Outboard midi mixer/interface recommendations

(Sorry if there is another post talking about this, the terms are so general, that when I search I get a huge range of unrelated topics)

 

Hi all, I recently i got a some new outboard midi gear, and I’ve got to do some routing. I’m never really done so much in the realm of outboard midi, usually just one device, attached to the computer.

 

I bought a DSI prophet Rev2, the module. I am controlling it with an old lovely Alesis keyboard, via midi DIN.

However, I want the computer to talk to the Prophet. and vice versa. With only one ‘midi in’ on the prophet, how do I get multiple streams of information (from the alesis and computer) into the prophet?

Someone has recommended an iConnectivity hardware, where you can route everything via software. But I think I read some sketchy reviews.

Just doing my homework here.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks so much to the outboard midi pros.

A

I think both (the Alesis and the DSI prophet Rev2) have USB connectors. Why not simply connect them directly to your computer via USB instead?

Thanks for the reply atlas. No, the alesis is an old, but wonderful, keyboard from the 90s. No USB.

The rev2 has USB, but when the USB is connected, as well as the din midi, the rev2 outputs a terrible digital-like noise. A streaming data-esque sound.

 

I should mention, as I didn’t mention in my first post, that I’m wondering if some combination of device, plus logic environment, is needed here. Or could help.

Thanks again.

Disconnect the MIDI Din from the rev2. You want to have only one MIDI connection from each device to your Mac. On the rev2 that's USB-MIDI. Then you need a MIDI Interface to connect the Alesis to your Mac. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, any interface will do, just not one of those cheap cables, a real box. A MIDI Interface is something that translates MIDI Din to MIDI USB. For example something like a midiface 4x4

 

Unless you need to do something truly special with your MIDI routing, you don't need any special device and you don't need to do anything in Logic's environment.

Thanks for your input david.

Yes, that setup works great.

The problem is then I am not able to control the rev2 when logic/Mac are not fired up.

 

I’m sorry I wasn’t clear in my initial post. my bad.

What I’m trying to achieve; a midi-din from alesis to rev2. So that it is a stand-alone instrument, whether or not the computer is on or not. then hoping that there is a way that when I turn on the computer, both the alesis (for au instruments) and the rev2 (for program manager software) are connected to the Mac.

 

I thought a loop with midi travelling

Alesis->rev2->Mac->alesis

might work, but it doesn’t.

Going to keep experimenting.

Thanks everyone.

The problem is a potential for a MIDI loop which would create infinite feedback. I would either play with Thru settings on the devices or physically disconnect the MIDI Din when turning the Mac on.

Or get a MIDI patcher, if you can afford it...