I have always had trouble with connecting a keyboard to a PC or another keyboard via midi-in/midi-out. Whatever I record, although at the time playback is with the right voice inevitably if I save and reload it comes out as a piano. I presume that although the connections are correct the transmit and receive functions are not , and the content of the midi messages do not trigger the appropriate response.
Anyone with any experience on the connection of midi devices? I've read books on the subject and I'm non the wiser.
Perhaps we could get a discussion going on "How to.....Midi"
Spike

Good idea Spike. Getting k/b's, PC's and sequencer programs to correctly 'see' each other can be a daunting task for many, myself included, so it would be great if someone with the knowledge could help out.

Cheers

Paul

Wheres good old Walter when you need him ??

When we find the authorative figure for this one I hope they also touch on other midi hookup devices, rather than just controllers.

i.e. I use midi from the Tyros to control my korg ih vocal harmony processor. I hook up a midi cord from the Tyros "midi B" out, (channel1), to the korg ih "midi in". Then, the korg ih receives, chord, off/on, and voice information.

I might learn a better way!

I don't know what sequencer program you are using, but I can tell you about Cubase.

There is a panel on the left called the inspetor window where you select the output device for each track. That should be in a drop down list if the device has been recognized by the program.

You also need to set a midi channel and program change number for each track. The program change number should be voice, patch or whatever it's listed as in the manual of the device intended for playback.

Each time you play the sequence, the program change will be sent in the midi stream on the selected channel for each track. If you decide to change voices on a recorded track, you can do it in the inspector window and not have to re-record it.

This is just off the top of my head. I'll post a follow up on this subject after I've had time gather more facts and make sure I got it straight

Hi Krazy
what do you "control" in the Korg? What are you doing on the Tyros that controls the Korg and why? I'm really trying to get the philosophy of the connections behind this, this is the point that I have to start at to get the full picture.
If I am to connect the Motif to the T2 I will connect Motif Midi-out to T2 Midi-in - ok where do the "channels" come into it? Do I also connect the Motif Midi-in to the T2 midi-out?

Hi Willie
I understand about the midi input and output devices as I use Cubase and have recorded tracks with the keyboard, I am obviously doing something wrong because although I save the song when I reload most of the time each track will playback a piano sound (even the drums) so the prog change numbers aren't being saved. I found I was having to enter the information in "List View" by hand then it was ok. Confused? so am I
I look forward to more info from you both if you are kind enough to spare the time...thanks
Spike the thick

Spike, Since you are getting some playback sound, probably all you need to set up in your sequencer program is the program change for each midi track. One caveat might be if your program uses numbers 0-127, or 1-128. Cubase uses 1-128, and so does Yamaha, but I have a Kurzweil module that uses 0-127. When I select a voice for that sound module, I have to set the Cubase track to one higher than the number listed in the Kurzweil manual.

Here is a block diagram of my studio setup.



Since my keyboard doesn't have usb out, I had to have the interface to convert midi to usb. The midi data router allows me to use voices from two sound modules in the same song.

Hi Willie
I can see where you're coming from here, I hook up my keyboard the same as yours but of course I don't have the midi thru hub (that connection from the interface goes direct to the keyboard). Do you have to enter the MSB/LSB numbers as well as the prog change number?
Thanks
Spike

I've had that to happen on rare occasions. And I just click the program change block on the offending track and hit enter.

Is there a setting in your keyboard or other midi device that turns on "receive program change"? Also check in the back of your manual in the "midi implementation chart" to see if it is supposed to receive program change.

Spike, no I don't have to enter MSB/LSB. I think that must be for changing to another bank of voices.

Another thought: I have had Cubase files to be corrupted by erroneous sys-ex data that was evidently sent by the keyboard. You can see these in the list editor. If you see sys-ex data that you didn't intentionally put there, it is safe to delete those messages.