station is to put the program change in the Tick 0. I have 
> > tried to figure this out myself and followed instructions but couldn't 
> > get it to work, can someone who did this and had it work please explain it?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On 6/10/2013 4:30 PM, nikitsanpsix wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In xl7@yahoogroups.com <mailto:xl7%40yahoogroups.com>, Susan 
> > > Subtract <ryan.taylor.jorgensen@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > program change message sent from command station?
> > > >
> > >
> > > Yes! but how record it for change multisetup? Im using several 
> > > channels (presets/tembres).
> > >
> > >
> >
>

Can't do preset dump and multis have already been discussed