Midi mapping hardware?

[mat123]

Hello world,

I'd like to have a small device between my keyboard and my receptor (keyboard including sustain pedal => MIDI cable => magic device => MIDI cable => receptor) for fast on-stage switching between MIDI channel assignments. Particularly, I want to predefine at least 6 different presets that control on which channel my keyboard and my sustain pedal is sending (optionally with split-keyboard). In addition, one wheel (or joysick or whatever) for special effects wouldn't hurt (but is not necessary).

Any suggestions?

Thank!
mat123

[PeWe]

Hello world,

I'd like to have a small device between my keyboard and my receptor (keyboard including sustain pedal => MIDI cable => magic device => MIDI cable => receptor) for fast on-stage switching between MIDI channel assignments.
Particularly, I want to predefine at least 6 different presets that control on which channel my keyboard and my sustain pedal is sending (optionally with split-keyboard). In addition, one wheel (or joysick or whatever) for special effects wouldn't hurt (but is not necessary).

Any suggestions?

Thank!
mat123

Hi !

That's rare units, especially if you want a small toy only usable for just only one keyboard.
In this case, a Midisolutions Event Processor might do the trick. Investigate here: http://www.midisolutions.com/prodevp.htm

I myself, I'm very happy w/ Miditemp PMM88 and/or Miditemp PMM88E products which are discontinued meanwhile but still available @ebay(.de)occasionlly.
But these are 19"(1HU) racked machines incl. a remote programmer/controller unit,- 8x8 midi matrix/processor which does everything imaginable w/ MIDI.
Extremely rugged and reliable, never failed while touring/gigging, easy to program standalone, no computer needed but a software editor is also available if this would be your demand.
It maps midi-channels, controllers, filters everything, manifolds midi channels, transposes, does velocity processing and switching, sends midi bank and program changes as also user programmable messages, creates splits/layers w/ keyzones and channel splits, sends stable clocks on user defined outputs, offers 4 banks of 128 user-patches/setups, deals w/ 8 midi-ins and outs in a total of 128 midi channels.
With no doubt the one and only professional midi processing device usable for every configuration of hardware/software midi rig combos.
With this machine, you free yourself from dealing w/ all the restrictions of hardware- and software- midi instruments/devices regarding MIDI and regardless of their age and their (often crappy) midi-implementation.
It's not cheap but definitely worth every penny. Get it used at approx. EUR 300.- at ebay.
It makes an extremely comfortable and complex midi master keyboard/controller out of every midi keyboard.

hope that helps

PeWe

[mat123]

Hi !

That's rare units, especially if you want a small toy only usable for just only one keyboard.
In this case, a Midisolutions Event Processor might do the trick. Investigate here: http://www.midisolutions.com/prodevp.htm

I myself, I'm very happy w/ Miditemp PMM88 and/or Miditemp PMM88E products which are discontinued meanwhile but still available @ebay(.de)occasionlly.
But these are 19"(1HU) racked machines incl. a remote programmer/controller unit,- 8x8 midi matrix/processor which does everything imaginable w/ MIDI.
Extremely rugged and reliable, never failed while touring/gigging, easy to program standalone, no computer needed but a software editor is also available if this would be your demand.
It maps midi-channels, controllers, filters everything, manifolds midi channels, transposes, does velocity processing and switching, sends midi bank and program changes as also user programmable messages, creates splits/layers w/ keyzones and channel splits, sends stable clocks on user defined outputs, offers 4 banks of 128 user-patches/setups, deals w/ 8 midi-ins and outs in a total of 128 midi channels.
With no doubt the one and only professional midi processing device usable for every configuration of hardware/software midi rig combos.
With this machine, you free yourself from dealing w/ all the restrictions of hardware- and software- midi instruments/devices regarding MIDI and regardless of their age and their (often crappy) midi-implementation.
It's not cheap but definitely worth every penny. Get it used at approx. EUR 300.- at ebay.
It makes an extremely comfortable and complex midi master keyboard/controller out of every midi keyboard.

hope that helps

PeWe

Thanks PeWe!

The Event Processor looks quite interesting (Havn't explored the other suggestions)! Unfortunately, it doesn't have any buttons on it. I mean those buttons that I would need to switch between channel assignments...

So I would need a second box with those buttons on it and a third box that merges this second box with my keyboard to the input of the EventProcessor.

And there is this windows thing (my one and only computer is a mac)...

But... wait! Probably, there is a receptor-side software solution equivalent to the EventProcessor. Have you heard of anything like that? Probably I can spare some keys from my keyboard to be used as switch commands... For a software-only solution?

mat123

[Acoutistic]

Hello,

I think a MIDI event processor would be overkill for you. Many keyboards have the sort of capabilities you're looking for built-in. For example, I use an M-Audio Keystation Pro 88, which can do any of the things you're asking about in several different ways. Unless you're psychologically or sonically fused to your current keys, you might want to take a look at a new keyboard. It might make for a simpler rig in the long run.

Good luck and all that.

