Two midi instruments but one midi in?

[emid]

How to connect two MIDI devices to an Audio Interface with only one MIDI In?

I have Alesis Qx49 and Vestax pad one for drums and can't figure out how to connect both to Uphoria umc1820 interface which one midi in port. How do you guys do that? Please advice. Many thanks

[uncleswede]

Originally Posted by emid

How to connect two MIDI devices to an Audio Interface with only one MIDI In?

I have Alesis Qx49 and Vestax pad one for drums and can't figure out how to connect both to Uphoria umc1820 interface which one midi in port. How do you guys do that? Please advice. Many thanks

Set the MIDI output channel for the Alesis to 1 and for the Vestax, set it to 2.

[EvilDragon]

That's not the problem OP is having. He has two devices, but only one MIDI IN port on his audio interface.

The solution would be either finding a MIDI merge unit (like some of those MIDI Solutions boxes), or getting a dedicated MIDI I/O interface (like Alyseum U3-88c)

[uncleswede]

You may be able to get away with a single MIDI IN port if the Alesis or the Vestax has a MIDI THRU port...?

[emid]

Alright thank you.

@Evildragon if I get one, will I be able to run two interfaces at the same time? (uphoria + midi merge) Because as I understand, whatever midi box will have it's own dedicated driver, no?

@uncleswede none of these have Midi thru, only midi out.

Thank you all.

[EvilDragon]

Yes, Alyseum box is a separate box completely (it's not an audio interface, it's just additional MIDI I/O), and it is class-compliant under W10 and macOS (no driver install necessary). You will just see additional MIDI I/O in Reaper to choose from. Plug your devices in and off you go.

I have two of them, great little boxes.

[emid]

Originally Posted by EvilDragon

Yes, Alyseum box is a separate box completely (it's not an audio interface, it's just additional MIDI I/O), and it is class-compliant under W10 and macOS (no driver install necessary). You will just see additional MIDI I/O in Reaper to choose from. Plug your devices in and off you go.

I have two of them, great little boxes.

Perfect, but much more than what I need in terms of inputs and cost both. Any smaller like 2 to 4 midi inputs and cheaper would you kindly suggest?

Top bud!

[teniente powell]

Maybe connecting the Alesis via USB?

[EvilDragon]

Originally Posted by emid

Perfect, but much more than what I need in terms of inputs and cost both. Any smaller like 2 to 4 midi inputs and cheaper would you kindly suggest?

Top bud!

I can only guarantee on Alyseum since I actually own them. I'd hesitate recommending anything else. There's the 2-in, 2-out MIDI Solutions MIDI merger, but it's 70€, which is not really THAT much cheaper than Alyseum boxes, which are only about twice as much expensive, but you get 4 times the I/O. It doesn't add up, so I would definitely get the Alyseum box, simply for futureproofing your rig.

[colouredmirrorball]

Is there any reason you can't use USB? There shouldn't be any need for a MIDI cable if you don't use any other outboard gear.

That said, there exist some cheap midi to usb interfaces out there. But those might not be worth it, in my experience: the cheaper the buggier.

[EvilDragon]

DIN MIDI connection is still better than USB 2.0 in most cases. Alyseum uses USB 3 and this is much better since it reduces timing/jitter issues to a very small level.

[Softsynth]

Unless using the MIDI connection somehow reduces the potential for the rare but dreaded occasional stuck MIDI notes issue I don't see a real world advantage. I see people have stuck MIDI note issues with the MIDI connections too.
I cannot imagine anyone being able to detect any difference between MIDI and a properly functioning USB connection, the latency is that tiny when set up properly.
Currently I have about 10 USB MIDI devices running together with no detectable latency. Maybe it becomes an issue with a lot more devices than this?

[EvilDragon]

It's not about stuck MIDI notes, it's about timing issues and jitter, which is usually worse over a cheap MIDI-USB cable hooked up to USB 2 (because USB 2 works on a timing grid of 1 ms, if your package doesn't arrive in time, you're screwed, and the problems exacerbate the more peripherals you have hooked up over USB).

[Softsynth]

Originally Posted by EvilDragon

It's not about stuck MIDI notes, it's about timing issues and jitter, which is usually worse over a cheap MIDI-USB cable hooked up to USB 2 (because USB 2 works on a timing grid of 1 ms, if your package doesn't arrive in time, you're screwed, and the problems exacerbate the more peripherals you have hooked up over USB).

To me I would say it is a "suck it and see" issue that people should only worry about if they develop a detectable difference in latency at their fingertips.
IOW if they feel a detachment between pressing the keys and the sounds produced and have exhausted all other possibilities between the sound device and the PC drivers.

[EvilDragon]

Jitter is not the same thing as latency, tho.

[Softsynth]

Originally Posted by EvilDragon

Jitter is not the same thing as latency, tho.

Yes, but how else would jitter manifest itself noticeably?
Is it that you play a piece and discover missing or strangely corrupted notes - too long, too short, wrong velocity?

[EvilDragon]

They wouldn't be missing but they would be placed out of time by a bit. It's actually a (much) bigger problem when sequencing external hardware from the DAW.

[Softsynth]

Originally Posted by EvilDragon

They wouldn't be missing but they would be placed out of time by a bit.

I suppose it depends if jitter caused such a significant difference that it was detectable to the ear while you play, messing up your own timing.

Reading this article:
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniq...iming-problems

Originally Posted by EvilDragon

It's actually a (much) bigger problem when sequencing external hardware from the DAW.

I would choose the MIDI cable for that duty anyway, especially with a lot of hardware.

[DarkStar]

Originally Posted by emid

Perfect, but much more than what I need in terms of inputs and cost both. Any smaller like 2 to 4 midi inputs and cheaper would you kindly suggest?

Top bud!

I don't have these, so do some research.

https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Midi...PCM0007540-000

https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Midi...PCM0012219-000

[emid]

Thank everyone for a very valuable discussion and recommendations.

@Evildragon you are right. I'll go for a tried and tested one which you suggest. Many thanks. As always, very helpful.