Using more then 4 midi devices ?

Can u use more midi instruments in the ren somehow? if I connect a 8xmidi device. can I run all the 8 instruments on different midi channels?

Yes, you'd have to utilize the midi thru function! Pain in the ass!

DJ Hellfire wrote:Yes, you'd have to utilize the midi thru function! Pain in the ass!

The Ren currently has the same functionality of flagship MPCs of the past with only 4 MIDI Outs. While I don't like/never use the MIDI thru function of my hardware....it isn't that bad if set-up properly. You can use the Ren's MSB/LSB and Program change params directly from the hardware to select the sound module and specific patch you want per track.

Finally, someone that shares my pain! Not only is MIDI through a pain, but whatever machine your going through must be powered on whether you want to use it or not.

Dear Akai,

Please allow us to access every MIDI device connected to our DAW simultaneously.

Thank you

I don't know the parameters on the MPC REN but you'll have to turn on the MIDI soft thru to change from MIDI OUT to MIDI THRU.
If your MPC isn't able to set all MIDI OUTs to THRU you'll have to daisy chain one device to the next

Logic Track X (MIDI channel X) -> MIDI OUT of your soundcard/interface

MIDI OUT of your soundcard /interface -> MPC MIDI IN

MPC OUT 1 (set to soft thru) -> Synth 1 MIDI IN

Synth 1 MIDI Thru -> Synth 2 MIDI IN

Synth 2 MIDI Thru -> Drummachine MIDI IN

etc.

Each device need its own MIDI-channel(s)

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MIDI Chains and Loops

A MIDI chain describes a series of one-way connections in a MIDI setup. The elemental chain is a single-link chain. The MIDI OUT port of one device is connected to the MIDI IN port of a second. In this configuration, a key pressed on the first unit will cause both units to sound. Pressing a key on the second unit, however, only causes the second unit to sound. Many instruments may be chained together using a series of single links to connect the units. In this case, the OUT of the first unit is connected to the second, the THRU of the second is connected to the IN of a third, and so on. If all the units are set to receive on the same channel, pressing a key on the first one will cause all the units to sound. Pressing a key on any of the other units will only activate the sound of that unit.

A MIDI loop is a special configuration of a MIDI chain. The single element loop is made of two interconnecting links. This was the configuration used in the debut of the MIDI system. The OUT port of the first unit is connected to the IN port of the second, and the OUT port of the second is connected to the IN port of the first. In this case, as described earlier, a key pressed on either unit causes both units to sound, provided they are on the same channel. A MIDI feedback loop does NOT exist here, as the data going into the second unit from the first is not duplicated in the OUT port of the second going back into the first. Here, we have two one-way links connected, not a multi-link chain.

MIDI loops connecting several devices using all three ports can become complex very quickly. As a brief example, imagine four synthesizers named A, B, C, and D for convenience. A's OUT is connected to B's IN and consequently to C's IN via B's THRU. B's OUT connects to D's IN, whose THRU connects to A's IN. A key pressed on A sounds A, B and C. A key pressed on C sounds C and C alone. A key pressed on B sounds B, D, and A, while a key pressed on D sounds D only. C does not sound when B is pressed because there is no direct connection between B and C, and B's note, which does route through D, does not route through A into C because A's THRU is not connected to C, or anything else for that matter. A note played on A does not sound on D for the same reason. You get the idea.

I don't know if there is a Mac OS equivalent but if you're using a PC you could use midi-ox in conjunction with the Ren and assign on a per port/channel basis. So say if you had a 8x8 midi patchbay with 8 hardware synths connected to it you could (for example) have the Ren's output port 1 sending midi to each of those 8 ports on your midi patchbay going to the hardware synths, something like this:
-MPC Ren midi output - to midi patchbay input-
Ren
*port 1 - channel 1 to patchbay midi input port 1 channel 1
*port 1 - channel 2 to patchbay midi input port 2 channel 1
*port 1 - channel 3 to patchbay midi input port 3 channel 1
*port 1 - channel 4 to patchbay midi input port 4 channel 1
*port 1 - channel 5 to patchbay midi input port 5 channel 1
*port 1 - channel 6 to patchbay midi input port 6 channel 1
*port 1 - channel 7 to patchbay midi input port 7 channel 1
*port 1 - channel 8 to patchbay midi input port 8 channel 1

This is just one example but you can configure it anyway you want.

Midi thru box or midi patchbay may come in handy if you need to use lots of midi hardware. Like an Akai ME30-PII or Roland A-880. I think some USB midi interfaces could also come in handy for this IIRC??

Luigi wrote:Can u use more midi instruments in the ren somehow? if I connect a 8xmidi device. can I run all the 8 instruments on different midi channels?

Another option is to use a external midi patchbay (that doesn't require a computer) in conjunction with your midi 8 x 8 midi interface, that's what I used when I had my MPC 4000 and a bunch of hardware synths. I used a 360 systems 8 x8 external midi patchbay (which only cost me $40 second hand) along with a Steinberg 8 x 8 midi patchbay and this setup was extremely flexible.

I don't have a ren, but here's what I do in Maschine which has only one addressable midi out port. I use MidiOX and Loopbe1 with Maschine to reassign midi channels to access multiple synths.

use Loopbe1 to send the midi from Ren to MidiOx. ACtivate the Synth ins you want to control. Create maps to transform (rechannel) the channel of each synth. and disable any channels used by the other synths.

Depending on how many synths your connecting this way , you can access several channels of each synth

As far as HW synths i use a triton, ion, fantom, matrix 1000 and a tx81z. Routing from Maschine > LoopBe1 > MidiOX > Synths i can control 3ch each on the triton and fantom, all 4 Ion ch, and 1 ch each for the matrix and yamaha with one 16 ch midi port.

I use Loopbe1 instead of Midiyoke bc Midiyoke iis only 32bit

Allright. thx ima check it out.

Got the motif es rack so im safe for now cause its got usb but you always gonna bye more synts