M

[mat123]

Hello,

I think a MIDI event processor would be overkill for you. Many keyboards have the sort of capabilities you're looking for built-in. For example, I use an M-Audio Keystation Pro 88, which can do any of the things you're asking about in several different ways. Unless you're psychologically or sonically fused to your current keys, you might want to take a look at a new keyboard. It might make for a simpler rig in the long run.

Good luck and all that.

M

Hmmm... well, indeed I am somewhat "fused" to my current keys, and, what is more, I won't find an equivalent keyboard below 500,-€

But a simpler rig is always the way to go, so maybe...

[PhilAiken]

I use a Midi Solutions event processor in my rack with my Receptor. It allows me to control things with my Yamaha P250 and Voce V5 that I would never be able to control without having it there. I have all of the V5's functions mapped to control B4, have the chorus button on the Yamaha toggling effects on and off in my Receptor patches, and even have the lowest 3 notes of the Yamaha assigned to change the effect of the mod wheel, so I have in effect 3 mod wheels sending what I choose to various patches.
It is a very powerful little box. Highly recommended.
-Phil

[allmatisse]

Hi PhilAiken
I'm looking into getting the midi solutions as well and was wondering,
In a multipatch, are you able to control the volume levels of individual channels now from your controller in real time? How about filter effects in real time? The master volume controller?

Let me know how your success has been with that

[mbncp]

I would use a netbook (they are fast enought to handle MIDI) with something like a nanopad (easy to tape them anywhere, x-y pad with a hold button, 12 pads to trigger stuff like channel setting in your case) and some software to handle all the midi routing,switching,splitting,cc remapping,....
I use bidule but other apps can do the trick.

[allmatisse]

I was hoping for something a bit more simpler than having to get that much more equipment though. I'd like to stay away from having to do an extensive amount of midi programming as well.

Anybody on here have any experience using midi solutions event processor for volume and channel controls? I'd forgo the fliter effects if it did.

I already have an axiom controller but it currently can't do much with the receptor. Ideally I'd like to just have one keyboard and one midi mapper that I can easily access for live gigs.

[looneytunes]

Hello Matisse,

I think you are finding that the Receptor interface allows you to (a) route midi volume commands on individual midi channels to individual mixer volume controls, or (b) route midi information on a particular Midi channel to the plugin assigned to that channel (forgoing Midi control of the Receptor mixer channel).

For my gigging setup, I often leave the Receptor interface at it's default (eg. Midi volume commands affect Receptor channels). In addition to a keyboard, I use a Behringer BCF2000 and program that to send Midi volume commands on each fader (for different Receptor channels). This works pretty well for live mixing. I'm sure you could get the same effect by programming faders on a decent keyboard (I've done this on my Yamaha S90) to control volume on multiple channels.

Hope this helps, Regards,
Kevin L

[Kevin@MuseResearch]

Matisse,

Have you considered snapshots at all? If you just need to switch quickly between sounds and different layer/split setups you may want to do. Basically a snapshot will save different mixer and MIDI routing steups on your Receptor and allow you to switch between different setups without RE-loading sounds. The video 'chapter six' at the link below has a more detailed explanation about how to do it:

http://www.museresearch.com/receptor-videos.php

[allmatisse]

OK thanks guys
I've been having some trouble figuring out how to actually program the midi volume changes as i don't really come from a programming midi background. I'll keep trying some of those ideas out and see what happens.

[Bryan@MuseResearch]

OK thanks guys
I've been having some trouble figuring out how to actually program the midi volume changes as i don't really come from a programming midi background. I'll keep trying some of those ideas out and see what happens.

Hi there!

Its actually really easy... just send MIDI controller 7 on different MIDI channels (that correspond with the Mixer channel in the Receptor mixer) and you're good to go.

A subtle thing is that this mapping (For example, MIDI CC 7 sent on Channel 5 affects the channel volume on the fifth mixer channel) is actually HARD WIRED in the mixer, and is INDEPENDENT of the MIDI filter settings. In other words, you can change the LISTEN MIDI channel in the MIDI filter, but the MIDI volume CC 7 messages will still affect the mixer channel that the plugin resides in...

Hopefully that makes sense, if not feel free to ask more questions!

Cheers

Bryan

[allmatisse]

Ok thanks guys.
Just used the receptor on tour and so far so good. I ended up using the snapshot banks and Z load. I was sending program changes from my midi keyboard within each bank and toggling patches on and off which was good. The volume changing messages didnt really seem to work so I wasn't able to do that. I had to kind of pre mix my set. That was okay although I'm looking into getting the BCF 2000....

Still the only question I haven't really gotten a clear answer on is can I manipulate the Efx send channels in real time? I.E I'm playing a patch with the keyboard on my right hand and with my left hand I want to be able to turn a knob on the keyboard to trigger a lo pass filter effect in real time.

My band is a live electronic remixing group. That kind of music uses a lot of filtering effects like phasers and flanger effects. Does anybody know IF and HOW this would be possible using 1 keyboard (like an axiom) and the Receptor??

Thanks!

[allmatisse]

Oh and one last thing, please don't tell me to just read the manual?

I've been looking at the section on "Midi control of the effects Busses" and it's still not helping me very much. I learn better from other peoples experience and when they explain it in more human and practical terms ; p

Thanks