From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Wed Mar 28 09:22:58 2007
Subject:Re: How do I make midi work? [OT]

Hi Chris,

I suspect that you don't have things connected correctly. As previously mentioned, the definitions of MIDI In and Out aren't the same as many other computer items.

MIDI In = accepts MIDI data from an external master device

MIDI Out = sends MIDI data to an external slave device

MIDI Thru = a copy of the MIDI In data, for daisy-chaining to more devices

You need to connect things as so:

UM1-SX MIDI Out --> CX-3 MIDI In
CX-3 MIDI Thru --> DM5 MIDI In
DM5 MIDI Thru *** --> UM1-SX MIDI In

*** The DM5 doesn't have a dedicated Thru jack. Use the MIDI Out jack, with the Thru setting enabled in the menu. See page 7 of the DM5 manual for instructions.

There is still one potential problem, a "MIDI loop." Since the CX-3's note data is sent to the PC, and then the PC's data is sent back to the CX-3, there is a feedback path. This can either be fixed by setting Local Off in the Global menu of the CX-3; or by turning off the Thru setting in the Preferences in Cakewalk.

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However, this may not allow you to do everything you want. I suspect that you might want to play the DM5 from the CX-3, to record parts. If so, you will need a device that you don't have: a MIDI merger. This is a device that combines two or more MIDI outputs into a single data stream. (As a general rule, MIDI devices can only accept one input at a time.) What you PROBABLY want to do is this:

{Combine the keyboard data and the data sent by the PC}
UM1-SX MIDI Out --> CX-3 MIDI In
CX-3 MIDI Thru --> MIDI Merger In1
CX-3 MIDI Out --> MIDI Merger In2

{Send the combined data to the DM5}
MIDI Merger Out --> DM5 MIDI In
DM5 MIDI Thru *** --> UM1-SX MIDI In

*** MIDI Out jack, with the Thru setting enabled in the menu

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And MIDI channel is very important to playback, even if it's not when recording.

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If you need a MIDI merger, please contact me offline; I would be happy to sell you one. :-)

Regards,

-BW
--
Bruce Wahler
Online Music Sales
AshbySolutions.com™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com

At 10:30 PM 3/27/2007, you wrote:
> Not strictly a clonewheel question, but I do have a newer CX-3 that's part
> of the chain. This is a REALLY basic set of questions.
>
>I have a WindowsXP computer, an Edirol UM1-SX USB->midi adapter, the CX-3,
>and an Alesis DM-5 drum synth (with drums). I have Cakewalk Home Studio
>on one computer, and KeyKit on another. All the midi Out's are connected
>to In's
>in one big loop.
>
>The CX-3 is set for channel 1 (default), and the DM-5 for channel 3. What I
>can't
>do is record any midi activity on cakewalk, and I can't get anything to play
>using Keykit. Using kaboom, I can get the data out indicator on the
>interface
>to blink, but the input indicator doesn't blink playing either of the
>instruments.
>
>In Cakewalk, what do I set the Edirol to for channel, bank, etc. Channel
>barely makes
>sense for the computer interface (omni mode?).
>
>MIDI can't be that hard to get basic functionality. Please help!!
>This makes TCP/IP networking seem easy.
>
>Thx, Chris
>
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