Unable to set a MIDI track to a specific MIDI keyboard?

[Rob Ainscough]

Background (Windows 11):
I have a KORG PA5X that I often use just as a MIDI only keyboard. And, I have a NI S88 MIDI only keyboard. In Mixcraft 10.x this is very easy to perform, select the Instrument and then select the MIDI keyboard from a dropdown on the track - super simple and fast. In the case of my KORG it registers as "Generic USB MIDI" and the NI S88 registers as "KONTROL S88 MK3" as seen here:

MIDIDeviceList.jpg (21.74 KiB) Viewed 5994 times

Here are my MIDI keyboard selections:
Track 7 NI S88

MixCraftTK7NIS88.jpg (56.84 KiB) Viewed 5994 times

Track 8 KORG (Generic USB MIDI)

MixCraftTK8Korg.jpg (76.56 KiB) Viewed 5994 times

In DP, I Add a Instrument track, Add a MIDI track, on the MIDI track associate the MIDI track to the Instrument track. However I can't find how I assign a specific MIDI keyboard. This is a problem because I want to have one keyboard (KORG PA5X) be the source for a specific MIDI tracks and the NI S88 to be the source for other MIDI tracks. As it stands right now the both play on ALL MIDI tracks ... not good.

To be continued ...

[Rob Ainscough]

Here is how I have DP setup:

Tracks

DPTracks.jpg (37 KiB) Viewed 5992 times

Sequence

DPSeq.jpg (39.36 KiB) Viewed 5992 times

Going thru the tutorials and other DP videos this is how they seem to setup MIDI controllers to be the input for an Instrument track. In Tracks tab the INPUT column is always "any" and I can't seem to change this to my specific USB MIDI controller?

I must be doing something wrong, Mixcraft is a lot cheaper than DP and it was very easy to setup, so I gotta be missing something basic in DP?

Suggestions?

Cheers, Rob.

[James Steele]

Going thru the tutorials and other DP videos this is how they seem to setup MIDI controllers to be the input for an Instrument track. In Tracks tab the INPUT column is always "any" and I can't seem to change this to my specific USB MIDI controller?

This is an easy one, fortunately.

Go into the "Studio" menu in Digital Performer in the main menu bar and then choose "Mutli-Record.' Now when you click where it says "any" in the INPUT column in the Track Overview (or where it shows "any" in the pop up menu in the Sequence Editor) you can choose the MIDI Controller you wish to have target that track and it will ignore other sources.

[James Steele]

By the way, if your MIDI controller keyboard is connected via USB it might show up like my NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2 appears below under "Unconfigured Ports >". (NOTE: These screenshots are from the Mac version, obviously, but I'm hoping it's similar for Windows? Either way, Multi-Record is the key to your issue.)

unconfigured.jpg (143.74 KiB) Viewed 5963 times

If that is cumbersome, what you can do is open the Bundles window (Shift + U) and click the "MIDI Devices" tab (in green). Then click the "Add" button at the lower left. Then you see in the red box at the upper right, that's my Komplete Kontrol keyboard. Just hard to read because the name doesn't fit. But you see Port 1 and Port 2 columns. Click on the square where the "O" (for Output) row of the MIDI Device you added intersects with the column of the MIDI controller keyboard. You can also click on it and give it a better name. (See red arrow.)

bundles.jpg (52.04 KiB) Viewed 5977 times

After you do that, you should see your MIDI controller keyboard with the name you gave it appear in the Input column in the Track Overview like below:

MIDIDevice.jpg (124.93 KiB) Viewed 5977 times

[James Steele]

In Tracks tab the INPUT column is always "any" and I can't seem to change this to my specific USB MIDI controller?

Oh... I should add that when it's set to "any" then it should receive input from literally any MIDI controller device attached to your system. Also, when it's set to "any" you can only record enable one track at a time. Generally the only reason you might want to set it to a specific controller device is if you are recording two or more tracks at once from different MIDI input devices... for example someone is playing a drum VI from an electronic drum kit, while another person is playing a keyboard part simultaneously from a MIDI keyboard.

[HCMarkus]

Generally the only reason you might want to set it to a specific controller device is if you are recording two or more tracks at once from different MIDI input devices... for example someone is playing a drum VI from an electronic drum kit, while another person is playing a keyboard part simultaneously from a MIDI keyboard.

Or you're a talented keyboardist who wants to record two parts at once!

Since I am not that talented, I build productions one track at a time when working alone, I always leave MIDI Multirecord OFF... that way, I can grab any available MIDI controller to record on a record-enabled MIDI track. Importantly, I can also use more than one controller to simultaneously send MIDI messages to my chosen target. For example, my weighted 88 MIDI controller (Yamaha P255 Piano) has no mod wheel or Expression pedal jack, but I can use the mod wheel and Expression pedal on my Arturia Keylab on the stand directly above to add mod messages as I play the P255. I can also use the USB-connected TEControl Breath Controller. All MIDI data is merged to the target MIDI track.

[Rob Ainscough]

Wow, thanks for all these great comments and help. I’ll get this setup on return from the office … I did manage to find a Sweetwater article that says use Bundle … I didn’t know that Bundle existed.

As far as talented Keyboardist … don’t consider myself that but I’m able to bang on two keyboards while recording

IMG_0190.jpg (218.01 KiB) Viewed 5896 times

Cheers, Rob.

[James Steele]

Or you're a talented keyboardist who wants to record two parts at once!

Hahahaha! I certainly would NOT know about that! I should have stuck with the piano lessons when I was a kid!

"How do you make a rock guitarist stop playing? Put sheet music in front of him/her."

Actually I have an AA in Music hanging on the wall. Sadly, I think I forgot much of what I learned.

[James Steele]

Wow, thanks for all these great comments and help. I’ll get this setup on return from the office … I did manage to find a Sweetwater article that says use Bundle … I didn’t know that Bundle existed.

Well, in the example I gave, setting up a Bundle is optional. And don't feel alone. A LOT of people don't really know bundles exist at first. Digital Performer is a very deep program and it also comes with a lot of baggage since it's arguably the oldest sequencer/DAW around today.. You don't need to make the bundle like I described, but it makes it easier to choose your MIDI Controller from the menu in the future.

As far as talented Keyboardist … don’t consider myself that but I’m able to bang on two keyboards while recording

Nice setup!![/quote]

[Rob Ainscough]

Thanks for all the input. Bundle is working great!

Cheers, Rob.

[bayswater]

Note that if you have a lot of IO, you can add fake lines in the bundle windows as headers. E.g. put the word Microphones in a row, and select any input (because you’ll never use it), then list all the mics you have under that. Etc. Then when you go to set up and input or output, the listing is easier to follow.

And then when all is good, save the bundle so you can bring it into any new template or empty project that might not already have bundles defined.

[HCMarkus]

Note that if you have a lot of IO, you can add fake lines in the bundle windows as headers. E.g. put the word Microphones in a row, and select any input (because you’ll never use it), then list all the mics you have under that. Etc. Then when you go to set up and input or output, the listing is easier to follow.

And then when all is good, save the bundle so you can bring it into any new template or empty project that might not already have bundles defined.

Interesting idea, Bays! I'm gonna' give it a look!

[bayswater]

I swiped the idea from FM. It looks something like this. FM's looks better.

--Microphones---
FMR A
FMR B
FMR Stereo
Art
Scarlett 7
Scarlett 8

--Guitar--
POD L
POD R
POD Stereo

--Bass--
Steinberger
Ric 4001

--Line Mixer--
Ch A
Ch B
Ch A+b