is it possible...(mpc and midi keyboard question)

the ingredients


M-Audio Projectmix I/O (audio interface/control surface)
M-Audio Axiom 61 (midi keyboard)
MPC5000 (sequencer)
Cubase 4




The problem:

Basically, I want to be able to record midi performance in my axiom to my MPC.

However, in all ways i sync them (im only recently switching from software to hardware), playing certain keys on my axiom triggers sounds from the MPC.

So let's say for instance, I had a 3 minute long beat going in the MPC. Now, i want to add a bassline throughout, or some keys around the start of the "third verse" area.

BUT WAIT!

The killer is, all the sounds are through the VSTs i have loaded in Cubase. So naturally, most people would say "just make your beat, dump it into Cubase as audio, then u can add what you want when you want.

granted.


but what if i wanted to have Cubase open so i could play with the instruments DURING the beat assembly of my MPC? Is it possible to just record the midi performance into the MPC, so that when my beat plays, it'll bring those notes in when i want, triggering the sounds i have loaded in Cubase, and then i dump later? Or do i just say to hell with it and do it the old fashioned way?

(any axiom 61 owners feel free to clue me in as to how you got the transport buttons working)

I can at least tell you that YES, this is possible. Pro Tools users can do it, Cubase has always been bigger on MIDI and VSTi's then Digidesign, So im pretty sure there is a way you can do it. You just gotta find someone who actually uses Cubase and a MPC this way.

But your Axiom will go into your MPC 5000 into one of the Inputs of the MIDI In's. Then you will need to take one of the MIDI Outputs from the MPC to an MIDI In going to your Computer thats connected with Cubase. And From there, You are on your own.

But you will know that the Axiom is connected right, if you can play samples from out of the MPC with the Axiom keyboard.

At least its a start. Someone else will have to pick it up from there, Unless you wanna call someones tech support.

yep, guess i'll have to do that

"tech support" here (not officially):

If you connect your midi keyboard to the MPC in1 for instance, and select track1 in the MAIN screen, set the midi channel (lower right corner) to something like 1A.
Then connect midi output port A to your computer and make sure Cubase is listening to that midi port. Set Cubase also to listen to midi clock and/or MTC messages and set the MPC 5k to send out midiclock and MTC on port A.

This way Cubase syncs to the MPC, you can play whatever VST in Cubase with your keyboard and you can also record/playback midi notes on the MPC with your midi keyboard.

Does that help?

thanks scd, i'll try it now and let you know what happens.

im guessing in this case, the MPC would be the master and the ProjectMix the slave?



and i guess i set the axiom to trasmit midi on channel 1 too?


u left those things out but i'll experiment. be back with my report!

BxJaze wrote:thanks scd, i'll try it now and let you know what happens.

im guessing in this case, the MPC would be the master and the ProjectMix the slave?



and i guess i set the axiom to trasmit midi on channel 1 too?


u left those things out but i'll experiment. be back with my report!

It depends what you want to be the slave: actually you can do both if you want to.
And es, Axiom to midichannel 1 indeed.

This way the MPC acts as midi interface actually: the midi signal comes in on input 1, midi channel 1.
The tracks on the MPC "listen" to both midi in's (so it doesn't really matter if you choose midi input 1 or 2 on the MPC) and with the setting in the main screen (right down corner) you determine on what channel this info is going to be send.
Be sure to have your midi settings in MIDI/SYNC mode on the MPC right: so sending midi clock out on port A.

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Boele

ok with some experimentation i'm ALMOST there.

i did mostly what you said scd, and filled in some of the blanks messing around with the sync settings, as u weren't really specific about what to set in the MTC area and since the MPC doesn't give me the option to send out BOTH midi clock and time code (from what i see, as the master out, it's either/or).


I also set "Soft Thru" to OMNI-A so now i can record my performance into the MPC. i have no idea how im gonna set these tracks when it's time to record into Cubase but i'll worry about that later.


NOW the problem im having is making it so the axiom does NOT trigger the MPC's sounds. when i hit certain notes on my keyboard, it triggers both the VST and the MPC's drums. anyway to disable it from triggering the MPC's pads?

