need MIDI help: MPC 2000xl + Mopo Keys + Microkorg + Volca K

Hi guys, long time listener first time caller here.

I'm having a problem getting my synths to work properly with my 2000xl. I'd like to get it set up so I can play from either Keys into the MPC and record(MIDI not audio). As is, I can only record from my Mopho keys synth on Track 2. I can trigger either the Microkorg or the Mopho (from Mopho keys) by changing the MIDI channel on Track2, but not both, and I can't get anything to record from playing on the Micro (but I can see in the monitor I'm getting a data send). I can only record onto Track 2 if I'm using the keys. I can use the pads on any Track and get either synth to sequence just fine. I've tried setting the MIDI Thru between Track, Omni A, B and A/B and it didn't seem to make a difference. I would LOVE some help figuring this out. I'm VERY new to MIDI and am sure I'm just missing a step somewhere.

Here is my set up as is:
Mopho Keys MIDI OUT > MPC MIDI IN A
MPC MIDI OUT A > Mopho Keys MIDI IN
MicroKorg MIDI OUT > MPC MIDI IN B
MPC MIDI OUT B > Micro MIDI IN

I've tried toggeling Local control on/off on both synths. Mopho set to midi channel 2, Micro to channel 1.

Also just to cover my bases, I DO have both synths and the MPC AUDIO outs going into a mixer and that all works fine.

Bonus points if anyone can tell me how to get this set up working and adding in my Korg Volca Keys! (I currently don't have a MIDI interface.) Was thinking I could daisy chain / midi thru the Mopho and Micro from one of the MPC midi outs, and use the other Midi out on the MPC to control the the Volca? 1 step at a time though here...


Thanks so much you guys!

If you turn local off on the keyboards, then they operate as a separate MIDI controller keyboard, sending MIDI from the keyboard to their MIDI output, and separate MIDI sound module, playing sounds in response to MIDI received at their MIDI input.

Set the MPC MIDI Thru to Track.

Connect the MPC MIDI Out C to the Volca Keys MIDI input.

Either connected keyboard will input MIDI into the MPC sequencer.

Then you need to set each MPC sequencer track to play each keyboard sound module, or internal MPC sampler, as required.

For example, you might have one or more tracks playing internal MPC samples, when set to drum, another track playing Mopho sounds, when set to MIDI 1A, another track playing MircoKorg sounds, when set to MIDI 1B, and another track playing Volca Keys, when set to MIDI 1C.

Thanks so much for the reply!

After a few hours of fiddling around I think I'm getting closer.

Question, when I set the mode from DRUM to MIDI, does the Tr: Track** then correspond to the midi channel?

As of now I can sequence the Mopho or the Micro from the Mohpo's keys but I have to change the midi channel output on the Mopho from channel 1(micro) or channel 2(Mopho). And still not able to record anything out from the micro (though I can see that the input is sending data).

Also as for getting the Volca Keys in the mix... I only have MIDI A&B on the 2000xl. There is not C or D IN/Outs. Can I somehow use MIDI Thru on the Keyboards via mpc's OUT A, and use OUT B to trigger the Volca?

Thanks again! Midi is all really new to me. I've tended to do most of my stuff on the MPC just sample based but want to work some of my hardware into my work flow.

Carmichael84 wrote:Question, when I set the mode from DRUM to MIDI, does the Tr: Track** then correspond to the midi channel?

No, the track number has nothing to do with the MIDI channel.

When you set it to MIDI, where it says 'S:MIDI:1A', the 1 is the MIDI channel, and the A is the MPC MIDI port. If you set it to 'S:MIDI:2A', then it is sending MIDI from that track to MIDI channel 2 on MPC MIDI port A.

Carmichael84 wrote:As of now I can sequence the Mopho or the Micro from the Mohpo's keys but I have to change the midi channel output on the Mopho from channel 1(micro) or channel 2(Mopho). And still not able to record anything out from the micro (though I can see that the input is sending data).

Have you set the MPC Soft Thru back to As Track?

What MIDI channels are the MicroKorg and Mopho set to respond to? Whatever MIDI channel they are set to respond to, is what you need to set the MPC track MIDI setting to, to send MIDI out to it, and to have it respond.

Carmichael84 wrote:Also as for getting the Volca Keys in the mix... I only have MIDI A&B on the 2000xl. There is not C or D IN/Outs. Can I somehow use MIDI Thru on the Keyboards via mpc's OUT A, and use OUT B to trigger the Volca?

Ah, yes, only 2 MIDI ports.

Yes, if you have two MIDI devices on one MPC port, you set one device on that MPC MIDI port to one MIDI channel, and the other device to a different MIDI channel, and connect the MIDI Thru from one device to the other.

Then one device responds to the particular MIDI channel you set it to, and the other device responds to the MIDI channel you set it to, on the same MPC MIDI port.

Thanks for your help. Getting closer. Volca Keys is working now and sounds awesome!

MIDI soft thru is set to track.

I can only sequence from the Mopho keys as it is now. Microkorg outputs midi data but the MPC isn't recording anything from it.

