Midi Input/Track Properties help?

[imprint]

I am using Tracktion 5 free, trying to audition it in order to buy T7, but have not been able to configure MIDI so it works easily. It could be the issues below are solvable in T5. That said, understanding if T7 has the functionality I'm looking for would be helpful.

Using it on Mac OSX El Capitan. Observation:

- There are multiple devices that appear in MIDI settings for my Axiom 25 controller that do not exist (no MIDI data can be generated). Axiom is connected to Mac via USB which shows up as Axiom 25 Port 1 which seems to be the only input that actually works despite two other Axiom devices being listed as Virtual Inputs.

Is there a way to "sum" MIDI inputs so that if I play any one device, I get MIDI activity (like Logic) or is it only one device per track? For example, I start improvising a part on my Axiom 25 but want to switch to my Korg M1 (coming into Axiom 25 but does show up as a separate input) to take advantage of the larger keyboard.

When I select a MIDI track, I would like it to be automatically armed for recording (and input monitoring - again, like Logic) but I seem to have to turn the track on/manually select "R"

Do I have to set each MIDI track to a different MIDI channel?

Can I only use a MIDI input once? For example, I create a track with the Axiom 25. When I create a new track with the same MIDI input, it 'vacates' the perviously selected track moves to the new track?

If you've taken on trying to answer all this - thanks...

[jabe]

- There are multiple devices that appear in MIDI settings for my Axiom 25 controller that do not exist (no MIDI data can be generated). Axiom is connected to Mac via USB which shows up as Axiom 25 Port 1 which seems to be the only input that actually works despite two other Axiom devices being listed as Virtual Inputs.

Is there a way to "sum" MIDI inputs so that if I play any one device, I get MIDI activity (like Logic) or is it only one device per track? For example, I start improvising a part on my Axiom 25 but want to switch to my Korg M1 (coming into Axiom 25 but does show up as a separate input) to take advantage of the larger keyboard.

When I select a MIDI track, I would like it to be automatically armed for recording (and input monitoring - again, like Logic) but I seem to have to turn the track on/manually select "R"

Do I have to set each MIDI track to a different MIDI channel?

Can I only use a MIDI input once? For example, I create a track with the Axiom 25. When I create a new track with the same MIDI input, it 'vacates' the perviously selected track moves to the new track?

If you've taken on trying to answer all this - thanks...

- Virtual MIDI devices allow a variety of ways to make things easier. You could have the PC's keyboards set up as an input device, for example, or you could arrange for multi-channel input to be separated by channel(s). There has been a recent thread with this mentioned.

- I don't know of a way to sum inputs, but there's nothing to stop you recording to multiple tracks, but if you want the MIDI all on the same track, there is a way (can't quite remember what way) to add new MIDI to any already in a clip/track, rather than overwriting it.

- There may be a way via scripting that allows several MIDI inputs to be armed in one go. There may also be a way via scripting of assigning a MIDI input and immediately having it armed.

- MIDI tracks accept all/any channels. You can filter out unwanted ones, if necessary.

- An actual MIDI device can only be used on one track at a time. However, you can set up Virtual MIDI Devices and get them to accept input from a real MIDI device. That would, I believe, allow you to have the same MIDI input going into multiple tracks.

Hope that's helpful and accurate. It's possible that I might have assumed something works on T5 that only came in later.

[imprint]

Thanks

- Virtual MIDI devices allow a variety of ways to make things easier. You could have the PC's keyboards set up as an input device, for example, or you could arrange for multi-channel input to be separated by channel(s). There has been a recent thread with this mentioned.

My question is these Virtual MIDI devices don't transmit any MIDI data? Why is it even listed as a "device"? Are there any instructions as to how to set them up?

- I don't know of a way to sum inputs, but there's nothing to stop you recording to multiple tracks, but if you want the MIDI all on the same track, there is a way (can't quite remember what way) to add new MIDI to any already in a clip/track, rather than overwriting it.

So I can only have a single input per track? I guess I should explain that coming from Logic, you just create or select a midi track and off you go no matter the source. It seems like there is a one-to-one relationship of device to instrument in Tracktion- which seems weird because I imagine most people use a master controller. I must not be comprehending something.

- There may be a way via scripting that allows several MIDI inputs to be armed in one go. There may also be a way via scripting of assigning a MIDI input and immediately having it armed.