BxJaze wrote:ok with some experimentation i'm ALMOST there.

i did mostly what you said scd, and filled in some of the blanks messing around with the sync settings, as u weren't really specific about what to set in the MTC area and since the MPC doesn't give me the option to send out BOTH midi clock and time code (from what i see, as the master out, it's either/or).


I also set "Soft Thru" to OMNI-A so now i can record my performance into the MPC. i have no idea how im gonna set these tracks when it's time to record into Cubase but i'll worry about that later.


NOW the problem im having is making it so the axiom does NOT trigger the MPC's sounds. when i hit certain notes on my keyboard, it triggers both the VST and the MPC's drums. anyway to disable it from triggering the MPC's pads?

Yes, in MAIN screen, Program should be set to OFF

scd wrote:

BxJaze wrote:ok with some experimentation i'm ALMOST there.

i did mostly what you said scd, and filled in some of the blanks messing around with the sync settings, as u weren't really specific about what to set in the MTC area and since the MPC doesn't give me the option to send out BOTH midi clock and time code (from what i see, as the master out, it's either/or).


I also set "Soft Thru" to OMNI-A so now i can record my performance into the MPC. i have no idea how im gonna set these tracks when it's time to record into Cubase but i'll worry about that later.


NOW the problem im having is making it so the axiom does NOT trigger the MPC's sounds. when i hit certain notes on my keyboard, it triggers both the VST and the MPC's drums. anyway to disable it from triggering the MPC's pads?

Yes, in MAIN screen, Program should be set to OFF

And I would also say that Soft-Thru should be left to AS TRACK. That way you are sure that the midi coming from your keyboard will only be transmitted to your computer on the channel choosen in the selected track in main screen.

Also, I ment MMC instead of MTC! Sorry.

and at the main screen underneath program set to OFF,

should TYPE be set to "MIDI" ?

final question for now:

So now, lets say i open Cubase's "Monologue"

Now, i can control it with the axiom, and not trigger the MPC drums with the method you described.


However, once i open up another MIDI track in Cubase and switch to it, the MIDI performance i recorded into the MPC plays in whatever track i highlight. So I'm guessing the answer to my problem lies within MIDI channel settings, be it in the VST, the Axiom, or the MPC.


So how do set that ? As you'd assume, i may want to open other VSTs or record performances of the same VST (of course, with other patches) into other tracks on Cubase so when i track out to audio, i can edit each one independently. Hope you understand what im asking scd, you've been a great help thus far.

BxJaze wrote:and at the main screen underneath program set to OFF,

should TYPE be set to "MIDI" ?

That does not matter in this case. It's for internal use on the mpc (see also the manual).

BxJaze wrote:final question for now:

So now, lets say i open Cubase's "Monologue"

Now, i can control it with the axiom, and not trigger the MPC drums with the method you described.


However, once i open up another MIDI track in Cubase and switch to it, the MIDI performance i recorded into the MPC plays in whatever track i highlight. So I'm guessing the answer to my problem lies within MIDI channel settings, be it in the VST, the Axiom, or the MPC.


So how do set that ? As you'd assume, i may want to open other VSTs or record performances of the same VST (of course, with other patches) into other tracks on Cubase so when i track out to audio, i can edit each one independently. Hope you understand what im asking scd, you've been a great help thus far.

Yes, the MPC plays whatever you recorded on that track to output A, channel 1. That's one part of the story.
On the Cubase side you will have to set the midichannel the Cubase track "listens" too. It is probably set to "omni" right now?
So Cubase track 1 could listen to midichannel 1 (sended out by the mpc track 1)
Cubase track 2 could listen to midichannel 2 (sended out by the mpc track 2 for instance)
And so on.

So: on the MPC you record your stuff on track 1 and send it out on midichannel 1. The track in Cubase that is set to listen to midichannel 1 will play that.
Then you record something on track 2 on the MPC and Cubase will make noise on the track that is set to listen to midichannel 2 and so on.
Unfortunately I use Logic and have no clue how/what/where to set the midichannels per track in Cubase