How do you route your midi?

BluMunk · Post by **BluMunk** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:35 am

Just a poll here, as I'm trying to get my studio (aka bedroom) set up in the most efficient way possible.

I've got two different boards I use regularly as controllers, and a bunch of rack synths (um four at the moment), plus midi in and out of my computer.

What equipment/methods do you use for your midi? It seems like I just need to make a giant 'midi thru' chain with all my synths (ie, my QS7.1 into my JV1080 into my Matrix6 into my TX802). Is that generally the best way to do things?

Analog Freak · Post by **Analog Freak** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:12 am

Generally speaking, making a massive MIDI daisy chain with the thru ports creates a lot of problems with delays and can sometimes result in lost data when a large amounts of data is transfered. This is especially the case with many newer synthesizers which use a "software" MIDI thru port, which is generally a lot more problematic than a hardware MIDI thru port. I use about four controllers, and a bunch of rackmount gear, so I bought a JL Cooper MSB+ for 25 bucks. It has to be the best money I've ever spent on a piece of gear. It solved all the problems I had having to plug and unplug different things and it allows me to have several common routings available within seconds. I don't know if they're still in production, but you might get lucky if your scour eBay and craigslist.

Big Gnome · Post by **Big Gnome** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:12 am

I'm not 100% certain, but I think you can only get away with chaining three or four synths together before you start experiencing latency issues.
I have mine connected in parallel to a 5x5 interface and control the routing from within Logic.

cletus · Post by **cletus** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:48 am

Everything's going in and out of an AMT8 here and routed in logic.

bluedad · Post by **bluedad** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:34 am

I use a midisport 4X4 (from maudio) routed to Cubase or Reaper on my pc.

differentbydesign · Post by **differentbydesign** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:58 am

I have a simple MIDI rule of thumb !
One synth one Port!

Ross

tyrannosaurus mark · Post by **tyrannosaurus mark** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:17 pm

I run my midi through my MPC1000, great lil hubb that thing is

StepLogik · Post by **StepLogik** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:27 pm

differentbydesign wrote:I have a simple MIDI rule of thumb !
One synth one Port!

Ross

thats the only way to go

i use a MOTU MIDI Express XT. Works great but the software is a bit confusing.

any devices that have usb, you should favor that over midi.

since you only have 1 midi port on your computer, i would recommend getting a multi-port midi interface. if thats not feasible, at least get a patcher/thru-box (yamaha YME-8, for example) to split the signal and reduce latency.

Z · Post by Z » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:51 pm

I recommend a MIDI patchbay. I used to use a JL Cooper MSB+ (8 in, 8 out with 2 port merge), but now I use a JL Cooper MSB-1. Very simple to operate. It has 9 MIDI ins & 10 MIDI outs with dial pots to select the source for each destination. Only problem I have with it is that it does not merge 2 ports. The Roland A-880 is another great patchbay. It even has 2 ins & outs on the front panel.

Z

ronP · Post by **ronP** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:40 pm

.

My Electribe, being the bassline and general pattern sequencer, is the center of my MIDI rig; I use its In and Out and Thru to control my drum machine (to synchronize its beats to the sequences) and my synth (to control its arpeggiator and delay rate).

btw: If I ever do expand beyond this set-up, I'll invest in a MIDI patch bay, because all kinds of shenanigans occur if you chain more than three devices.

.

Pilot352 · Post by **Pilot352** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:52 pm

I currently use two '360 systems MIDI Patcher' units, each with 8 ins and 8 outs. I can functionally control any keyboard with any other keyboard just by flipping a few buttons. Very powerful setup indeed!!

-Pilot

Post by **WDW** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:55 pm

This is a HELP topic.

Moved.

WD

Post by **WDW** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:42 pm

Here's my MIDI configuration...

Note that there are no devices connected to a THRU. All devices are connected via a star configuration to reduce latency.

WD

Edit: Corrected a typo.

Pilot352 · Post by **Pilot352** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:42 pm

WDW wrote:Here's my MIDI configuration...

Note that there are no devices connected to a THRU. All devices are connected via a star configuration to reduce latency.

WD

Holy c**p, how many synths do you have????? Are all the synths you show "real" or are they just marked for potential connections?

Note that there are no devices connected to a THRU. All devices are connected via a star configuration to reduce latency.

This is excellent advice. I don't use the thru systems at all either. It just causes problems.

-pilot

Post by **WDW** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:52 pm

Real. And I need to add another Midisport 8x8 so that I can connect a few more orphans. The diagram does not include my non-MIDI gear.

WD