Hi,
I'm just in the updating of my live rig, based on a receptor Komplete (arriving one of these days) and a new master keyboard. Now, the plan is to connect a 88 keys master keyboard + a small 2 octave keyboard, as well as our drummer's trigger pad to the Receptor. I've been scanning muse's site and the internet for some info on what gear is USB-supported by the Receptor but haven't found anything.
So, I need to plan my buying of a master keyboard since the Receptor only has one physical "old school" MIDI port. Thus, I need to know if any of the following gear (or the likes) communicate via USB with the Receptor:
- Alesis Control Pad (the trigger pad... http://www.thomann.de/se/alesis_control_pad.htm)
- CME UF80 with built in wireless MIDI
- CME UF8 with a plain USB cable
- M-audio Keystation 88 Pro
Of course it would be nice with a list of others too, maybe there are trigger pads compatible as well..? Does anyone know where I can find info on this? (Of course there's the possiblity to use a small 3to1 MIDI interface as the Midex3 or equivalent, but do these work on this machine?)
I would be extremely greatful for any kind of response on this, thanks a lot guys!
Best Regards Anders Ehlin, Stockholm
Receptor MIDI compability HELP
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- KVRer
- 7 posts since 6 Sep, 2007 from Sweden
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- KVRian
- 1116 posts since 22 Apr, 2005 from Nashville, TN USA
I think you would be better served buying a small MIDI merger or patch bay, rather than relying on the somewhat spotty USB support.
I use it live with three keyboards and bass pedals, merged by an old MOTU 6X4 and it works swell.
I use it live with three keyboards and bass pedals, merged by an old MOTU 6X4 and it works swell.
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- KVRian
- 691 posts since 13 May, 2004 from Silicon Valley
Hi Anders,
I'm not sure about the M-Audio keystation 88, but I would assume that the USB electronics are the same as they are for the keystation 60 (which I use via USB - No problems).
Can't comment on the CME or Alesis though.
Regards,
Kevin L
I'm not sure about the M-Audio keystation 88, but I would assume that the USB electronics are the same as they are for the keystation 60 (which I use via USB - No problems).
Can't comment on the CME or Alesis though.
Regards,
Kevin L
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 6 Sep, 2007 from Sweden
Hey!
Hybernation: you mean stick to the one midi port there is and simply let the different keyboards and the trigger pad work on different midi channels? A 3-1 input solution then? Your Motu doesn't fire up via a usb port either?
I must say I'm tempted by what Kevin writes, I'm bound to minimize the amount of cables since my keyboard stand is fully rotating..
Therefore the thought of wireless MIDI, but apperently these sometimes come with proper MIDI outputs as well, not only a usb key... I will have to look further into this, thanks guys!!
/a
Hybernation: you mean stick to the one midi port there is and simply let the different keyboards and the trigger pad work on different midi channels? A 3-1 input solution then? Your Motu doesn't fire up via a usb port either?
I must say I'm tempted by what Kevin writes, I'm bound to minimize the amount of cables since my keyboard stand is fully rotating..
Therefore the thought of wireless MIDI, but apperently these sometimes come with proper MIDI outputs as well, not only a usb key... I will have to look further into this, thanks guys!!/a
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- KVRer
- 1 posts since 8 Jun, 2007 from nashville, tn
Greetings Anders,
My name is Hans Nelson. I use my receptor on the road as my live rig and have had no problems. I have the CME UF60 and UF80 as controllers. The Receptor doesn't support wireless midi yet, but both CME boards work with it very well. With my setup, both keyboards are usb bus powered, though, with one I still need a midi cable to run into the midi IN port of the receptor to get midi data (b/c there is not enough voltage to power AND send midi data for both keyboards). The other keyboard has enough voltage to be bus powered and send midi data.
Personally, I wouldn't see the point in using wireless midi anyhow, at least live. B/c with most USB controllers I've seen, you have those annoying power bricks to carry around with you. At least going the USB route, you don't have to carry around 5 lbs. of pointless stuff. And with the wireless midi, you'd still have to power the keyboards either with the power brick or usb.
H
N
My name is Hans Nelson. I use my receptor on the road as my live rig and have had no problems. I have the CME UF60 and UF80 as controllers. The Receptor doesn't support wireless midi yet, but both CME boards work with it very well. With my setup, both keyboards are usb bus powered, though, with one I still need a midi cable to run into the midi IN port of the receptor to get midi data (b/c there is not enough voltage to power AND send midi data for both keyboards). The other keyboard has enough voltage to be bus powered and send midi data.
