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Old 07-25-2020, 04:49 PM   #1
Sibben
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Default Advice please for MIDI setup with keys and drum machine

I’m looking at creating a MIDI setup and I’ve never really used more than one piece of gear at the time before so this is new to me. I could use some advice from the knowledgeable folks in this forum.

I have:

Yamaha S90ES (in/out/thru/usb)
Roland R8 (in/out/thru)
Roland A49 (out/usb)
Interface (in/out)
Mac mini

Primarily I want to send data to and from devices and REAPER to use as controllers but also be sequenced from the DAW. It would be a bonus if the Yamaha and Roland could work without computer running but not critical. I was thinking of throwing the A49 into the mix but I could just run that on USB straight into the computer. I could connect the Yamaha that way too but I’ve got this notion that MIDI is better. More robust and less drivers i have to worry about.

So what options are there and how would the cabling look? I guess daisy chaining is possible or I could get a multiport MIDI interface. If I daisy chain which would be most suited as master? What are the pros and cons of different solutions?

Thanks in advance
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Old 08-01-2020, 03:04 PM   #2
Win Conway
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Multiport is the way to go, while MIDI chains will work fine, having the extra ports will be a god send if you need to send any controller or SYSEX data.
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Old 08-02-2020, 01:01 AM   #3
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Multiport is the way to go, while MIDI chains will work fine, having the extra ports will be a god send if you need to send any controller or SYSEX data.
Cool. Thanks for the help. What’s the best way to get that going? Merger, patchbay or a separate multiport interface?
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Old 08-02-2020, 07:21 AM   #4
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A multi port interface is the only way you get multiport.

If you got a patchbay or a midi hub connected to your single port interface you lose any advantage of the mulitiport setup. (one port per device all the way from DAW to device, no need to separate by using different midi channels)

Quote:
I’ve got this notion that MIDI is better. More robust and less drivers i have to worry about.
How will you use 5 pin MIDI with your computer without going through USB?
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Old 08-02-2020, 08:32 AM   #5
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I see. I was confusing ports and channels.

Well at one point I would use USB of course, at the interface, unless I had a PCI interface which I don’t. What I’m doing now is connecting the S90 directly via its own USB cable which requires a driver. I wanted avoid having a separate driver for each piece of gear and just one for the interface.
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Old 08-02-2020, 09:33 AM   #6
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Default RK006

Would this help?

https://www.retrokits.com/shop/rk006/
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Old 08-02-2020, 12:37 PM   #7
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Thanks for the tip but that’s probably a little overkill for me plus it focuses on outs rather than ins. I’d need something with freely assignable ports.

However I love the form factor of that thing and how they’ve been so inventive. Almost want one just for the patronage.

I was looking at this. Anyone have any experience with the quality of ESI. They made the old Julia card, didn’t they?

https://www.esi-audio.com/products/m4uex/
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Old 08-03-2020, 03:02 PM   #8
Win Conway
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Just go on ebay and get a second hand MOTU, they are the standard in MIDI interfaces.
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Old 08-03-2020, 04:09 PM   #9
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A MOTU Midi Express? Yeah, that could work. I’m sorted now with MIDI over USB which is convenient but if I get more gear that’s probably what I need.
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Old 08-03-2020, 11:53 PM   #10
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I sold my old Akai 8x8 (plus a couple more) electronic MIDI patchbay when I finally sold all but one of my old MIDI keyboards/modules. But it was absolutely rock solid in all the years I had it & even coped with my Alan & Heath semi-auto desk, which was MIDI controlled whilst dealing with keyboards etc. Worth looking for a used one.
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