OK

- MIDI tracks accept all/any channels. You can filter out unwanted ones, if necessary.
I get that...and I'm looking at the MIDI patch bay and filtering options within T5, so maybe that's the answer. But all MIDI tracks seem to require a discrete channel. Again, coming from Logic, everything can be on Channel 1 - as long as each track is separate.

- An actual MIDI device can only be used on one track at a time. However, you can set up Virtual MIDI Devices and get them to accept input from a real MIDI device. That would, I believe, allow you to have the same MIDI input going into multiple tracks.
Using a device to input to a device? Two inputs. That's interesting - I'll try that.

Hope that's helpful and accurate. It's possible that I might have assumed something works on T5 that only came in later.[/quote]
Thanks. I downloaded T7 Demo...maybe it's a little more straightforward.

[jabe]

Any Virtual MIDI Device you create can be used as an input device in an Edit, so, yes, they do transmit MIDI data. These devices need to get MIDI from somewhere - typically but not always a hardware MIDI device.

Here's how to set one up. I'm doing it in T5.

Go to the Settings tab and select MIDI Devices.

There's a long button halfway down the screen called Create New Virtual MIDI Device... click it and give it a name. It should appear in the list of MIDI Devices. Highlight it and its properties appear in the Properties Pane.

Among the properties is a MIDI channel filter, so you can tell it which channels to ignore. There is a button for you to Select MIDI Inputs (That plural makes me wonder if you could, after all, select more than one, which you asked about). So if you choose your Axiom 25 (do let us know if it allows you to add your Korg M1 as well), then anything played on there and not filtered out will be transmitted to whatever track you add your new virtual MIDI input to. You can have your Axiom 25 as the input to lots of virtual MIDI inputs if you wish.

I have an ancient Yamaha QX21 sequencer. This could transmit MIDI on 16 channels. If I set up 16 virtual MIDI devices, I could arranged for each to accept only one channel, and then all input from the QX21 could be separated out into 16 tracks, each of which could have an appropriate VSTi. I could have more virtual MIDI devices accepting combinations of channels. Nothing to stop channel 1 data being accepted by lots of virtual MIDI inputs.

I notice you questioned about MIDI going onto separate tracks. You can only have one plug-in instrument on each track, so I don't quite see why you want all your MIDI data in one track. I might be missing what you're getting at, though I can see why you might want to merge tracks occasionally.

Not sure about the master controller notion you mentioned. All my mixing and mastering happen in the PC, but I know others do things differently.

[lay it prodctions]

I am using Tracktion 5 free, trying to audition it in order to buy T7, but have not been able to configure MIDI so it works easily. It could be the issues below are solvable in T5. That said, understanding if T7 has the functionality I'm looking for would be helpful.

Using it on Mac OSX El Capitan. Observation:

- There are multiple devices that appear in MIDI settings for my Axiom 25 controller that do not exist (no MIDI data can be generated). Axiom is connected to Mac via USB which shows up as Axiom 25 Port 1 which seems to be the only input that actually works despite two other Axiom devices being listed as Virtual Inputs.

You can use up to 4 inputs on each Track. Go to the input options at the inputs slot on a track and you will see a tab that say number of inputs for that Track and you can select from 1 to 4 inputs for that track

[imprint]

Any Virtual MIDI Device you create can be used as an input device in an Edit, so, yes, they do transmit MIDI data. These devices need to get MIDI from somewhere - typically but not always a hardware MIDI device.

Here's how to set one up. I'm doing it in T5.

Go to the Settings tab and select MIDI Devices.

There's a long button halfway down the screen called Create New Virtual MIDI Device... click it and give it a name. It should appear in the list of MIDI Devices. Highlight it and its properties appear in the Properties Pane.

Among the properties is a MIDI channel filter, so you can tell it which channels to ignore. There is a button for you to Select MIDI Inputs (That plural makes me wonder if you could, after all, select more than one, which you asked about). So if you choose your Axiom 25 (do let us know if it allows you to add your Korg M1 as well), then anything played on there and not filtered out will be transmitted to whatever track you add your new virtual MIDI input to. You can have your Axiom 25 as the input to lots of virtual MIDI inputs if you wish.

