Record a keyboard performance (note data)

I'm using an mpc 2500 with jj Os 2 and I want to use my Casio Ctk 671 to control the pads, in other words, to record performance data using my keyboard. I've synced it so that I can use the pads to control the keyboards sounds, but not the other way around. There does not seem to be an option to turn the dial from slave to master. Does this mean it can't be done?

Also I'd like to import the sounds from the keyboard without impairing the quality (i.e: without using direct record and sampling). Is this possible via MIDI ?

This is slowly killing me.. so any help would be appreciated. I've searched a LOT but can't find a solution. I can't stop myself from trying to fix this.. musicmaking was supposed to be FUN

waytoolazy wrote:musicmaking was supposed to be FUN

It is if you know what you're doing.

I've synced it so that I can use the pads to control the keyboards sounds, but not the other way around

So flip it the other way around. You've currently got your mpc midi OUT going to the kybd midi IN on your keyboard...flip that and you will get the opposite effect. MPC midi IN to kybd midi OUT.

Get it?

Also, this has nothing to do with 'sync', so don't worry about that.

Get that working and then you can deal with the other issue of recording sounds.

nogginj wrote:

I've synced it so that I can use the pads to control the keyboards sounds, but not the other way around

So flip it the other way around. You've currently got your mpc midi OUT going to the kybd midi IN on your keyboard...flip that and you will get the opposite effect. MPC midi IN to kybd midi OUT.

I guess its almost too logical to make sense to some

The best way would be to first Chromatically map the pads on the mpc like a keyboard. So that pad 1 is c1 , and continues down the keyboard. I have done this with ours in the studio , and can trigger the Motif,and rolands Chromatically in scale without having to remember what pad triggers g , a , f blah blah. Then you can trigger and play the synths with the mpc and use the mpc as a master controller for ALL your gear. And vise versa. Map the fist banks as follows , starting with A from pad 1..
You can the Simul pads for chord progressions , play scales , use apreggiator (mpc5000) and Get it in. Hope this Helps , ONE

waytoolazy wrote:I'm using an mpc 2500 with jj Os 2 and I want to use my Casio Ctk 671 to control the pads, in other words, to record performance data using my keyboard.

This thread really has to move...

To the op. There's a reason folks incorporate a DAW in their setups, to make life easier.

thanks for the responses guys but alas nothing worked. i'm pretty sure the CTK-671 can't be used a MIDI controller - it was a cheap option to tide me over until I get an A300 Pro.

Nogginj: I already tried that (plus I think u confused yourself!)

ghosty: Thanks for your efforts but I think u missed the point - that is what I have and I want the opposite.

dabmeister: I use Cubase but there is no windows 7 support for my CTK-671(or my m-box2).

Was merely trying to make the most of some budget options until my wishlist is complete !

waytoolazy wrote:dabmeister: I use Cubase but there is no windows 7 support for my CTK-671(or my m-box2).

Was merely trying to make the most of some budget options until my wishlist is complete !

This seems like a forced upgrade if you ask me.

hey dabmeister.. sorry what do you mean exactly?

dabmeister wrote:

waytoolazy wrote:dabmeister: I use Cubase but there is no windows 7 support for my CTK-671(or my m-box2).

Was merely trying to make the most of some budget options until my wishlist is complete !

This seems like a forced upgrade if you ask me.

waytoolazy wrote:hey dabmeister.. sorry what do you mean exactly?

Just saying, mainly there's no win 7 driver support for the mbox2. Unless you've tried different drivers already, I don't know what options you have in that dept. And not saying to ignore your casio either, but it's merely just a general midi instrument. So I can't see it needing any kind of main stream support.

Cubase should already come with what's known as a universal sound module (USM).

It's a nothing more than a vst package of general midi sounds.

If you think I'm confused, then please clarify.

I stand by my suggestion though...have you tried that?

Take the midi OUT of the keyboard and plug it into the midi IN of the mpc (the opposite of what you had).

now, your keyboard will play your pads.

i'm also confident this has nothing to do with 'sync' in terms of midi sync.

Also I'd like to import the sounds from the keyboard without impairing the quality (i.e: without using direct record and sampling). Is this possible via MIDI ?

It's possible 'via midi' if you use the mpc to control the keyboard (like you've already done), but you don't 'import sounds' from a keyboard like that and with an mpc using midi. midi is not sound...it is simply control. in truth, you can actually transfer sounds via midi on some older samplers, but usually only with a computer or from sampler to sampler, and it is the exact same thing as sampling. it's also REALLY slow.

you guys are awesome. thank you for your interest and contributions.

dabmeister: that's an interesting point - I'm going to look into it further, but so far after trying all (I assume) the obvious soultions, nothing has worked (for either device).

I bought a cakewalk midi interface (mainly so I could control my GT8 from my laptop) but as a bonus I thought I could hook up my keyboard to cubase. It did not get recognised in the search for devices and I reached a dead end after reading on the Casio site that there is no Win7 support for the CTK-671, after reading the same on the Digidesign site about the mbox2. But the GT8 works absolutely awesome

nogginj: For the arrangement of the MIDI cables you suggested as an alternative, an arrangement that to my understanding, can run concurrently. Unless you meant that I should only plug in one cable at a time? (which I will try). Thanks for the info re: importing sounds - I will drop that option now - was just a lazy option to quickly get some tolerable sounds in that are completely noise free.

Apologies if my question/points are total dumbassery - I've been using linear multi-track recording and live drummers for years and have totally ignored MIDI until I got an MPC last month. I'm taking a step back from actual music making with a view to making my projects more efficient and flexible in the future. Thanks for all your help.

Off topic, if anybody happens to know if it's a really bad idea to plug a bass guitar with an active pick-up directly in to an mpc for recording, now would be a good time to tell me