Axiom/Receptor Live Setup - Help!

[mikeparent]

Confused here. No matter how much stuff I read I am having a mental block with how best to configure my gear. Let me back up.

I have been running a Roland AX7 (yes keytar) as a controller into a rack with a 1st Gen Receptor and an Emu Vintage Pro.

I recently bought a used Axiom 61 and am looking to incorporate that into my setup.

Also I acquired the Receptor as a demo model and I had a power supply issue right away with it, so my confidence level about making it an integral part of my rig was initially pretty low. Over the past 2-3 years though, I have been gaining more confidence in its stability and have been turning to it more often than not as I required new sounds.

That brings me to today - I am ready to reconfigure my rig to put the new (to me) Axiom into the mix when I need more keys or am not singing (I am also the primary singer and like not being stuck behind a stand and keyboard per se) and move to the Receptor as my main unit.

My confusion is on three main fronts:

Connectivity:
How should I best connnect up the gear?

I am thinking:

Code: Select all

Axiom--USB--|
            +-Receptor-MIDI Thru->Vintage Pro
AX7-MIDI In-|

1) Does this work? i.e. Can I hook a USB device and a MIDI device into the receptor simultaneously? Any issues there?
2) Is there a compelling reason to connect the AX7 up to the Axiom's MIDI In instead of the Receptor's?

Receptor Configuration
I find I am terribly confused even still about patches, Vload, multis and snapshots and when to use one over another. I *think* what I would want would be to load a multi with all my main VSTs and then have the Axiom or AX7 send program changes to the appropriate channels to load a patch for the VST in that channel. Is this even workable (see next item)?

Finally,

Axiom programming:
I want to be able to have patches on my AX7 or Axiom send VST patch selection info to the appropriate channel - in many cases, *multiple* receptor channels. I also want to have the Axiom faders map to the drawbars on the virtual organ VST and the knobs to map to certain parameters.

I know this is possible but I find the Receptor and Axiom documentation to be a little lacking... or I may just be overwhelmed... I am pretty sharp usually but I think I am having trouble ratifying all these disparate pieces into one holistic configuration.

Not expecting all the answers here but some tips or direction would be very appreciated.

Thanks for reading all this nonsense... I probably should have posted this about 3 years ago...

Mike

[jackqdeezn]

You should be able to run Axiom in as USB and the AX7 in as MIDI. I have done something similar.

If I recall correctly The Axiom's Midi input ports don't work with Receptor. This is because the Axiom shows up as two USB Midi devices, and only the first one is recognized by Receptor (which is the Axiom itself) and the second is MIDI ports. So while the Axiom works, anything you connect to it won't get to Receptor.

[mikeparent]

Ah OK - so direct into the Receptor with the AX7 then. Thank you!

[thesoundsmith]

Axiom to Receptor via USB. AX7 via MIDI. I don't believe the MIDI Thru function works, but I may be wrong. If I am wrong, use the Receptor Midi out, else use a mult box to get two midi outs from the AX7, or try the Axiom Midi Out - I don't know if they work simultaneously, tho. I've not needed a second sound source when I use the Receptor.

But I do set the Axiom drumpads as MIDI Patch Changes, so I get a lot of instant flexibility.

[dizzidecazz]

I run a very similar setup with Axiom into USB and AX7 into MIDI.

I also set up the zones on the Axiom and AX7 to transmit on seperate channels eg, Axiom Zones 1-4 on Channels 1-4 and the AX7 on 5&6. I set up Receptors multi's with splits to cover as many sounds as possible but where I need more keyboard range, I can just quickly change zones. For example, I might have Zone 1 of the Axiom split across 3 channel strips of Receptor (all set to the same midi channel) with bass synth/pad/lead then on zone 2 have a piano across the full range. Using the zone buttons I can quickly jump between the two without changing any patches on the Receptor.

I just use the receptors front panel to change multi patches though, I just never got around to setting it up with program changes because I use it in a few different bands so I like putting each bands p[atches in individual banks and being able to just read the multi name. My memory ain't what it once was.

