How would YOU arrange these in a MIDI chain?

aschultz · Post by **aschultz** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:07 pm

So I have been experimenting with a different number of setups/arrangements of my gear in a MIDI chain, trying to figure out what the best way is to have them set up. I am fairly new to the capabilities and ins and outs (no pun intended) of MIDI. I am a HARDWARE only guy, so there is no computer/DAW in the mix at all. I am looking for new creative and efficient ways to arrange the gear in my studio in order to utilize the full potential of MIDI clock and syncability.

I am interested in coming up with the most useable setup for live performance and keyboard playability, as I am first and foremost a keyboard player. I hate using the step buttons as the keyboard input for the ESX-1, but love the fact that I can trigger other hardware from sequenced bass/synth lines from the ESX-1 via channels 1 and 2.

For your reference, I have also posted links to each device's Owner's Manual below each keyboard and synth device.

Korg KP3 (currently used as master clock) - Processing all of the below input through my mixer
Korg ESX-1
M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI Controller (MIDI In and Out)
http://www.m-audio.com/images/global/ma ... G_EN01.pdf
Yamaha S90 (MIDI In, Out, and Thru)
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi ... /S90E1.pdf
Nord Electro2 (MIDI In, Out, NO THRU)
http://www.nordkeyboards.com/downloads/ ... eng%29.pdf
Roland JX-8P (MIDI In, Out, and Thru) *Doesn't Recognize/Transmit Clock*
http://www.synthzone.com/mschreier/html/files/jx-8p.pdf
Dave Smith Instruments Mopho (MIDI In, Out or Thru)
http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/dow ... _v.1.2.pdf
Boss Slicer Pedal SL-20 (MIDI In for Clock...always has been the last in the MIDI chain) - Processing JX-8P's Signal Pre-Mixer

Please give me as many setups as you can come up with and explain why you suggest certain placements or Pros/Cons of different setups.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:39 am

if i were really worried about it i'd think about getting a midi patch bay... i have an audio patch bay and it certainly allows for some creative setups to be put together and taken apart in a matter of a few seconds.

zukskywalker · Post by **zukskywalker** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:08 am

Midi patchbay. Definitely. I've got an old ancient one and I love it. Everything can talk to everything and to the patchbay too.
Long midi chains can be nightmarish with all manner of issues.

(BTW; nice rig but KP3 is siad to have timing issues even withitself.)

darthballs · Post by **darthballs** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:10 pm

I'm not familiar with patchbays, but I just ordered this:

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.c ... sku=702504

It's pretty much just a splitter for MIDI, since you mentioned a master clock. I use a drum machine as a master clock to send tempo information and start/stop signals to the rest of my gear, and plan on using that box to send that split signal out instead of chaining a bunch of thrus.

There's also a 1 -> 8 MIDI thru box, but it's $150 and rack mountable.

aschultz · Post by **aschultz** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:20 pm

So as far as MIDI Patchbays go, I did some looking and came across this piece. Opinions?
http://www.motu.com/products/midi/micro_usb

zukskywalker, Thanks for the compliment on the rig...It suits me well but I can't stop adding to it, thus keeping me broke. Regarding the timing issues with the KP3, what are the specifics on that? That is my newest piece of gear and I have not had enough time to notice any issues so far, although I have noticed that when the S90 is down the daisychain after a few THRU ports, the arps and drum beats tend to drift a bit after a minute or two of being in sync with the electribe. Not sure if that is the S90 drifting or the KP3 causing it.

The reason I chose the KP3 as the master clock is the fact that it has Auto BPM detect, allowing me to input my original Kaossilator and avoid manually syncing everything else to it.

Sometimes I play with a live drummer, I was thinking I could also have him mic'd through my mixer and have the Auto BPM detect the beat and sync all of my gear to him, but I'm wondering if it would be better to try to use the Auto BPM detect on the Electribe.

salamanderanagram · Post by **salamanderanagram** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:30 pm

hey, i don't actually have a midi patchbay so i can't comment on which one to get...

kp3 as master clock is almost certain to cause problems. autoBPM detect works for you? not me.

zukskywalker · Post by **zukskywalker** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:37 pm

Just go back a few pages in this topic (Korg Kaoss) and you will find a few threads about KP3 drift issues and also KP3 OS upgrades that help. Also KP3 autobpm could be problematic if you are using any samples/loops from the KP3 since if the beat changes the pitch shifts too.

aschultz said:" ...I can't stop adding to it, ..." Well with that in mind I'd say go for a full patchbay(8x8) and skip the mini.