Hardware Hookup Question

Sup hardware WATMMers

I'm trying to hook up a hardware-only recording setup based around my MMT8 sequencer. All is hunky-dory between the MMT8 and the knobbox and synths downstream.

However, UP stream from the MMT8 I have a bit of a challenge. I want to hook in a controller keyboard to play notes on the synths, obbviously, so that needs to hit the MIDI in of the MMT8.

BUT, I also want a TR707 acting as sync master to a TR606 in there. I understand that the 707 will only output dinsync if it is the clock master of the whole shebang - that means I have to slave the MMT8 to it. So THAT also needs to hit the MIDI in of the MMT8.

Problem - the 707 only has In and Out, no Thru, and the controller kbd only has Out. I can't daisy-chain them into the MMT8!

Is there a way to make the 707's Out act as a Thru (and still transmit clock)? Do I need to re-think my whole setup?

Here is a sophisticated illustration of my problem:

Can you can a MIDI combiner box to combine the output of the knob box and the controller keybard before sending on to the synths or is there something that it needs to send to the MMT8 as well?

  ten fingers ten toes said:

Can you can a MIDI combiner box to combine the output of the knob box and the controller keybard before sending on to the synths or is there something that it needs to send to the MMT8 as well?

Thanks for not telling me to get a Nord.

The knob box is not related in any way to my problem. If I wanted to record knob twiddles I would put it before the MMT8, but I'm not really intersted in doing that, so it's after. Could leave it out completely and still have the exact same issue. It only has one MIDI in, so I cant use it as a merge box.

Right, I meant buying a simple 2 IN 1 OUT MIDI Merge box to merge the output of the knob box + midi keyboard, or really merge the MIDI anywhere the MIDI from the Keyboard

Do you mean merge the 707 and the controller keyboard?

Cos like I said, the knob box is downstream from the problem area.

A merge box is certainly one answer, but I would like to hear what others do before I shell out. I know CMA has a MIDI polysynth, plus a 707, plus a 606, so I'm wondering how he deals with this issue.

I meant merge the controller keyboard downstream of the MMT8 but now Im wondering if I'm just tired and you're needing the keyboard to put notes into the MMT8 and not just send notes to the Synths.

  ten fingers ten toes said:

I meant merge the controller keyboard downstream of the MMT8 but now Im wondering if I'm just tired and you're needing the keyboard to put notes into the MMT8 and not just send notes to the Synths.

LOL yes thats the one. Sequencer can't do shit without notes. Espc if something else is the master clock.

I keep forgetting that people use keyboards to enter notes into sequencers.

midi y cable

maybe

  chunky said:

midi y cable

 

maybe

U FAIL AT N00B

Where is Dr Dinsync, or Fah, or whatever his name is now. He has an MMT8, 707, and 606 in his setup, he could tell you how he does it.

Midi thru box - similar to a merger or patchbay, but just ads another through to daisychain for gear that doesn't have midi thru.

I hooked it like this:

SYNC == Dinsync of course..

I'll explain in words what will happen when i press the play button on the MMT8;

The MIDI OUT will send out it's messages to the MS-60, that is configured as noted above, which will OUT/THRU to other synths. But the MS-60 also converts the signals to SYNC on both outputs (as well as a start/stop jack output, but i never use it). One output will tell the TR606 to start, and the other output tells the MC202 to start playing it's sequence. One of the two MC202 SYNC outputs goes into the TR707's SYNC input, and all is well and running.

I think I've also tried hooking all synths up in a loop so that whatever synth I'm playing will send it's played notes and turned knobs to the MIDI IN of the MMT8, but that doesn't seem to work. Only the last synth in the loop, that went from it's THRU to the MMT8's IN, acted as the motherload-of-note.

Now, i can't really think of a reason why you'd want the TR707 to master the whole didlydoo if you've got the greatest MIDI master of all time on your hands, the MMT8 itself... unless the play button on the MMT8 is missing... You can also configure the MS-60 to take SYNC as the master clock (so that the whole shebang will play when you press pattern play on the 606 or 707) and then convert it to MIDI and send it through the OUT/THRU. But then you'll be back at the beginning i guess, since you only have two SYNC plugs which will be in use by then. I'd try finding a converter like the MS-60, i believe they're still sold on eBay, or the new versions of these things in some online shop. I think the developer is called "Dtronics".

Funny though, i have the same kind of problems with a TR505 that i can't join in anywhere since that only has a MIDI IN and OUT and nothing else :)

Awesome, thanks man!

OK, I definitely need a hardware box, then. I hadn't thought about a MIDI-sync box with Thru tho, so that's definitely on the list.

I wonder what CMA does - I know he has a sync Y-lead to feed his 606 and 303 sync from the 707, but I don't know how that all fits in to his MIDI synths and sequencer. Actually, he has a 101 as well, so maybe there is some mother of all converter boxes in there as well...

Are you really that cut up about the 505 tho?

lol, you guys have it easy :D

  analogue wings said:

Are you really that cut up about the 505 tho?

