MIDI - can I connect 2 in?

[Ken Fraser]

Hi, 

can I connect both my Alesis SR16 and Yamaha EX5 into my PC via MIDI at the same time? I don't want to use onboard sounds on either, but use drum patterns on the Alesis and use the EX5 as a controller. Or do I just connect and disconnect my MIDI cables?

[tecknot]

Hi Ken,

Yes, you can connect as many MIDI devices (at any one time) to your PC as your interface and PC allow.

Kind regards,

tecknot

[Ken Fraser]

Hi tecknot, thanks for the reply. What sort of interface do I need?

Thanks

Ken

[msmcleod]

3 hours ago, Ken Fraser said:

Hi tecknot, thanks for the reply. What sort of interface do I need?

Thanks

Ken

I highly recommend these ones - the 8x8 has been rock solid for me:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/miditech_midiface_8x8.htm 
https://www.thomann.de/gb/miditech_midiface_4x4.htm

The M-Audio MidiSport range are also good, but seem to be discontinued.

Personally, I've not had much joy with ESI MIDI interfaces.
 

[Kurre]

Yes, Miditech MIDIface is good. I use the 8x8 one. ?

Which mean i can connect 8 hardware with midi to my pc.

If i have another pc with its own midi interface i could of course connect that pc and its midi interface with my main pc and its midi interface.

[timboalogo]

I know this is a necro post, but looking at the 4*4 for example, I thought there would be a connection on the back where you would run cables to your interface. Are the 4*4 and 8*8 daisy chainers or am I completely missing the boat here.

Thick Timbo

[Kurre]

10 hours ago, timboalogo said:

I know this is a necro post, but looking at the 4*4 for example, I thought there would be a connection on the back where you would run cables to your interface. Are the 4*4 and 8*8 daisy chainers or am I completely missing the boat here.

Thick Timbo

Usually a midi-interface connects to pc by usb. As do an audio-interface. If the audio-interface also has midi-ports you can obviously chain the midi as usual by midi out on one device to midi in on another device.

[timboalogo]

Thanks.

Here comes the thick part, if the MIDI data is daisy chained, how does the DAW know which device is sending what? 

[Amberwolf]

you set each device to send on a diifferent channel, and the daw to receive on a correspondnig channel for teh orrespondnig track

[mettelus]

5 hours ago, timboalogo said:

Here comes the thick part, if the MIDI data is daisy chained, how does the DAW know which device is sending what? 

+1 to what Amberwolf said above (if you leave all inputs "active"). Ironically, Cakewalk got its start as MIDI-only, yet has no ability for the user to easily track MIDI data internal to the DAW... I call it "loose data" and a lot can also be dependent on your work flow. When using only one MIDI controller at a time (often the case), the input echo active track (default) will often suffice (even using Omni), but manually overriding Input Echo on any track can throw a wrench into the works. Working with channels is the real solution; but again, there is no "MIDI mapper" internal to Cakewalk to visualize MIDI routing for complex setups (project notes are helpful here, but not quite the same if you are coming back to a project after a hiatus).

[timboalogo]

Thanks guys!