Personally, I wouldn't see the point in using wireless midi anyhow, at least live. B/c with most USB controllers I've seen, you have those annoying power bricks to carry around with you. At least going the USB route, you don't have to carry around 5 lbs. of pointless stuff. And with the wireless midi, you'd still have to power the keyboards either with the power brick or usb.
H
N
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 6 Sep, 2007 from Sweden
Hey y'all!
Thanks for the replies, Hans, that's great news, at least then I know I have a few options to go for, depending on the rest of the setup! I feel a little more enlightened now.
About the wireless option; well, the thing is my master keyboard is an integrated thing on a rotating stand, so any chance to reduce the amount of cables is therefore welcome. If I only had power to care for, I could easily integrate it into the rotating part of the stand via conducting metal layers instead of twisted cables. Well, that was the thought at least. It's no big deal, I'll manage anyway!
)
While at it guys, how's your reaction on the Receptor's roadworthyness? It still has a harddrive, as sensitive to shocks as any... Should I keep the receptor in a cushioned soft case or something, or has Muse fixed the harddrive in a more cushoned way inside...?
Take care,
/Anders
Thanks for the replies, Hans, that's great news, at least then I know I have a few options to go for, depending on the rest of the setup! I feel a little more enlightened now.
About the wireless option; well, the thing is my master keyboard is an integrated thing on a rotating stand, so any chance to reduce the amount of cables is therefore welcome. If I only had power to care for, I could easily integrate it into the rotating part of the stand via conducting metal layers instead of twisted cables. Well, that was the thought at least. It's no big deal, I'll manage anyway!
)While at it guys, how's your reaction on the Receptor's roadworthyness? It still has a harddrive, as sensitive to shocks as any... Should I keep the receptor in a cushioned soft case or something, or has Muse fixed the harddrive in a more cushoned way inside...?
Take care,
/Anders
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- KVRian
- 524 posts since 25 Aug, 2005
What road? Back of a van, no problem - back of an airline baggage handler, not so sanguine... I bounce mine around pretty good in the minivan with no issues to date, but I wouldn't trust it to a plane without a good cushioned roadcase.
Wireless midi - Hands nailed it - a great idea for battery-powered keyboards, but what's the point if you still need a wall wart?
I would use one keyboard via USB, to reduce the load on the midi port, and mult the other into the Receptor's midi in. (Which is what I do now, Axiom 61 USB on top and Prokeys 88sx on the bottom via midi/wall wart. Works great, except I hate the keyboard action on these M-Audio boards.
Wireless midi - Hands nailed it - a great idea for battery-powered keyboards, but what's the point if you still need a wall wart?
I would use one keyboard via USB, to reduce the load on the midi port, and mult the other into the Receptor's midi in. (Which is what I do now, Axiom 61 USB on top and Prokeys 88sx on the bottom via midi/wall wart. Works great, except I hate the keyboard action on these M-Audio boards.
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Bryan@MuseResearch Bryan@MuseResearch https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=9067
- MUSEician
- 618 posts since 18 Sep, 2003 from Silicon Valley
The "official" word on using two controllers at once: you can use a standard MIDI controller as well as a CLASS COMPLIANT USB MIDI controller at the same time and Receptor will merge the two control signals. Problem is that not all USB MIDi keyboards are class compliant, and alot of them take a lot of liberties with how they handle MIDI over USB making them incompatible with Receptor... however, the good news is that most of them work. We'll try to get a list of compatible devices.
What most touring bands do is use a MIDI merger. That will always work, and they are actually very cool little devices. I know a lot of people who use the MIDI Solutions mergers with great success, but there are others out there. Alot of controllers also have merge functions built in, so you can plug a 5-pin DIN MIDI device in to the controller, and then merge that with the local control information and send that to Receptor... otherwise there really is no point of having a MIDI in on a controller is there? (Careful, believe it or not I have seen some devices that have MIDI in ports that do nothing, no merging, no nothing... gotta wonder why they're there...)
