MPCKey 61 won't play with Omnisphere

Hi and admit I am a newbie here, having only recently got an MPCKey 61 (Firmware 2.11.3).

I am in controller mode on the MPC Key, using a Mac Powerbook and USB 2.0 to try and play Omnisphere in standalone mode, but failing.

Bizarrely (but maybe not), I can play Omnisphere if I open it via Logic Pro or if I play it through Pluginguru's Unify.

Omnisphere in standalone mode can "see" the MPC Key 61 in the Omnisphere settings menu.

I can trigger sound in Omnisphere standalone mode using a mouse, but just can't get the MPC Key to play it. When not in controller mode, I can see that the midi prefs on the MPC Key are set to midi channel 1. Apple's midi monitor shows that the MPC Key is triggering midi events just fine.

I am obviously struggling with something basic here. There is no obvious way to change or check midi channel in Omnisphere for normal patch sounds. My other keyboards (Arturia, Yamaha, Korg) all plug and play just perfectly and can play Omnisphere with no drama.

Any clues or pointers folks? Many thanks in advance .

Hod

Update

OK, this is doing my head in

I can now get the MPC Key to play Omnisphere in standalone mode but ONLY if I go into "Stack" mode in Omnisphere and manually change the midi channel to channel 16. Eh? A very bizarre and tedious workaround.

Why might my MPC Key apparently be broadcasting on midi channel 16? I cannot check it on the MPC Key without going back into non-controller mode and when I do, it seems to say that I am on midi channel 1.

Again, any clues or pointers most welcome! Thanks.

Could you explain the set up in more detail? Are you controlling Omnisphere via a MIDI track in a sequence, i.e. effectively using your computer as an external synth, with the computer connected via MIDI cables, or are you just using the MPC Key as a generic MIDI controller for your computer? And have you tried this using controller mode instead? Omnisphere should just open up as an instrument plugin in the MPC Software so can be assigned directly to a plugin track.

Apologies. Generic midi controller.

1. All I am doing is controlling Omnisphere in standalone mode. So the MPC Key is in controller mode, connected with a USB (2.0) cable to my Macbook. I open Omnisphere and play it from my MPC Key. I have not opened the MPC2 Software on my Macbook (although entirely separately, that works fine).

2. I noticed the same behaviour using the Korg Triton extreme standalone vst - I can only play it from the MPC Key when I switch the midi channel on the Triton software to channel 16. Clearly the MPC key seems to be transmitting on channel 16 and I have no obvious way of checking or changing that, except by going back into normal (non-controller) mode, when it then shows as midi channel 1. Thank you.

I don't have an MPC key so can't check this, but perhaps you need to hit the 'keyboard control' button on the MPC Key to check the settings there. Not sure if they relate to the MPC Key being in standalone or controller mode, but be aware that in an MPC, 'controller mode' refers to the MPC Key specifically 'controlling' the MPC Software, not other applications.

When in controller mode the MPC Key will however be seen by your computer as a generic MIDI controller (and audio interface), but you'll not be able to configure anything like you would a 'normal' MIDI Controller. The keys should work, but I'm not sure about being able to edit MIDI channels etc.

Personally I would just open the Omnipshere VST in the MPC Software and assign it to a plugin track, this way you'll be using the MPC Key in an MPC environment, have access to all features, and will be able to build and sequence an MPC project at the same time.

Thank you. I will check out those pointers!