How?? Record One External MIDI Track Into the Sequencer

TexasTango · Post by **TexasTango** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:19 am

Well, read the manuals, searched the internet, and can't find the solution!
Whole lot about sending MIDI out of the Kronos sequencer, very little about MIDI in (except a DAW sending an external sequencer).

What I'm trying to do:
Analog synth MIDI OUT one track to Kronos MIDI IN.

I'm sending MIDI OUT on Track 12 from the synth, and want to record directly into Track 12 on the sequencer. Don't really care what track numbers, just whatever works.

Cannot figure it out!
Recording analog in is fine, but I would appreciate any help you can offer on what I need to do to solve my problem!

Thanks!

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:38 am

You don't really describe where it's going wrong for you. If you have a midi cable running from the synth midi out to Kronos midi in and you can confirm that it is sending on midi channel 12 (i.e you can play Kronos sounds on channel twelve) all you need to do is arm the track and record.

TexasTango · Post by **TexasTango** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 2:55 pm

Thanks for the help, SanderXpander.

Yes, MIDI OUT from Prophet '08 (Channel 12) to MIDI IN on the Kronos.
When I play the keys on the synth, Track 12 on the sequencer is receiving the input as indicated by the Track 12 Level Meter.

Track Parameter Status in the sequencer set to BTH.
Only sound played on Track 12 is the internal Kronos program.
Also, when using the synth controls to change the synth program, it also changes the Kronos program on Track 12 in the sequencer.

So, I can play Kronos sounds on Track 12 using the synth, but that's not what I'm after.
Want to record the Prophet '08 sounds.

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:07 pm

TexasTango wrote:Thanks for the help, SanderXpander.

Yes, MIDI OUT from Prophet '08 (Channel 12) to MIDI IN on the Kronos.
When I play the keys on the synth, Track 12 on the sequencer is receiving the input as indicated by the Track 12 Level Meter.

Track Parameter Status in the sequencer set to BTH.
Only sound played on Track 12 is the internal Kronos program.
Also, when using the synth controls to change the synth program, it also changes the Kronos program on Track 12 in the sequencer.

So, I can play Kronos sounds on Track 12 using the synth, but that's not what I'm after.
Want to record the Prophet '08 sounds.

MIDI sends and records in the digital domain key press information and other digital data, if you want to record the sounds the Prophet you will need to route the Audio out from the Prophet to the Audio in on the Kronos and record the audio to an Audio Track in Sequencer mode.

If you want to play the sounds of the Prophet on the Kronos you will have to Sample the Prophet.

TexasTango · Post by **TexasTango** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:11 pm

Thank you, Thoraldus.

Yes, I have successfully recorded with the analog approach.
I was hoping I could simply route a MIDI IN signal to a sequencer track, hard to believe that's not possible.

Disappointed.

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:16 pm

TexasTango wrote:Thank you, Thoraldus.

Yes, I have successfully recorded with the analog approach.
I was hoping I could simply route a MIDI IN signal to a sequencer track, hard to believe that's not possible.

Disappointed.

MIDI is a digital control system. Routing the MIDI to your Kronos can only cause it to play the sounds already on the Kronos. There is no audio in the MIDI data stream.

See this for more info on MIDI

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:39 pm

If your synth has an optical digital output you could use that. MIDI is a standard for controlling other musical equipment. It was invented in the eighties, well before digital audio was common.

What are you hoping to accomplish with this connection?

Mike Conway · Post by **Mike Conway** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 1:32 am

TexasTango wrote: Yes, I have successfully recorded with the analog approach.
I was hoping I could simply route a MIDI IN signal to a sequencer track, hard to believe that's not possible.

I think you are confusing MIDI with USB. This is not the fault of the Kronos, but rather that the Prophet 8 does not offer a digital output (S/P DIF, USB, etc.) Then again, it is an analogue synth and it has an analogue output.

The Kronos' audio ins are 24 bit, so you aren't really going to lose sound quality, unless you have bad cables going out of the Prophet and into the Kronos.

I have multiple things hooked up to my Kronos inputs - OASYS S/P DIF in, Virus TI cabled into Ins 1/2, Ipad (with Nave and AniMoog synths) USB in - all at the same time.

If you want to isolate the Prophet, from Kronos sounds, set the Audio Track input to 1/2 (only records Inputs 1/2 and not the whole L/R mix).

TexasTango · Post by **TexasTango** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 1:55 am

Thanks, Mike.
All is good.
Been recording the Prophet '08 all day into a sequenced track, using analog inputs 1/2, set up as a stereo pair.

Thanks again for y'all's input.
Most appreciated.

ErnstDabest · Post by **ErnstDabest** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 1:15 am

Thoraldus wrote: MIDI sends and records in the digital domain key press information and other digital data, if you want to record Prophet's sounds you will need to route the Audio out from the Prophet to the Audio in on the Kronos and record the audio to an Audio Track in Sequencer mode.

Thoraldus wrote: If you want to play the sounds of the Prophet on the Kronos you will have to Sample the Prophet.

Both superb advice !

Seems what you want is to save your performance & possibly being able to edit out mistakes if needed.
You already know the badnews your synth is analog and MIDI is digital... however there is a workaround.

Most analog synths has onboard a programable arpegiator, so what you could do is record your own
arpegiator/performance on the step-sequencer, then save... You can go back and edit later.

Should you want to add more texture you can sync your analog synth to your DAW or Kronos by using one
of these gadgets..........

MusicianSickness · Post by **MusicianSickness** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 3:35 am

im a lil confused on this one. I guess you already figured it out.
I do similar stuff...I sequence in keyboard and send all track midi info to other keyboards and drum machines. basically I use the sequencer but no internal sounds for playback, all external sounds...hope this helps and doesnt cause more confusion =/
Now with Kronos I use all internal baybeh

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:14 am

Ernst, the Prophet '08 is a recent model, not a vintage one. It has midi. The problem was the misconception that the midi connection would allow an audio recording to be made.

Though if you want to keep the editing flexibility you could easily record midi first, edit, then play it back to the Prophet and record the audio.

ErnstDabest · Post by **ErnstDabest** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 7:42 am

SanderXpander wrote:Ernst, the Prophet '08 is a recent model, not a vintage one. It has midi.

You're right... by the looks of it the back of the synth is equipped w/ a
midi in, midi out, and midi thru port... so, is it somekind of lycan (daywalker) ?

SanderXpander wrote:The problem was the misconception that the midi connection would allow an audio recording to be made.

Though if you want to keep the editing flexibility you could easily record midi first, edit, then play it back to the Prophet and record the audio.

OP did say, that he was sending midi out to the Kronos on ch. 12 unless there was a bad midi
cable connection the Kronos should have received the transmission.... or, perhaps it's possible
that the Prophet '08 does not fully speak midi ?

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:44 am

No he confirmed midi was working. He just thought midi transfers audio.