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Complex midi setup with Montage as master

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Posts: 95
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Topic starter
 

Hi,

I want to hook up these devices via midi:
Montage, CP4, Motif XS, Virus TI2(desktop), Macbook

The Montage will be used as a master to send program changes to all devices.

These devices must also be able to play eachother:
Montage->Virus TI2
Motif XS->Virus TI2
CP4->Montage
Montage->Macbook
Motif XS->Macbook
CP4->Macbook

First question: Is this even possible?
2nd: How do I patch the hardware? I would probeably have to get a Motu midi express XT or something?
3th: What do I set the midi settings to?

Thanks!

Stef

 
Posted : 04/12/2018 11:40 am
Posts: 95
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

I came up with this hardware patch, (so I only have to buy the Midi Solutions Quadra Thru. I allready own the Merger)
But in this case midi from Montage first has to go to the macbook, then from port 3 to the Quadra Thru, then to the merger and then to the Virus. I think it will have to much latency when it arrives at the Virus.

Attached files

 
Posted : 04/12/2018 11:57 am
Jason
Posts: 7908
Illustrious Member
 

Is the connection allowing for "Motif XS->Macbook" missing from the diagram?

 
Posted : 05/12/2018 11:30 pm
Posts: 95
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

Hi Jason,

That's correct. I forgot that.

I've been looking at different scenario's and I think the Motif is a bit of a bottleneck in my midi setup, because it is not remotely switchable in Master mode (It is with Sysex but I can't send that from the Montage.(and giving the computer that much responsibility is not an option:D ))
I could however do everything in Pattern or Song mode to have more midi flexibility than Voice or Perf mode but that requires a lot of re-programming, so I think I'll leave it out of the setup to save me some time. I'll use my Virus keyboard instead of desktop to replace the Motif so I still have 3 actual keyboards to play on.

This will also make the midi hardware patch a lot more easy:

Montage---(USB)---Computer
Montage--->---Virus--->(Thru)---CP4
Virus--->---Midi Merger--->---Montage (and computer)
CP4--->---Midi Merger--->---Montage (and computer)

That's my theory. Now get it to work and set up the synths correctly, that's going to be harder I guess 😀 Keep you posted.

Question: Is there a reason why on the Montage-Utility-Settings-Advanced the MIDI I/O Ch can't be set to off?

Regards,

Stef

 
Posted : 07/12/2018 8:54 am
Bad Mister
Posts: 12304
 

Question: Is there a reason why on the Montage-Utility-Settings-Advanced the MIDI I/O Ch can't be set to off?

? Since we don’t do “How come” questions here, allow us to rephrase that for you. The question should be:

Question: On the MONTAGE how do I turn MIDI OFF?
Anytime you want to intelligently control what goes Out via MIDI on the MONTAGE, you will want to activate the ZONE MASTER function.

Remember, it is the default for the MONTAGE to transmit and receive on multiple MIDI channels. What it sends Out via MIDI by default is the exact messages that need to be documented if you wanted to Record your musical Performance and play it back on the MONTAGE, naturally. Because you could be generating MIDI data on as many as eight MIDI channels simultaneously, you do not want to just connect the MONTAGE’s MIDI Out without utilizing the ZONE MASTER function. The messages easily interpreted by the MONTAGE will likely overwhelm any external device. The Zone Master lets *YOU* decide, on a Part Slot basis, what, if anything, gets transmitted Out.

It let’s you decide exactly what gets transmitted Out via MIDI from your current Performance.
It gives you a MIDI Channel OFF for each of the possible Part Slots. You can create setups that transmit on as many as eight Channels simultaneously. You do so by activating the KBD CTRL (Keyboard Control) icon on any Part 1-8. The KBD CTRL Part Slot can be designated for an Internal Part or an External device. Any combination up to eight can be controlled in real-time. Additionally, MONTAGE Part Slots not linked by KBD CTRL, can be selected directly, and each can be set to transmit Out via MIDI on any channel or play an internal sound... or be turned Off, as you may require.

Activate ZONE MASTER
[[UTILITY] > “Settings” > “Advanced” > Zone Master = On

Now in you Performance you will find the “Zone Settings” and Zone Transmit” screens for each Part. It is here that you can decide when each Part Slot will be active and to what (internal/external) it will be controlling, and on which MIDI Channel, if any at all, it is transmitting on.

Extra Credit:
The “Zone Master” will help you with *transmit* duties with the MONTAGE as the controller.
The “MIDI I/O Mode” determines how the MONTAGE will behave during both *transmit* and *receive* operations.

Here are the articles on the MONTAGE and MIDI:

MONTAGE MIDI: Zone Master FAQ
MONTAGE MIDI: Zone Master and the MIDI I/O Modes

 
Posted : 07/12/2018 5:37 pm
Jason
Posts: 7908
Illustrious Member
 

Maybe you guessed correctly - maybe not. MIDI I/O channel referenced in the question sets both the outgoing and incoming MIDI channel for single-channel mode. Although detail on preventing MIDI output from Montage has been given - I'm not sure if the question was for turning OFF outgoing messages, incoming messages, or both.

Besides this, using zones overrides the setting referenced (MIDI I/O channel) since it is only displayed when MIDI mode is set to the single-channel and using zones overrides single-channel mode (back to multi-channel mode).

source: https://www.yamahasynth.com/montage-category/montage-midi-zone-master-faq

CAN'T I SIMPLY SET THE MONTAGE MIDI I/O MODE = SINGLE AND USE THE ZONE MASTER FOR EXTERNAL?

Yes - but not at the same time. When Zone Master is enabled in UTILITY and the current Performance has Zone Switches set to On, this setting overrides the MIDI I/O Mode "Single" setting. Activating the Zone Switch within a Performance (Zone enabled) automatically changes the status to address multiple devices. Whatever is setup in the currently selected Performance will determine what gets transmitted OUT via MIDI and on what channels that data will travel on.

Additionally, note that in MIDI I/O mode Multi, the Arps can be set to send their MIDI data Out externally, in I/O mode Single only the keys you physical press are transmitted Out via MIDI. The Arpeggiators do not Output their data via MIDI when I/O Mode Single is selected.

Certainly I'm not informing BM of anything new - just pointing out there are some incompatibilities between what's implied the user wants to do and some of the ways to filter MIDI. Furthermore, I'm not sure the question was clear enough to know what direction(s) MIDI filters are desired. Being strict - if the user want's MIDI I/O OFF then this would imply they want both incoming and outgoing MIDI to be filtered.

In a less connected configuration, typically this filtering is done by virtual "unplugging". Which can be achieved by setting the MIDI bus mode (USB or 5-pin DIN) to the "wrong" setting (opposite of what you need). This will work if you only have Montage connected to a single end (only USB or only 5pin DIN) - not so well if you have both ends connected - as it only isolates half of the bus. With the USB cable disconnected and 5-pin MIDI devices connected - these will be "orphaned" if you have the MIDI mode set to USB. If you have no 5-pin MIDI, have USB connected to the computer, and set the mode to "MIDI" - then the computer/USB connection will be "orphaned".

Certain MIDI messages can be filtered on incoming. Before going down a rabbit hole - it'd be best to get some clarity on what you're trying to achieve rather than guessing on the direction(s).

 
Posted : 08/12/2018 1:15 am
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