Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'usb midi'.
-
ct-s400 CT-S400 and External MIDI Control
rsaintjohn posted a topic in General CT-S and LK-S Discussion
Just sharing some results from some experiments with the CT-S400, and using iPhone apps to externally control it via MIDI. (private video) First, thanks again to Jay C, Brad, and others for providing details on the Casio MIDI implementation elsewhere in the forum. Using those clues, I was able to get the CT-S400 to do some things via MIDI I didn’t expect. I’m not sure if this is old news or even of interest, but I wanted to document my findings in case anyone ever wants to do anything similar. The video demonstrates how I have an app called Zenbeats on an iPhone XR sequencing three separate tracks over different MIDI channels. Zenbeats is available on iOS, Android, and desktop and is a favorite of mine for quick work with virtual instruments and MIDI, and has a killer library of drum patterns. It’s like GarageBand, but with better MIDI support. I also used another iOS app, MIDI Wrench, and configured it to send program changes to different MIDI channels on the CT, based on the MIDI documentation in the CT-S400 user guide. At first, I was using Bluetooth MIDI with the Casio WU-BT10 adapter. Using the app BLE-MIDI, I was able to establish a reliable BT MIDI connection between the phone and the CT. By sending Program Changes over MIDI channel 10, I was able to load different drum kits. By sending Program Changes over MIDI channel 1, I was able to load different keyboard tones. Awesome. I soon abandoned the WU-BT10 when moving to the next phase, external sequencing. The data proved to be too much and the response from the CT was buffered and stuttered. So I switch to an Apple Lightning to USB camera adapter and a regular USB A to micro cable, connected to the Host port of the CT. Don’t bother to try a single Lightning to USB cable to the CT’s other USB port. Without an adapter in between, neither device sees itself as host, and the apps won’t find the CT. Use my method and apps will see CASIO USB MIDI as an interface. Using a wired connection resolved my data and sync issues. This, too, was awesome. With Zenbeats, I generated a drum loop and set the drum track to output to MIDI Channel 10. Success! With MIDI Wrench, I was able to select alternate drum kits. Back in Zenbeats, I added a new track configured to accept input over Channel 1. I ran the loop and set the track to record data input I played from the CT. Zenbeats recorded the notes. Then I used MIDI Wrench to change the CT instrument on channel 1 to a synth pad. When I changed the track to output to channel 1, the CT played the notes with its internal tone. I repeated for track 2 and MIDI channel 2, and that worked as well. I’m not sure if the limit is 4 tracks like the CT itself, or just polyphony. I’ll have to dig deeper. When I was done, I could play the three track sequence in Zenbeats, hear it all from the CT, and even play on top of it. I also noted that the song recorder of the CT does not record what is being externally sequenced, nor recognize MIDI Start/Stop. The key takeaway here is that this external MIDI stuff is being played on another layer, independent of the local CT itself: no recording, no reflection of any of this in the display. The CT will still respond, play, and record what you do on the keyboard itself, but it’s independent from the external MIDI actions. That’s all, I think, for now. I think the practical application of this is just a different kind of performance and flexibility, like another way to do the drums. It also demonstrates how the CT can be useful as a keyboard for some mobile apps. And it may turn out to be a way to do with the CT-S400 a little bit more than it can do on its own. BTW, I have to say that the CT-S400 turned out to be fantastic all on its own. This is my first Casiotone in decades. I have a number of them as well as CZs, and XW-P1, a PX-S3000. It’s possible I didn’t need to do any of this stuff with the 400, but I like to explore. You never know when it’ll be useful. But the CT-S400 is kind of a Casiotone dream come true for me. The sound, form factor, layers and splits, arps and harmonize, workflow… I just love this keyboard. I have a studio full of synths, drum machines, and software, but sometimes it’s more fun to kick back with something like this in another room. Very inspiring and lots of fun. More to come when I have time! Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. -
Can anyone point to a specific USB to Bluetooth adapter that they know will pair any of the CT-X siblings to IOS and/or Mac hardware? T.I.A. !!!
-
I have a 10-year old Casio Privia electronic piano with a USB midi out. Can it work with a windows 10 computer? If so what downloads are required? Can programs like Audacity work with a midi USB cable from the Privia?