MidiOut to DAW then MidiIN

[Ronieaz]

Let me say what my vision is for this process.  Far as I know there are no systems that work this way.  What I would like to be able to do is - connect my arranger keyboard into the laptop to send midi signals into the DAW (midi out), then return the signal to the keyboard (midi in).  This would give me a real-time visual record of the midi information that I'm generating, but still allow me to keep the refined audio voices generated by the arranger keyboard.  

            I would be able to manipulate the midi information as needed and have it return directly to the arranger, modifying the song I'm working on.  Using the keyboard's current functions, I have some controls over the midi information, but it is awkward  compared to a visual display of what I'm playing. 

            The DAW would be able to show tracks all of the solo instruments, pad voices, accmp parts.  I would be able to mix my music in the DAW and have it reflected in the keyboard's audio output.  When I'm done, I can save the midi file as usual plus generate an audio track for each part individually or group the entire mix into a finished wav file.  

           Am I missing something?  Is this possible?  

Ronieaz in Oregon

 

[Brad Saucier]

Hi Ronieaz in Oregon.  Yes, that's totally possible.  It's actually a very common use for MIDI.  You can use your MZ-X as the controller, your DAW as the sequencer and your MZ-X as the sound module for the sequencer. 

[Jokeyman123]

Actually most software is designed this way., to give you this ability as Brad already said.

 

Look for a function in your software labelled "midi thru". Many DAW's have the ability to turn this on or off.

 

As you play and record with your software-whatever you are playing will "echo" back into your keyboard. The important step you must take-in any keyboard and software I've used for this-is that you may want to turn "local control" in your midi settings on the keyboard to "off". If you don't, your results will get a bit scrambled-as your software will be playing the same things your keyboard is playing-at the same time-so you will either hear a "doubling" or "phasing "effect of your keyboard playing everything twice-or your computer or keyboard might "choke" on all this midi data coming through at the same time and lock up something-your keyboard or computer might crash. Takes some experimenting but with a good quality midi interface, should work fine. see posts on cheap midi cables here!

[Ronieaz]

Well, whaddaya know.  Thanks for the confirmation guys.  Now I will look for the appropriate cables.

I've been wanting to spend some of my Christmas gift money . . . 

 

[Brad Saucier]

A standard USB printer cable is all you need to connect to the laptop for MIDI.

[Ronieaz]

BradS:

I'll sort all this out eventually, but for now it appears I will only need 2 standard 5pin midi cables because I just noticed my Behringer 204HD has IN/OUT midi ports on the back.  

Am I correct, no USB cable required for my equipment?

[Brad Saucier]

Both standard MIDI ports or USB MIDI can be used.  It's whatever is most convenient for you. 

[Ronieaz]

Hello guys :  I bought two midi 5 pin DIN cables from the local music store.  My problem?  I am not getting sound from the MZX or the laptop speakers or the audio interface headphone jack or the audio interface MainOut.  I think I should be hearing playback through the keyboard's speakers which are set to ON in the SystemSetting.  I need some advice.

Signal path:  MZX DINmidiOUT to Behringer audio interface(BAU) DINmidiIN.  BAU DINmidiOUT to MZX DINmidiIN.  BAU USB to MacbookPro running ReaperDAW.  Reaper set to INPUTmidiALLchannels.  MZX set to KeyboardChannel1 - AccompOut OFF - ChordJudge OFF - LocalControl OFF -  MidiOut/Thru OUT - MidiInPort A - ClockOut ON.  

I recorded a 2min phrase onto a midi track in Reaper using the MZX, but I couldn't hear what I was playing because Local is OFF.  I see midi information on the recorded track and I could see the input bar move when I play the MZX.  When I play back the midi recording, I get no sound from any source.  Both Midi IN&OUT indicators on the front of the BAU flash when the song is playing, which tells me my DIN connections are proper. 

[Brad Saucier]

Have you tried swapping cables?  Perhaps one of them isn't connecting properly.

[Jokeyman123]

I think....from reading your connections-you need to switch MZX midi from out to thru-as anything going from the MZx midi out must be able to pass through the Behringer to play the MZX, although I'm not sure since I can't tell what is happening with the Behringer, how this is designed. Make sure under "preferences"-"midi" Reaper sees your Behringer-there should be something in that field showing that the Behringer has been detected by Reaper. I don't remember offhand (I have a small Behringer but only the USB/audio box) if you need specific drivers for the Behringer. 

[Brad Saucier]

20 minutes ago, Jokeyman123 said:

I think....from reading your connections-you need to switch MZX midi from out to thru

 

That will set MZX MIDI OUT to output only what is received at the MZX MIDI IN port.  The question is why it seems that no data is being received by the MZX MIDI IN, I think?

[Ronieaz]

I tried swapping cables right away on the off chance one of the new ones was defective.  Since they are both black I have one of them marked to help make sure the signal path is correct.  Like I said, both IN&OUT midi lights on the face of the audio interface are lighting up when I play the recorded midi track.  

I switched MIDI Out/Thru to Thru, but no effect Jokeyman.  

Reaper Preferences - MidiInput - Behringer - Enabled + Enabled for control messages// MidiOutput - Behringer - Enabled + Send Clock to output.

Reaper has definitely detected the Behringer interface.

I tried with MidiClockOut set to ON & OFF.  No effect.  No sound.    

"The question is why it seems that no data is being received by the MZX MIDI IN, I think?"  BradS, that's it in a nutshell from what I'm seeing here.  The audio interface is showing both IN&OUT signals when I play the midi file.  I should be hearing the sound through the MZX speakers.  I also checked Balance - MidiVolume and External In Volume; they're set to 80.  Master volume 12 noon.  

I will continue to explore the problem.  Thanks for all y'alls help.

Ronieaz in Oregon

 

[Ronieaz]

Gentlemen:

FactoryReset - Recorded 8bars with GMpiano1 - copied to flash drive - drug file into MixPad.

The SMF plays in MixPad through the MZX's speakers.  Both MidiIN&OUT indicators on the audio interface flash during playback.  

MZX midi settings: KeyboardChannel 01 - AccompOut OFF - ChordJudge OFF - LocalControl OFF - MidiOut/Thru OUT - Midi InPort C - ClockOut OFF.

However, the file plays through the MZX speakers on all 16 KeyboardChannels, on all Midi InPorts A,B,C, with ClockOut ON or OFF.  

MixPad Preferences are set for AudioPlayback via the Behringer audio interface.  

In Reaper I found a MidiHardwareOutput box that I changed to the Behringer audio interface, so now I get sound using Reaper.  

I recorded a second 8bars using Clarinet.  MixPad only plays back a GMpiano, but Reaper plays back the Clarinet. 

I bought WavePad from NCH Software years ago.  Then I bought MixPad a couple years ago.  MixPad is a simple DAW, not nearly as sophisticated as the major players, but has been useful to me for certain projects.  It has many features for audio manipulation.  

I purposely messed up a few notes in a phrase, recorded it, copied to the flash, drug it into MixPad, opened the MidiEditor.  I fixed the errant notes, saved the file under the same name, loaded it back into the MZX.  The edited phrase played back as corrected.  For me this means if I should happen to make some mistakes (which frequently happens) I can edit the midi file in MixPad.  The caveat is, it has to be a single track.  If I edit parts of a multitrack file, MixPad will cram all the tracks into one when saved.    

Ronieaz in Oregon