MIDI Thru issues while using 3 keyboards to control Receptor

[olsonuf]

I am running the following 3-keyboard rig to control my Receptor Pro:

Channel 1: Korg Triton pro-X (using MIDI Thru into the Receptor)
Channel 2: Axiom 61 (MIDI Out into Triton's MIDI In, then out from Thru port)
Channel 3: Axiom 49 (connected via USB)

No matter what I do, the Triton's MIDI messages are not being picked up or played back by Receptor. The Axiom 61's Channel 2 signal is going through fine, and the Axiom 49 is operating fine via USB. To me, this means that the Triton's Thru jack is working....at least somewhat, since it IS at least transmitting the Axiom 61's signal....just not its own signal on channel 1.

Now, another thing is, I've also tried this basic same channel setup with the same three MIDI channels, but with the following keyboards, and with the exact same problem:

Channel 1: Alesis QS8 (using MIDI Out into XP-60's MIDI In)
Channel 2: Roland XP-60 (MIDI Thru into Receptor)
Channel 3: Axiom 49 (connected via USB)

AND, I tried reversing the chain with the same effect as well:

Channel 1: Roland XP-60 (using MIDI Out into QS8's MIDI In)
Channel 2: Alesis QS8 (MIDI Thru into Receptor)
Channel 3: Axiom 49 (connected via USB)

Each time, I hear instruments triggered by the USB and MIDI Out keyboards, but it seems that whichever keyboard has the MIDI Thru that I'm using, it only forwards the previous keyboard's signal, and not its own. So, going by the first example, I can hear Axiom 61 (ch2) and Axiom 49 (ch3) but NOT the Triton. (Am I misunderstanding how MIDI Thru is supposed to work? I thought it was supposed to forward anything received at MIDI In, PLUS whatever additional MIDI was coming from its own keys, right?)

Since it happens with so many different keyboard configurations, with EXACTLY the same effect every time, I am convinced that it must be some setting in the Receptor that is causing the Receptor to ignore the MIDI originating from whichever keyboard is transmitting from its MIDI Thru port.

Any thoughts? My band is stuck canceling practices until I can get our keyboard rig functioning properly, and I've already been stumped for a week.

[TWB121234]

Keyboards do not transmit midi data from their thru port. The thru port is as its name suggests - a port that midi data passes through from another device's midi out. (In your first example, the Triton's midi in is simply passing the data from the Axiom's out through its thru port. No Triton midi data is transmitted from this port.) You need some type of midi merger or"junction" box that will merge midi data from multiple boards. Specific product names escape me at the moment, but there are many available. Good luck.
Tom B

[olsonuf]

Thank you for responding so quickly!

Okay, that was it then....I had thought that the Thru would not only pass on the message from a previous keyboard, but also send its own. I've never had to actually use any of my MIDI Thru ports before now, so I've misunderstood that for a few years now.

I was actually starting to suspect that I would need some type of merger, since the MIDI Outs definitely work fine on all 5 keyboards. I'll start looking for a merger then. Thank you so much!

[Fixed Error]

I would recommend the stuff from MIDI Solutions for a MIDI Merger. I was actually just about to post a question when i saw this thread. That is, are there any issues to consider when triggering the Receptor from 2 keyboards using a MIDI merger (apart from whether or not the CPU can handle it). Will having 2 trigger sources may increase the likelihood of stuck notes or anything like that? Any traps to look out for? I would connect one of our keys via USB but this is for live and we'll be needing a long run from keyboards to side of stage. Last time we ran our MIDI by using a MIDI to XLR cable to run from the keys to a dropbox on stage, and then from the receptor to the stagebox (with a MIDI Solutions Power Adapter Box somewhere in between). This should not be a problem with a MIDI merger? I would think not but just wanna make sure as we've always had a dedicated sampler for each keys, but not this time!

Cheers,
Jim

[olsonuf]

Actually, that's what I ended up getting. Last night I ordered the MIDI Solutions Merge, since I'm only connecting 2 of the 3 keyboards via MIDI.

Thanks!