Hardware set-up/midi advice

Hi I've just got a Korg MS2000 rack synth. My keyboard controller is a Korg SP-250 Digital Piano. My Soundcard/midi interface is a NI Audio Kontrol.

I would like to be able to play the MS2000R via the SP250 and also be able let Project 5 v2.51 play my MS2000R too.

The MS2000 has midi though port.

What's the best way to set up the midi connections?

Thanks
Phil

I've just got a Korg MS2000 rack synth.

Nice piece of kit. Congratulations.

I would like to be able to play the MS2000R via the SP250 and also be able let Project 5 v2.51 play my MS2000R too.

I think that we're into MIDI splitter/merger territory here, or a two-port MIDI interface. You're looking to share the same MIDI In jack (MS2000R) with two separate 'devices' (P5 External MIDI Out, and the SP250 MIDI Out).

My Soundcard/midi interface is a NI Audio Kontrol.

I need to know how the Kontrol 'presents itself' within Project5's MIDI Devices dialog. Does it appear as two distinct ports ("USB Device", and "Kontrol MIDI In/Out", for example)? Or is whatever comes through the physical MIDI In jack (NI Audio Kontrol) funneled through to a single USB Device selection?

What's the best way to set up the midi connections?

As it stands right now, (without knowing exactly how the ports work in the NI):

Korg SP-250 Digital Piano MIDI Out -> Korg MS2000 MIDI In.
Korg MS2000 MIDI Out -> NI Audio Kontrol MIDI In.
NI Audio Kontrol MIDI Out -> Korg SP-250 Digital Piano MIDI In.

That will allow you to play the SP-250 alone, or the SP-250 through the Korg MS2000 standalone.
It'll also provide input to Project5 from keyboard/rack combination, or use of the Korg MS2000 as a control surface.
You'll be able to playback from P5 to the SP-250. I'm not sure if there's a 'Soft-Thru' option from the SP-250 MIDI Out to the MS2000.

In this setup, a MIDI Thru connection (MS2000) to a second MIDI In port would allow a choice between SP-250 only, MS2000 only, or both, from Project5's point-of-view. A second MIDI Out (the other half of that same 2nd port) would give you the option of sending data from Project5 to keyboard, rack module, or both; routed from within the application.

All of these routings will depend heavily on your Global settings in the MS2000R. Look into Position, Local, Clock, etc. starting on page 53 of the manual. You could start at the MS2000R, and split the MIDI Thru to the keyboard, but you'll lose some options that way. You'll be pushing the same problem to another point in the routing.

Edit: Ins & outs.