How can you achieve a 'split keyboard' for input from a midi keyboard

[Tubig]

Greetings,

I wonder if anyone can provide a solution to a problem regarding use of a non-splitable midi keyboard controller in Cakewalk. Is it possible to have the realtime midi input from the keyboard 'filtered' into dividing the keys into different channels - in effect imposing a split that would normally happen on the keyboard itself?

Scenario ...

Existing MIDI controller keyboard has no split functionality.

Requirement ...

Cakewalk receives the MIDI data on one channel but then 'splits' by changing the MIDI channels to 1 & 3 subject to where the notes fall from middle C - eg if below middle C then transpose the note's MIDI channel to 3, if above or equal to middle C then leave the MIDI channel alone.

 

Please note, I am looking to do this to the data as it comes in from the keyboard, not edit the MIDI data after it has been recorded.

 

As an alternative, is there an open source program that could intercept the MIDI stream and then process it? I'd prefer a solution that functions within the DAW though.

 

Many thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

 

Update 26/02/2023 - Sorry everyone, did not see your replies as I don't appear to have a notification coming through to my email...

I did try with Cakewalk support about using a midi fx filter to 'transpose' keys but we found (at the time) that it did not work with live playing - only with play from the track afterwards. I mapped some keys to the 0 octave using the midi fx filter transpose but when I tried them live it had no effect. It only affect things if you 'recorded' and then played back - which is not really helpful when composing and needing a split on the keyboard. The basic need for this is to do with the way many Kontakt instruments use the 0 octave on the keyboard to control articulations and other functionality to 'switch' mid playing - and if you have a keyboard that is not a full 88 key then your a bit stuffed because you have to keep shifting octaves or poke around with a mouse on the device - not very helpful if trying to play live or to 'get inspired'. Many keyboards don't have a split function or it isn't easily accessible. Some have a split function which helps as you can then 'map' part of the keyboard but frankly it's often very clunky and tedious to set up. Hence I was looking for something like a midi 'interception' which you could have presets for virtual instruments so that the keyboard on a given device is already 'mapped'. I thought the Midi FX transpose would be close to this but sadly it didn't work with 'live' playing.

So, thank you for your efforts to help but I still don't see a solution to this problem which as some of you have expressed is an ability that others would like to have too.

 

 

Edited February 26, 2023 by Tubig
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[scook]

Yes, either with the MFX Event Filter plug-in forcing the channel using the channel drop down in the track or a drum map

[John Vere]

To elaborate on what @scookhas said, insert as many Midi tracks or  simple instrument tracks, as you want and assign the input to your controller. Then apply a different midi filter to each track so only the data you want is recorded to each track. Or you can now play your controller as a split keyboard live. 
 

Edited January 14, 2022 by John Vere

[scook]

That or use one MIDI track and a drum map routing the data to up to 128 synths along with an equal number of audio tracks.

[John Mazzella]

I want to do this so I can play live and use two VST plugins, but I don’t thing it works for VST. The event filter is not selectable.

 

Anybody have an alternate solution or know another way? 

[John Vere]

Insert the instrument as a split instrument track and you can insert the midi filter on the associated midi track. Or see @scook  post below on how to access the midi track strip of an instrument track. 

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by John Vere

[scook]

5 hours ago, John Vere said:

Instrument tracks don't have midi effects but midi tracks do

Instrument track do have MIDI FX racks.

 

The instrument track header does not show the MIDI FX rack.

Instrument tracks are simply a presentation layout above a MIDI+audio track pair.

Instrument track headers show MIDI track inputs and audio track outputs including the audio track FX rack.

 

To access an instrument track MIDI FX rack (B below) use the MIDI tab (T below) on the instrument track inspector.

[John Vere]

I keep forgetting about that silly tiny little tab. I fixed my post to correct the error