Data Mining: Hardware Midi Users Please Read.

Firstly, Thank you for playing.

This forum doesn't support polls AFAIK so here is a poor man's poll.

Question: Do use midi channels 12 through 16?  Per hardware device.
Control Surface, Synth or otherwise.

Choices:

1. Never or not right now.
2. Always and I'll never change.
3. I do but would rearrange my ways for the right hardware.


Just reply with one of the 3 number (please select only one).
This is for the purposes of software development decisions.

Thanks.
:Ron

Is that per synth or per project?

aleef


#1 for me.. i dont use a hardware workstation, synths, or drum machines anymore.. but if you are talking about software too, then my answer is #2..

Thanks. I don't understand how software uses a midi channel.
Enighten me?

#2

I haven't needed 16 MIDI channels for outboard hardware in a long time, because over the years software has gradually taken on more and more of the duties.

There was a time when I used 100% hardware, and not only used all 16 channels but even rolled over to the second port for another 16. These days it's about a 60-40 split, with software handling the larger portion of the load, and I rarely use more than 4 MIDI channels at a time for hardware devices.

For many projects, I only need 1 MIDI channel because I'll assign each part to a soft synth during composing and arrangement, and then render each hardware synth part to audio separately before mixing.

So #2.

#2

I guess I'm a

#2

But it's hard to say as I sometimes use particular numbers for 'other' reasons...

For example... I have my K2500RS set to use channel 12 as it's master for controlling scens and such (fx used within the synth)...

Keni

thegeek


I dont have any hardware synths but i do use control surfaces. They always work on Midi Channel 1 with the exception of my BCR2000 which I have set up with AJ's control surface plug in which works as I recall on Midi Channel 16. I suspect however that this poll refers to a substitution o fthat plug in so I would happily drop that plug in and use a newer and better one. So I guess Im ....

#3

Ding ding ding!

;-)

#2

#4  I do, but have additional ports available if needed for something that wants 12-16.

I guess #3 would come closest.

#1

I sometimes use channels 12-16, it depends whether I use my multitimbral synths in multi mode and if so how many channels I need for each of them + other gear at the time.

If I do decide to use software synths in a project I tend to use the higher numbered channels for them simply to avoid having to re-configure the hardware gear.

So none of 1,2 or 3 seem to apply to me.

I'm curious - why would you decide not to support all 16 MIDI channels?

#1

The thread is a little confusing, because some people are talking about MIDI channels, and some people are talking about multiple MIDI ports, each with their set of 16 channels.

I think a lot of people are like me, keeping my keyboard set to channel One, but assigning tracks to different channels in order to address different instruments in a multi-timbral synth.

But to answer the question, as I understand it, #2 - I sometimes use my hardware synths, and in all cases, whether I'm using just software or also hardware, my projects often use all 16 MIDI channels.

RB

I don't get the question.

Is there some reason not to use those particular channels?

I've always just used whichever channel struck my fancy at the moment (reserving 10 for drums and perc).

A K2000 has been my go-to for years, but as others have noted, software is taking over. At the very least, it relieves me of the need to record each MIDI track to audio before rendering the project.