Confused about MIDI

Sorry for the noobidity of this post. I've been working with digital audio for years, but now that I'm moving into integrating hardware into my set-up, there are some basic MIDI problems I'm not understanding. This is what I've got: Mac Pro 8 core 2.8 running OS 10.5.3, Live 7.0.7, Logic 8.0.3, Presonus Firebox, M-audio Oxygen 8, Korg KP-3 Kaoss Pad, and an MPC 1000 running both JJOS 1 and 2. The oxygen8 pluged in via USB and the firebox via firewire as audio in/out have both been fine, no problems. But now that I've got the MPC and Kaoss Pad, I would like to use those as MIDI controllers at the same time (I also use the MPC alot in stand-alone mode, so I don't need to buy another MIDI controller and ditch the MPC). Hooking the MIDI out of the MPC to the MIDI IN of the firebox doesnt work... I mean neither Live or Logic see it and recieve no MID from it. There are so many things to check I'm not sure what should be what: settings on the MPC to send out MIDI, setting up in the OSX Audio/MIDI set-up, setting up the prereference in LIVE/LOGIC? Can someone give me an idea of how all of these should be set? To clarify I just want to use the MPC as a controller for the software, no fancy MTC or synching of anything like that, no time code, etc... just I want to use the pads to trigger sounds in Live/Logic, that's it.

Should I instead hook the MIDI out of oxygen 8 to the MIDI-IN of the MPC? And how would I add also the Kaoss Pad to this mix, again just to use the pad as a controller for the software? Could I keep the oxygen8 hooked up via usb but plug the Kaoss Pad to the MIDI in of the MPC and be able to use both the MPC and KAOSS pad at the same time to trigger midi in LIVE/LOGIC? The basic goal is to have all three being able to be used as controllers at the same time... but since I don't really understand MIDI that well, I don't even know if this is possible.

Sorry for the complexity of the explaination, and the simplicity of my mind, but can somebody help this brother out?

BTW I have R'ed all the applicable F-M's for hardware and software, as well as searched this forum and Live and Logic forums but still cannot get this set-up to work.

unplug everything and then plug it in one bit at a time ....basically keep it simple ,its almost impossible to debug all the kit at once,i'd also look on the web for some midi tutorials...you need to learn some basics before diving into the deep end http://www.borg.com/~jglatt/tutr/miditutr.htm

robomusician,yeah that`s what I feel like sometimes....

if your going to use the mpc as a controler then set it to master. then you can use the transport too. go into your settings in live and logic and make sure that the midi input is set to the firebox. and set to slave. that should solve your probs. and you can use all 3 at the same time

HamdiC wrote:Can someone give me an idea of how all of these should be set? To clarify I just want to use the MPC as a controller for the software, no fancy MTC or synching of anything like that, no time code, etc... just I want to use the pads to trigger sounds in Live/Logic, that's it.

Should I instead hook the MIDI out of oxygen 8 to the MIDI-IN of the MPC? And how would I add also the Kaoss Pad to this mix, again just to use the pad as a controller for the software? Could I keep the oxygen8 hooked up via usb but plug the Kaoss Pad to the MIDI in of the MPC and be able to use both the MPC and KAOSS pad at the same time to trigger midi in LIVE/LOGIC? The basic goal is to have all three being able to be used as controllers at the same time... but since I don't really understand MIDI that well, I don't even know if this is possible.

The answers you already received were quite general HamdiC and not all that helpful. If you let me know how many midi ins and outs are available to your mac (thru the Firebox and/ or other midi interface) I will give you an outline of how to set out your midi connections. (Sounds like you could do with a dedicated multi-port midi interface, something like a 4x4 or a 8x8)

I posted a thread in the MPC STUDIO ENVIRONMENTS forum a few days ago about using Logic Pro 8 with your MPC4000, you should check it out and follow the instructions given. I have no knowledge of using Live.

Meanwhile, take kingmob1's advice and try to understand the whole concept of MIDI a bit more.

Thanks clint246clint. My Firebox has one MIDI in and one MIDI out. My keyboard has both a MIDI out and a USB out (currently I'm using it via usb). The Kaoss Pad has a MIDI out as well. As it is now, with just the MPC plugged into the firebox, and everything (seemingly) set-up right in LIVE and/or LOGIC no MIDI seems to be received from the computer. When I open up the AUDIO/MIDI utility in OS X it recognizes the MIDI port on the firebox, but when I "test" it, it also receives no MIDI (but the test works with the keyboard when plugged in via USB). So I guess I need to know: 1) the correct settings on the MPC (jjos 1 and 2) to send MIDI out correctly, 2) the correct settings in OS X (in the audio/midi utility) and 3) the correct settings in LOGIC/LIVE. Thanks again for all the time and help!