TR and an M-audio controller

[rootsgroup]

Would like to run a two tier setup, Thinking I could midi the M-audio 61 controller to my TR and run that way. I've never midi'd before.

Would someone like to shed some light on this idea? I'm thinking I'll never get beyond the TR's capabilities, and finances are definitely limited.

Thanks,
Rootsgroup

[X-Trade]

I use a two (or more) keyboard setup this way. well, its more complicated using a module for many sounds as well, but its close.

One of the main advantages of hooking up a MIDI controller is that you can set up timbres in a combi that only respond to that MIDI controller.

Leave the TR's global channel as default to ch1.
Set the MIDI Controller's transmission channel to ch2 or ch16 or something else (that isn't used by the arps in some factory combies)
When making a combi or editing one, you can set an INT timbre to respond to that specific MIDI channel
If you have a MIDI Merge box (like me), you can use two or more MIDI controllers on different channels with different sounds just like above
You can also set up two sounds on two different timbres to respond to that same channel and use key or velocity splitting just like normal timbres.

[cminor]

I use this kind of setup on my M3.
The Combi is very usefull but only if you know your keyboard menu
You can set on the midi channel X (in) more the ONE part (track), and even split it on zones (if the LE knows that , on my M3 I can..).
So cutting the chase, the thing is :
1. to use thru midi with a controller you must set the controller on a DIFFERENT midi channel as the Triton is set on the Global Menu.
2. the programs you want to respond to external midi keybord, must be set on the SAME midi channel as the midi keyboard transmit.

[timtrax]

I'm using an M-audio 49 noter with the 76TR in a little different way.
In Combi mode, my Korg sounds are routed out L+R.
My sounds played on the M-audio (on midi channel 2) are out 1+2. Thus each can have it's own volume control (on foot pedals if desired) As I understand it, a midi expression pedal on the Korg will control the Korg volume, but not the M-audio produced sounds - thus I'm carrying 2 volume pedals, 2 sustain pedals, and another sustain pedal to turn the Leslie effect on and off on the Korg L+R. It's a little complicated, and I don't even try to explain it to the brain-dead guitar player, ("Why you need all those pedals??") .......but it works well.

[rootsgroup]

I've now got the M-Audio keystation ES midi'd up to my TR61.

I'd like to thank everyone for replying, your comments really did help me along.

I'm gearing up for gigging in a new band after being off for maybe 15 years. I'd like to lay out my plan of attack, as to get everyone's feedback.

!st- Save all factory data on an SD card. I've yet to do this.

2nd,- Work up the programs I'll use on each song on the songlist.

3rd- Come up with a combi that is a close fit for each song, and replace programs in them as needed. Assign each program to internal or a midi channel.

4th- Save this accomplishment on another SD card, as I'm full aware that when I turn off, all is lost. Hope I can save my work as I go.

A friend has suggested that I might just take a combi, load it with 8 different instruments, and assign each to a different midi channel. Then just toggle thru the channels on the ES.

I'm more of a "let's match this particular piano in this particular song" type of player, though, so I'm thinkin' my idea might work out better for me.

I'm anxoius to try out timtrax's setup as well, but thjink I'll try to learn this one first.

As I said, I"m a complete rookie on this stuff, so if anyone has a better way, I'm all ears.

[X-Trade]

I've now got the M-Audio keystation ES midi'd up to my TR61.

I'd like to thank everyone for replying, your comments really did help me along.

I'm gearing up for gigging in a new band after being off for maybe 15 years. I'd like to lay out my plan of attack, as to get everyone's feedback.

!st- Save all factory data on an SD card. I've yet to do this.

2nd,- Work up the programs I'll use on each song on the songlist.

3rd- Come up with a combi that is a close fit for each song, and replace programs in them as needed. Assign each program to internal or a midi channel.

4th- Save this accomplishment on another SD card, as I'm full aware that when I turn off, all is lost. Hope I can save my work as I go.

Changes to programs and Combis are kept. It is work in the sequencer mode, and samples that you load into RAM that will be lost at power off. Also, all the factory programs can be restored from within the Global mode if you need to, so you don't need a backup if all you've got is factory programs
That said, it is handy to have the backup if you just want one specific program or combi back.

I'm more of a "let's match this particular piano in this particular song" type of player, though, so I'm thinkin' my idea might work out better for me.

I am very much of this opinion too. As a keyboard player it should be very important to pick the right sounds for the right song, and to make the sounds you need if they are not readily available. Especially when you are playing in a set based situation, this works quite well.
The solution of having 8 or 16 different programs ready loaded into a combi is generally more useful in a situation where you have a repetouir of hundreds of songs and could be playing any one yet - this is generally also a situation where having exactly the right sound is less important.


Anyway, you could still route out the other sounds to the alternate outputs, if you have need to. If you are in more of a pre-programmed environment where you've got your levels set up in the combi's mixer beforehand, you shouldn't need to be grabbing faders in realtime anyway.


I should also point out that it may take more time but it would be more effective to start programming combis from scratch. A lot of the combis have some (initially confusing) setups with the arpeggiator that use up some MIDI channels, etc. which could cause a roadblock.
In fact you could take it one step further. If you don't want to overwrite factory combis at all and want to be able to rearrange your songs easily, then check out my method below:

1. I build each 'combi' for each song in sequencer mode. Sequencer mode is basically a combi with some important differences - mainly that it has up to 16 tracks as opposed to just 8 timbres, and can have sequenced data for each track. The behaviour of EXT mode timbres is also slightly different but you won't be using them unless you want to use an external sound module for some parts.
2. I save each song's 'setup' - as I call it, basically a 'combi' in sequencer mode - to an individual and appropriately named file.
3. Then before a gig I load each song in the planned order (it is still easily possible to jump around if the order changes, so its no worry). The first song is loaded with the 'clear' attribute so that it goes into song slot 0 (or is it 1?), but then all subsequent songs are loaded with the 'append' option. what this means is that it loads them into the next song number!
4. I then save that as a .sng file for the set for that gig.
5. At the gig I load that set.sng file. Now all the setups/combis are loaded into the sequencer in the planned playing order and all you have to do is change song number with the dial or the 'inc' increment button.

Main advantages are:
- No changes to your combis, which can be used for studio projects or messing around or just kept as factory.
- up to 16 timbres rather than just 8
- easy to re-order ready for a gig, and to keep songs seperate
- easy to back up songs individually by just loading them onto your computer
- no need to find unused or unwanted combi slots to replace
- combis can also be copied to the sequencer as a starting point.

[rootsgroup]

WOW!

Thanks SO much! I've read this 3 times, and then bookmarked it!

Sure appreciate the time you took typing that up, that's a perfect explanation of the solution to what I intend to do. If you don't mind, I'll try to continue this thread as I make progress.

Thanks again!

Rootsgroup