We also just got the new Roland MIDI footcontroller in... its actually an incredibly cool device that actually allows you to SCRIPT MIDI program changes... that means that you can create snapshots that are selected instantly as well as having the facility to change individual synth patches by using one channel to control the main snapshot, and other channels to pass program change info on to the other channel's synths... (this works in V1.6 software only).
If that last paragraph makes sense, then congrats, you have been paying attention to our software release notes! If not, I can explain, perhaps in another thread.
Cheers
Groovology
What most touring bands do is use a MIDI merger. That will always work, and they are actually very cool little devices. I know a lot of people who use the MIDI Solutions mergers with great success, but there are others out there. Alot of controllers also have merge functions built in, so you can plug a 5-pin DIN MIDI device in to the controller, and then merge that with the local control information and send that to Receptor... otherwise there really is no point of having a MIDI in on a controller is there? (Careful, believe it or not I have seen some devices that have MIDI in ports that do nothing, no merging, no nothing... gotta wonder why they're there...)
We also just got the new Roland MIDI footcontroller in... its actually an incredibly cool device that actually allows you to SCRIPT MIDI program changes... that means that you can create snapshots that are selected instantly as well as having the facility to change individual synth patches by using one channel to control the main snapshot, and other channels to pass program change info on to the other channel's synths... (this works in V1.6 software only).
If that last paragraph makes sense, then congrats, you have been paying attention to our software release notes! If not, I can explain, perhaps in another thread.
Cheers
Groovology
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 6 Sep, 2007 from Sweden
Hey,
Thanx for the responses!
Dasher, I will probably go for a shared solution as you proposed, try it out carefully first so it doesn't choke on current loss or something. (Again, my idea with my rotating stand was to use the centre console of it as a conducting part reducing the amount of twisted cables to none. This is not something you would do with a usb cable but certainly with a low voltage power cable. But it seems to be to much work for too little anyway!)
Hans, Groovology; about CME's wireless system, I got a reply from Lulu Chen at CME saying that their WIDI is indeed Class Compliant, which makes this a bit confusing. As my Receptor hasn't arrived yet, and I haven't made my order for my CME keyboard yet, there's not much I can say about anything yet...
/a
Thanx for the responses!
Dasher, I will probably go for a shared solution as you proposed, try it out carefully first so it doesn't choke on current loss or something. (Again, my idea with my rotating stand was to use the centre console of it as a conducting part reducing the amount of twisted cables to none. This is not something you would do with a usb cable but certainly with a low voltage power cable. But it seems to be to much work for too little anyway!
)Hans, Groovology; about CME's wireless system, I got a reply from Lulu Chen at CME saying that their WIDI is indeed Class Compliant, which makes this a bit confusing. As my Receptor hasn't arrived yet, and I haven't made my order for my CME keyboard yet, there's not much I can say about anything yet...
/a
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Bryan@MuseResearch Bryan@MuseResearch https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=9067
- MUSEician
- 618 posts since 18 Sep, 2003 from Silicon Valley
Hmmm... we tried one of their early versions of their WIDI keyboards and it didn't work, and given that WIDI is not really part of the MIDI spec, nor is it part of the USB spec, I'm not sure why they can claim class-compliance.
Perhaps we need to update the software in the keyboard? It was a really early version, and it would be nice to have it work... hard not to fantasize about a wireless MIDI keyboard controlling Receptor running Receptor Remote over WiFi for viewing the GUI... now if that isn't cool, I don't know what is!
Cheers
Groovology
Perhaps we need to update the software in the keyboard? It was a really early version, and it would be nice to have it work... hard not to fantasize about a wireless MIDI keyboard controlling Receptor running Receptor Remote over WiFi for viewing the GUI... now if that isn't cool, I don't know what is!
Cheers
Groovology
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 6 Sep, 2007 from Sweden
I certainly agree it would make a hell of a slick setup! I still don't have a clue what to think of this, of course it's always worth a try updating firmware and that sort of things... I'll post them another mail and see if they're really sure about this! Apperently there are at least two persons in the world who haven't got this thing to work with the receptor..
Otherwise, this little fella could maybe do the trick..
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MidAir-main.html
It has proper MIDI ports although they're on the controller side rather than the reciever. M-audio claims this is class compliant as well...
cheers Anders
Otherwise, this little fella could maybe do the trick..
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MidAir-main.html
It has proper MIDI ports although they're on the controller side rather than the reciever. M-audio claims this is class compliant as well...
cheers Anders