I have an ancient Yamaha QX21 sequencer. This could transmit MIDI on 16 channels. If I set up 16 virtual MIDI devices, I could arranged for each to accept only one channel, and then all input from the QX21 could be separated out into 16 tracks, each of which could have an appropriate VSTi. I could have more virtual MIDI devices accepting combinations of channels. Nothing to stop channel 1 data being accepted by lots of virtual MIDI inputs.

I notice you questioned about MIDI going onto separate tracks. You can only have one plug-in instrument on each track, so I don't quite see why you want all your MIDI data in one track. I might be missing what you're getting at, though I can see why you might want to merge tracks occasionally.

Not sure about the master controller notion you mentioned. All my mixing and mastering happen in the PC, but I know others do things differently.

Many thanks
I was able to configure multiple virtual inputs, great directions
- By the way, yes, you can have more than one midi input on a virtual input - works fine
I now understand that I need to set up each track/instrument combination on a separate VI and midi channel.
- The exception to that being if you intentionally want to layer instruments in which case you would want the
tracks on the same channel.
- This seems to be limiting but suppose there is some way of getting around a 16 track limit?

Another option seems to be adding a midi input to a track, then moving the input between tracks as needed. That way you don't have to configure virtual devices.

[imprint]

I am using Tracktion 5 free, trying to audition it in order to buy T7, but have not been able to configure MIDI so it works easily. It could be the issues below are solvable in T5. That said, understanding if T7 has the functionality I'm looking for would be helpful.

Using it on Mac OSX El Capitan. Observation:

- There are multiple devices that appear in MIDI settings for my Axiom 25 controller that do not exist (no MIDI data can be generated). Axiom is connected to Mac via USB which shows up as Axiom 25 Port 1 which seems to be the only input that actually works despite two other Axiom devices being listed as Virtual Inputs.

You can use up to 4 inputs on each Track. Go to the input options at the inputs slot on a track and you will see a tab that say number of inputs for that Track and you can select from 1 to 4 inputs for that track

I see how that works. Thanks.

[jabe]

I have an ancient Yamaha QX21 sequencer. This could transmit MIDI on 16 channels. If I set up 16 virtual MIDI devices, I could arranged for each to accept only one channel, and then all input from the QX21 could be separated out into 16 tracks, each of which could have an appropriate VSTi. I could have more virtual MIDI devices accepting combinations of channels. Nothing to stop channel 1 data being accepted by lots of virtual MIDI inputs.

Many thanks
- This seems to be limiting but suppose there is some way of getting around a 16 track limit?

Another option seems to be adding a midi input to a track, then moving the input between tracks as needed. That way you don't have to configure virtual devices.

Thanks for verifying the multiple sources for a virtual input, and to L.I.P. also.

You can indeed move an actual MIDI input from track to track as required. It's probably what people do as standard, but doesn't address the concerns you asked about.

There isn't a 16 track limit; I mentioned 16 tracks as an example of splitting up multi-channel input, since there are 16 MIDI channels. Tracktion lets you have as many MIDI and audio tracks as your computer can handle.

[imprint]

I have an ancient Yamaha QX21 sequencer. This could transmit MIDI on 16 channels. If I set up 16 virtual MIDI devices, I could arranged for each to accept only one channel, and then all input from the QX21 could be separated out into 16 tracks, each of which could have an appropriate VSTi. I could have more virtual MIDI devices accepting combinations of channels. Nothing to stop channel 1 data being accepted by lots of virtual MIDI inputs.

Many thanks
- This seems to be limiting but suppose there is some way of getting around a 16 track limit?

Another option seems to be adding a midi input to a track, then moving the input between tracks as needed. That way you don't have to configure virtual devices.

Thanks for verifying the multiple sources for a virtual input, and to L.I.P. also.

You can indeed move an actual MIDI input from track to track as required. It's probably what people do as standard, but doesn't address the concerns you asked about.

There isn't a 16 track limit; I mentioned 16 tracks as an example of splitting up multi-channel input, since there are 16 MIDI channels. Tracktion lets you have as many MIDI and audio tracks as your computer can handle.

Yes, I see how you can have unlimited # of midi tracks - just not in Logic's default method of simply adding a track, inserting a plug-in, and away you go. In T5 you have to think about/manage the input. Not saying that as a bad thing at all, just the frame of reference from which I came at T5.