As far as controlling plug-ins controls with the Axiom, I must admit, that has always eluded me with the Receptor. I've never managed to work it out.

[brucegeller]

I've been using MIDI mergers and routers to combine the signals of multiple keyboards (primarily using an Axiom-61,88-ES and a wireless Roland AX-1) to the single input of my Receptor 2 Pro. First I started with a MIDI Solutions Quadra Merge ($99 @ Guitar Center) which sucked! Disgruntled with the inflexible crap that MIDI solutions spews, I switched to an old 1st-gen MOTU MIDI Timepiece ATV ($250 on eBay). With the MT-ATV I am able to re-program the MIDI channel of each of the 8 MIDI inputs and merge them to a single out that goes to the Receptor - I set it up so that as long as each controller is sending out on Channel 1, the specific input on the MT-ATV will re-map the channel accordingly. In the three years I've had my Receptor/MT-ATV combo, I haven't had a need to go past five MIDI inputs at one time... yet, but its nice to know that I can push it to eight.

With most plug-ins I'm using (Native Instruments) I've been able to assign the Axiom's controllers via the learn mode, but this has not always been easy or successful with other VST's, especially the basic/free ones that have no-frills user interfaces or scant documentation. Still it doesn't hurt to research the vendor websites and forums, and/or try to experiment anyway.

[mikeparent]

Axiom to Receptor via USB. AX7 via MIDI. I don't believe the MIDI Thru function works, but I may be wrong. If I am wrong, use the Receptor Midi out, else use a mult box to get two midi outs from the AX7, or try the Axiom Midi Out - I don't know if they work simultaneously, tho.

You are not wrong - the receptor does not pass along midi msgs received over USB. I got around this by running a MIDI cable from the Axiom to the E-Mu unit directly (it has two midi inputs).

I've not needed a second sound source when I use the Receptor.

What do you use for brass and strings?

[mikeparent]

I run a very similar setup with Axiom into USB and AX7 into MIDI.

I may need your email address

I also set up the zones on the Axiom and AX7 to transmit on seperate channels eg, Axiom Zones 1-4 on Channels 1-4 and the AX7 on 5&6. I set up Receptors multi's with splits to cover as many sounds as possible but where I need more keyboard range, I can just quickly change zones. For example, I might have Zone 1 of the Axiom split across 3 channel strips of Receptor (all set to the same midi channel) with bass synth/pad/lead then on zone 2 have a piano across the full range. Using the zone buttons I can quickly jump between the two without changing any patches on the Receptor.

Presumably this means patches programmed for the AX7 cannot be played on the Axiom, correct?

I set my E-Mu to respond on Channels 1 and 2 (often use 2 different tones simultaneously). What I did was assign Receptor Mixer Channel 1 to the audio input (my E-Mu unit audio comes into the receptor's audio ins).
The Receptor then uses all the other MIDI channels (3-16) similar to what you described.

I just use the receptors front panel to change multi patches though, I just never got around to setting it up with program changes because I use it in a few different bands so I like putting each bands patches in individual banks and being able to just read the multi name. My memory ain't what it once was.

Here's where things get trickier for me...

I just got a 2-tier stand and occasionally want to use the AX7 as a 2nd set of keys. I use 5 distinct tones on Billie Jean and do not want to be messing with patch changes (I am busy enough during that song). I have figured out how to send patch changes from either controller. The problem is when I use both, I need to select the patch change on both to ensure both are sending on the correct channels. Not sure if there is any way around that. Now it's not conflicting since both controllers just dial in the same receptor patch but it is a little tedious doing it on both. I guess there is probably no way around it except to go to a setup like yours where the MIDI channels are dedicated to the controllers. Have to think on this one...

As far as controlling plug-ins controls with the Axiom, I must admit, that has always eluded me with the Receptor. I've never managed to work it out.

I have managed to do a bit. I am getting a new Axiom (the used one I bought has all kinds of issues, making it impossible to customize too much). I did manage to assign sliders to the different Mixer channel volumes for one patch which was pretty cool.

Perhaps I will post some progress when I make any