KNOW THY FUNQ !

  analogue wings said:

Awesome, thanks man!

 

OK, I definitely need a hardware box, then. I hadn't thought about a MIDI-sync box with Thru tho, so that's definitely on the list.

 

I wonder what CMA does - I know he has a sync Y-lead to feed his 606 and 303 sync from the 707, but I don't know how that all fits in to his MIDI synths and sequencer. Actually, he has a 101 as well, so maybe there is some mother of all converter boxes in there as well...

Thought of this; in case of more Dinsync gear, you might want to buy more converters they're not that expensive

midi patchbay

ive got a midisport 8x8 and its decent

has a standalone mode with 8 presets, any/all ins to any/all outs

they do a 2x2 or a 2x4 (i got a 2x4 also)

plug 707 midi out into input 1

plug controller into midi input 2

plug midi out1 into mmt8

tell patchbay to route in1 and in2 to out 1 ..boingo!

what kind of midi info does the mmt8 record? will it record the knobbox?

if it does plug that into the patchbay and route that to the mmt8 to record yer tweaks and just take the mmt8 directly to the synths

if the synths send midi control manipulations outs, send them to the patchbay and use that to record the tweaks for that shit too

the jomox will send out a snapshot of its settings so you can record that into your tracks too.... fuckin wipeout!

although youll probably have to switch off midi shit on yer synths to avoid midi feedback wierdness

......just had a look at the mmt8, looks well sweet, i reckon you should get a 8x8 patchbay for mega expandability

  volg4 said:

midi patchbay

 

ive got a midisport 8x8 and its decent

has a standalone mode with 8 presets, any/all ins to any/all outs

 

they do a 2x2 or a 2x4 (i got a 2x4 also)

 

plug 707 midi out into input 1

plug controller into midi input 2

 

plug midi out1 into mmt8

 

tell patchbay to route in1 and in2 to out 1 ..boingo!

 

what kind of midi info does the mmt8 record? will it record the knobbox?

if it does plug that into the patchbay and route that to the mmt8 to record yer tweaks and just take the mmt8 directly to the synths

 

if the synths send midi control manipulations outs, send them to the patchbay and use that to record the tweaks for that shit too

the jomox will send out a snapshot of its settings so you can record that into your tracks too.... fuckin wipeout!

 

although youll probably have to switch off midi shit on yer synths to avoid midi feedback wierdness

 

 

 

 

......just had a look at the mmt8, looks well sweet, i reckon you should get a 8x8 patchbay for mega expandability

as far as i know, you can record any knob or button or slider movement from MIDI going into the MMT8 sequencer. Even the main volume knob.

  Fahz0r said:

as far as i know, you can record any knob or button or slider movement from MIDI going into the MMT8 sequencer. Even the main volume knob.

Yeah it will record anything. I've used it to send patch changes before. Recording CC info will fill up its memory quicker, so you'll be more likely to get this:

:laughing:

Luckily, you can mod a MMT8 to have 16 banks of memory.

  analogue wings said:

  Fahz0r said:

as far as i know, you can record any knob or button or slider movement from MIDI going into the MMT8 sequencer. Even the main volume knob.

 

Yeah it will record anything. I've used it to send patch changes before. Recording CC info will fill up its memory quicker, so you'll be more likely to get this:

 

:laughing:

 

Luckily, you can mod a MMT8 to have 16 banks of memory.

haha ! is that message for real? :D

i once had a piece of software bail out on me with the message "hot diggety damn! You's outta RAM!"

  Fahz0r said:

  analogue wings said:

  Fahz0r said:

as far as i know, you can record any knob or button or slider movement from MIDI going into the MMT8 sequencer. Even the main volume knob.

 

Yeah it will record anything. I've used it to send patch changes before. Recording CC info will fill up its memory quicker, so you'll be more likely to get this:

 

:laughing:

 

Luckily, you can mod a MMT8 to have 16 banks of memory.

 

haha ! is that message for real? :D

 

i once had a piece of software bail out on me with the message "hot diggety damn! You's outta RAM!"

Just hook your MMT8 up to yr PC and start feeding it a complex MIDI file. You'll see that message in no time flat :)

  analogue wings said:

  Fahz0r said:

  analogue wings said:

  Fahz0r said:

as far as i know, you can record any knob or button or slider movement from MIDI going into the MMT8 sequencer. Even the main volume knob.

 

Yeah it will record anything. I've used it to send patch changes before. Recording CC info will fill up its memory quicker, so you'll be more likely to get this:

 

:laughing:

 

Luckily, you can mod a MMT8 to have 16 banks of memory.

 

haha ! is that message for real? :D

 

i once had a piece of software bail out on me with the message "hot diggety damn! You's outta RAM!"

 

Just hook your MMT8 up to yr PC and start feeding it a complex MIDI file. You'll see that message in no time flat :)

hahahaHAHAHA wicked !

im a bit late but i'll say anyway

i just use cables.

Looks like you are using the laptop('s external soundcard) as a MIDI merge.

What sound/midi card do you have?