2500, Triton Rack, Max49 MIDI interconnect/sequencing

Hey everyone--

I run a UA Apollo Quad interface which unfortunately has no Midi capability. I multi-track my MPC into a soundcraft m12 mixer and then into the Apollo. I've done my best to describe what I want to do below---- (also I'm clueless on MMC/MTC/SMPTE differences and don't know which scheme I need to use here)...

Recently got a good deal on a Triton RACK which I intend to use as sound module for bass lines and chordal parts using the MPC as the MASTER (adding Midi tracks to sequences), with the Max49 acting as a secondary controller/MIDI-IN on the MPC (so I don't have to use pads to play/program melodic parts/bass lines, especially when controlling the Triton--)...

(I do not want to sample the Triton... I want the Triton sounds coming from those 6 outputs...)

Having recently purchased the Max49 and I'm worried I made a mistake as there are only USB and Midi IN/OUT. The button layout and menu system is not very intuitive either...

Anyone know If this is possible without an additional piece of gear like a Midi Express/similar. Also I've never used the MPC to control an external module before-- can someone give a simple run-down of the settings I need to change?

Here's the connections:

MPC2500: Midi IN x2 Midi OUT x4

Max 49: Midi IN/OUT (+ Midi IN/OUT over USB)

Triton Rack: Midi IN/OUT/THRU


Massive respect--

this is relatively easy, you need only two standard midi cables:

max 49 (which seems a bit of an overkill for what you want to do with it, but using the keys should work right out of the box) standard midi out -> mpc midi in

mpc midi out 1 (only for convenience the other out ports work the same, but you have to scroll more to get to the upper midi channels) -> triton midi in

then read your triton manual on how to set it to "multitimbral" and if you need to set anything to get the triton to use the next midi channel for each sound. but in multitimbral mode most of the modules start with channel 1 by default - the setting is just needed if you want to control more than one module over one midi channel using the midi thru, then you can set one module to recieve on ch 1-8 and the other on ch 9-16 for instance.

on the mpc select a track set "type" to "midi", set "pgm" to "off" or to "no. 1" (with that setting you can choose the sounds of your triton with the numbers, but you have to read some more on msb and lsb numbers for the triton to directly choose sounds in other banks or over midi number 128 - this is very helpful if you make complex compositions, as you can save this on the mpc and then recall many midi sounds without resetting them all again) and set "midi" to "1a".

now if you play a key on the max49 or a pad on the mpc there should be a sound coming out of the triton. notice that the pads on the mpc are not in chromatic order by default, because they resemble the gm drum settings, but you can always change this order in the mode -> pad 10 -> note page and save that as a program, so you don´t have to do this over and over again.

for midi sync just choose mode -> pad 10 -> sync and set "sync out" to "all master" and "mode" to "midi clock" for now. the mmc and mtc sync options are only needed for syncing to a daw or to ancient video equipment.

now try this and see if you can make a sequence with different sounds on the triton by just rising the midi number on each new track.
if all track play the same sound then check your settings on the triton once again.

have fun,

peace, jo

Thanks Selecta Jo for the great explanation. MASSIVE FORWARD. I agree the Max49 is overkill for this function-- got a great Craigslist deal on it and have some pre-midi stuff it should be fun to use with midi/cv... Will also be doing the occasional composing/controlling within Logic. Pretty silly that the "software" can't be used with Audio Units...

Now taking that setup you mentioned right there... Awhile ago I bought this iCONNECT MIO usb to midi/in/out. If I wanted to say, audition triton presets from a looped midi phrase in Logic, would I be able to do that while retaining the connections you just mentioned? I'm guessing Midi Out on the usb thing to Thru on the Triton?

Thanks again

no, i would connect the out from logic to the second in on the mpc and use the setup like described above if you just want to audition single presets at a time coming from a midi phrase in logic - you see there logic is just the same as if you press a key on the keyboard - midi data flows like water, always from an out to an in - a thru is just giving all the data which is coming thru a devices midi in unaltered out again.
this is why you have to make settings on the devices if you chain them, so the devices "know" on which messages they should react. another way of telling devices that a midi message is specifically for them is to send "midi exclusive" messages that have a header with device specific information in it so all other devces just ignore that message.
in the late 80ies and 90ies many keyboardists hat tons of keyboards and modules and it always was very compliated to get the messages to all devices with only a few midi ports and conections.
if you later want to send more tracks of midi from logic to the triton, then i would change the setup a little bit and connect the mpc out to logic with the iconnect and then midi out of logic to the triton. then you can control the triton from the mpc or from logic, but you have to have logic running all the time, because it acts as a hub for your midi messages from the mpc. one advantage of that setup is that you can record your sequences on the mpc and in logic in one pass without having to copy them over, but if the mpc is your main sequencer i would not do that. instead run a midi connection from mpc midi out 2 to logic midi in and now you can use logic as another multitimbral sondmodule with up to 16 more sounds. so only one sound of the triton if you control it from logic, but all 16 sound controlled from the mpc - use the first channel to preview the sounds and then the others in midi a to build the sequence.
think about it for a while if it sounds to complicated and envision the flow of messages.
you can also conect the max 49 over usb to logic and have midi going over the iconect to the mpc and the triton - it all depends on you favorite workflow and what is your main sequencer. sorry if this is a bit cluttered, but it is 5 in the morning at my place and i ned to go to bed now...

beware to not make a "midi loop" with any of the possible setups you can do with your available hardware, because that can lead to messages repeating over and over again!
the iconnect midi can be the central hub for all your devices but think in advance what you want to control from where - sometimes drawing a midi scheme on a piece of paper can help to better plan and understand.
also if you want to use the knobs and sliders on the max49 to control someting in logic just screw the akai software and use "midi learn" in logic for any parameter you want to control. or let logic scan for control surfaces and see if it detects the max49 when it is connected over usb. you can also use this usb to logic and the standart midi to the mpc at the same time. enough now - good night!

peace, jo