Mopho is midi channel 2A
Microkorg is midi channel 1B
Volca is midi channel 3B (via microkorg midi thru > volca's midi in)

My problem is that the only keyboard the MPC is responding to is the Mopho. I can set the Mopho to either channel 1, 2 or 3 to record the corresponding synth which works great. But then there are issues with that.
1. For example, say I record a bass line on the mopho on channel 2. Then switch it to channel 1 to record a pad on the micro, it obviously then cuts out channel 2 (bass on mopho) when recording.
Is there some setting on the Microkorg maybe I'm missing to be able to use it's keys for it's tracks to record so I don't have to change the midi channel back and fourth on the mopho? Do I just need another dedicated controller for tracking or something?

Thanks again. Sorry if this stuff is totally noobsih, but thanks for bearing with me!

Carmichael84 wrote:I can only sequence from the Mopho keys as it is now. Microkorg outputs midi data but the MPC isn't recording anything from it.

Not sure, it should just be sending MIDI note on/off messages from it's keys into the MPC sequencer, the same as the Mopho keys.

Both keyboards should be sending MIDI note on/off messages into the MPC sequencer, and the MPC sequencer should be sending those MIDI note on/off messages out through whatever MIDI channel/port setting you have on the currently selected MPC track.

Carmichael84 wrote:Mopho is midi channel 2A
Microkorg is midi channel 1B
Volca is midi channel 3B (via microkorg midi thru > volca's midi in)

My problem is that the only keyboard the MPC is responding to is the Mopho. I can set the Mopho to either channel 1, 2 or 3 to record the corresponding synth which works great. But then there are issues with that.

The Mopho is on it's own MIDI port, MPC port A.

You can leave it set to MIDI channel 1, it doesn't have to be a different MIDI channel to what is connected to MPC port B.

MPC port A has 16 MIDI channels to work with, channels 1-16, and MPC port B also has 16 MIDI channels to work with, channels 1-16, they are completely separate, you can use the same MIDI channel, for two different devices, on the two MPC ports.

Sequence the Mopho from an MPC track set to MIDI channel 2A, if the Mopho is set to MIDI channel 2 and connected to MPC port A.

Sequence the MicroKorg from an MPC track set to MIDI channel 1B, if the MicroKorg is set to MIDI channel 1 and connected to MPC port B.

Sequence the Volca from an MPC track set to MIDI channel 3B, if the Volca is set to MIDI channel 3 and connected to MPC port B.

Once you have set the MIDI channel in the Mopho, MicroKorg, and Volca, do not change them.

Carmichael84 wrote:1. For example, say I record a bass line on the mopho on channel 2. Then switch it to channel 1 to record a pad on the micro, it obviously then cuts out channel 2 (bass on mopho) when recording.

You don't change the MIDI channel on the Mopho to channel 1, you leave it set to channel 2, if that is the channel you used to record it's bass sounds onto the other MPC track.

The MIDI channel that the MPC sequencer sends out is the MIDI channel set in the MPC sequencer track, not the MIDI channel that the keyboard is set to.

You set one MPC sequencer track to MIDI 2A, to play the Mopho sounds.

You set a different MPC sequencer track to MIDI 1B, to play the MicroKorg sounds.

You set a different MPC sequencer track to MIDI 3B, to play the Volca sounds.

Leave the Mopho set to MIDI channel 2, the MicroKorg set to MIDI channel 1, and the Volca set to MIDI channel 3. If you change their MIDI channel setting in the keyboard to a different MIDI channel, after recording an MPC sequencer track to send MIDI to that channel, it is no longer going to respond as it is then on a different channel to what the MPC sequencer track is sending out.

The MIDI channel setting in each device is only being used to set what each device responds to, as being sent from the MPC sequencer track, the MPC sequencer track MIDI setting defines what MIDI channel it sends out, not the keyboard MIDI setting.

Carmichael84 wrote:Is there some setting on the Microkorg maybe I'm missing to be able to use it's keys for it's tracks to record so I don't have to change the midi channel back and fourth on the mopho? Do I just need another dedicated controller for tracking or something?

No, you just don't change the MIDI channel on the Mopho, you leave it set to MIDI channel 2, or whatever it is set to, you change the MIDI channel on the MPC sequencer track to the MIDI channel, and port, of the external MIDI device you want to play from each MPC sequencer track.

Leave the MIDI channels on the synths where they are, change what you want to play from the MPC sequencer, using the MIDI channel/port setting, in each MPC sequencer track.

WOW. Ok got it all solved. Can't believe it took me this long. If anyone else had this problem and was new to MIDI this is all you gotta do.

I didn't realize you could "open window" on the M or S to the left of the MIDI / DRUM toggle to open the Multi Record Setup. That is where you set your INPUT! haha. I feel so lame. Open Window on that bad boy and got everything set up properly in the MPC now.

What is the difference between the M & S? Like M: MIDI vs S:MIDI...

Thanks again for your help!

I wouldn't use MIDI multi-track record at all, I would leave it on MIDI single track record.

You don't need MIDI multi-track record, you just choose which device each MPC sequencer track/port goes to in the sequencer MIDI settings.

But if it multi-track record works for you, it is all good.

M: is multi-track recording, from multiple MIDI input channels to multiple MPC sequencer tracks.

S: is single track recording, from whatever the MIDI input channel is onto the currently selected MPC sequencer track.

You only need to record from one MIDI channel at a time, so you don't need MIDI multi-track recording.