MicroKorg External Midi Controller issues.

markolomew · Post by **markolomew** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:45 am

I have a MicroKorg and I am trying to set it us so that my M-Audio Axiom 61 Midi Controller will use the sound bank of the MicroKorg (aka bypass the MicroKorg's keyboard and use the Axiom's keyboard instead).

It's a simple setup: Midi Out from the Axiom to the Midi In of the MicroKorg.
Problem is, nothing happens.

I've tried a new cable, still nothing, I've tried the Midi Out on the Axiom to my MOTU 8pre that hooks me to Logic Pro 8 and it is getting Midi signals. I've tried messing around with the Midi settings on the MicroKorg on the Edit Select 2 knob to no avail either. My Axiom is outputting midi to Channel 1, and so is my MicroKorg. If I turn off or on the MicroKorg keyboard (Edit Select 2 = midi, Resonance knob = off) nothing changes either.

I have done a factory restore on both the MicroKorg and the Axiom. Anymore ideas?

This is irritating the piss out of me.

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:15 am

Have you read everything on page 49 of the manual?

markolomew · Post by **markolomew** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:26 pm

Yes, page 49 and I are well acquainted unfortunately. Just to be doubly sure, I went back through every step on there before writing back hoping I had missed something. Unfortunately not.

Just fyi, my microkorg settings for Edit Select 2 Midi are:
(1) 1
(2) on
(3) int
(4) ---
(5) ---

for Edit Select 2 Global:
(1) 400
(2) 0
(3) CrU
(4) PrE
(5) oFF

One midi cable used. Midi In (microkorg), Midi Out (Axiom61).

The only other think I can think of is that the Axiom is connect via USB for power and Logic Pro 8 automatically syncs Midi data from it as well. There is a setting on the Axiom to turn of and on the USB midi, but regardless if it's on or not, Logic reads the midi. I have performed a factory restore on the Axiom using Enigma 1.2.2 for OS X, so the issue is still somewhere else.

( Maybe I should clarify a little more. My goal is to be able to use my Axiom as my "software instrument" for midi control in Logic. At the same time, if i set up an "audio instrument" for the microkorg channel, I want the Axiom to be the external controller for the microkorg keyboard. So I should be able to use the USB port on the Axiom61 to send midi data to Logic Pro 8 and yet have the Midi Out port go to the MicroKorg Midi In port and have that work as well. There is a toggle on the Axiom that routes the USB Midi Data if need be...but as mentioned in the previous paragraph, it doesn't make any difference if it is on or off. )

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:05 pm

Your master tune should be set to 440, not 400. That's not causing the midi problem, but it's wrong regardless. You need to confirm under the midi filter settings that all messages are enabled.

Please read this:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=sup ... 4ec7685bfc

Is MIDI Out from USB mode set to: OFF

•Press Data 2 and Data 3 together to change the MIDI Out setting to MIDI Out from USB.
•You will see a MIDI plug symbol appear on the LCD display.
•To turn MIDI Out from USB mode back off, press the same button combination again. When you do this, the MIDI plug symbol disappears

Be sure that turning off the MIDI out from USB is the last thing you do before you test, as plugging it into a USB port might reset it. You might also try powering the axxiom with a DC adapter instead of USB power, to eliminate the computer as a variable in the testing.

markolomew · Post by **markolomew** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:37 pm

ok, did what you mentioned (very thorough suggests as well, I appreciate the time and energy for this help!)

Still nothing though. Under Edit Select 2 global...i changed the Master Tune to 440. Pressed Shift and 4 to get to the Midi Filters and double checked that everything was enabled ( _-E ). Unplugged the USB cable for my Axiom61 and used a wall power source. Turn On, then Off the USB to Midi functionality (the icon for the midi was off, then on, then back off). Then I plugged back in the Midi Out on the Axiom and the Midi In to the MicroKorg.

No love. I thought maybe the Midi Out port was bad on the Axiom, so I just ran the cable from the Midi Out (Axiom) to the Midi In on my MOTU 8pre and double checked the Midi signal in Logic Pro 8. Looks like the midi port is still good and whenever I disable the "USB to Midi" on the Axiom, it does in fact disable the midi on Logic. So some how the issue is between the Axiom and the MicroKorg. The only thing I have not tested would be the Midi In port on the Microkorg, but on first thought, I don't know how I would even test it.

Any more ideas?

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:05 pm

You can check the midi in port of the MicroKorg by hooking the Midi out of the MOTO to the midi in of the MicroKorg, then sending some midi to it over midi channel 1. If you have any other midi keyboard/module that responds to midi channel 1, then you can confirm that the MOTO is properly sending midi output. That narrows the problem down to the physical midi port on the MicroKorg, if everything else is working fine via midi.

markolomew · Post by **markolomew** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:59 pm

Alright, update:
Created some midi notes on a "software instrument" track in Logic Pro 8. Then attached the midi cable from the Midi Out (MOTU 8pre) to the Midi In (MicroKorg). I opened "Environment", click on Midi Instrument, then created a new instrument. Make the instrument the MicroKorg, set it to channel 1 and the Port to be the 8pre Midi Port. Back to the "software instrument" track I set the input as External Instrument and set the Midi Destination to the microkorg and the input to be audio channels 5-6 (that's where the audio output are hooked up to on the 8pre from the MicroKorg). I press play and I hear sound from Logic playing the midi through the MicroKorg sound bank.

So looks like the Midi In on the MicroKorg does work.

markolomew · Post by **markolomew** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:03 am

On a strange note, my Axiom is now controlling the MicroKorg as well now. This is good news, but I am not really understanding why it is now.

Right now I have only one Midi cable set up: Midi Out from 8pre to Midi In on Microkorg. I have my Axiom connected via USB only but have the "Midi to USB" turned off.

This is truly a weird situation, but I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it.
I'll let you know if something changes once I reboot or start a new session.

Thank you for you help!

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:44 am

Glad you got it working, at least for now, and you know that it _can_ work, which is a step ahead of where your were!

markolomew · Post by **markolomew** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:47 am

Yea that's true. I just wish I knew hiw the he'll it IS working. Heh.

JaymzDestroy · Post by **JaymzDestroy** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:59 am

If this sounds rude then my apologies lol....did you plug the axiom in?

When using with logic it will draw its power from USB, but when using standalone as a midi keyboard then it will probably need a power supply.

If there are no lights etc on the axiom then this is maybe the case

Check the manual for the correct power supply then set up as necessary.

The axiom is working through Logic because it is being powered by USB and then what ever you play on it is being sent via the Midi out of the 8Pre to the MicroKorg.

Sorry if this sounds insulting lol

*Edit* I forgot to read the bracket section of one of your comments, and they way you have it setup will mean you get to control logic and the micrkorg (due to the midi out going from the 8pre). You could also put the microkorg on a different channel (2 maybe) and it means you can have logic receive *armed* midi tracks on 1 and the Microkorg on midi channel 2.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 8:30 am

It sounds like currently you are using the Axiom as a controller for logic, which happens to be passing that back to the microKorg when it is set up in that way.

I'm fairly sure that the MIDI problem is getting the Axiom to transmit rather than with the microKorg or anything else. These MIDI controllers often have modes where their out ports act as an interface to the computer and not as an actual output from the keyboard.