Question about MIDI hookup...

For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
 Reply Share on Facebook

Question about MIDI hookup...

By Destinite Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:34 pm
I've never used MIDI before, and have always recorded via line-in on my PC. Well, after years away from beatmaking and having sold most of my equipment, I've got an MPC Ren coming today and want to hook up some MIDI keys for virtual instruments. I'm dumb as shit when it comes to this so forgive me. I still have my Microkorg and XP-80 - both have MIDI capabilities so I'm assuming I can hook those up. I also have a MIDI to USB interface - so do I hook the interface from one of the two synths to my PC, or to the MPC? Or is that completely off?
User avatar

Re: Question about MIDI hookup...

By Wal Martian Fri Nov 20, 2015 4:58 pm
I would MIDI up the two keyboards to the renaissance. The ren has 4 MIDI outs so you need two cables, one to go from the ren out A to the microkorg in and one from the ren out B to the XP-80 in. That's gonna be a basic setup you can now sequence either keyboard by creating a MIDI track in the ren. You might need an interface with multiple inputs or a mixer to manage the audio outs.

Re: Question about MIDI hookup...

By Destinite Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:52 pm
Thanks for the info! Do I really need audio outs if I plan on using the keys only as a controller for the time being? And don't I have to have 2 MIDI cables per synth - one to go from synth out to Ren in, and one from Ren out to synth in? I'd seen something like that before but as I said I'm retarded when it comes to this.
User avatar

Re: Question about MIDI hookup...

By Wal Martian Fri Nov 20, 2015 9:31 pm
If you want to use the XP-80 for the keys only, you just need (to add) one cable, XP MIDI out to ren in. If you want to use the sounds from your two synths then yes you need to plug in the audio outputs to hear the sounds. the setup I described is to use the two synths as modules controlled by the ren. Two cables per synth or "MIDI handshake" will open up more possibilities like syncing and sending control changes, personally I don't use it that much.
 Reply
Return to Studio Set Up & Gear Advice