driving multiple midi software synths (on multiple synth tracks) from one track's clips

Welcome Tezza, 

I think you can do this.... if not one way, certainly another.  In the midi source track (with the notes in it)... I would have to see if it is possible to assign the source to multiple synths.....


BUT... this would work>>>>  simply clone the source track. This makes a duplicate of the original.... clone it or copy and paste to a new track as many times as you wish.... and then simply insert a new synth for each clone/copy setting up the routing for each synth. This<i think would be the preferred way since if any changes are made to the source for a given synth, it would not affect the others. 


cloning will copy the original synth if you're not paying attention to the clone settings. 

I'll try to give you a direct link to the drum map tutorial when I get home (I can't get to my own website from work!)

Tezza1971


 Basically I want to create layers of instruments all playing the same notes.  

This is the clincher. Ordinarily, we would not want to do this, but occasionally, we might.
There is a way, and the cloning idea was very close.

First, lets take a quick look at some of the stuff that isn't working for you.
"Enable MIDI Output" is a special scenario, and most synths do not support it.
The only time I've really seen it in use was a VSt that created patterns from notes in the track, and spit those patterns out to a synth on another track.
The drum map can send individual notes to different synths, but it cannot send all notes to multiple synths.

Back to the original question.
Clearly, you cannot send the output of one MIDI track to several synths.
Copy/Paste will do what you want, but you MUST click one very important option:

Link to Original Clip(s).


Select and copy the clip in your original MIDI track. Nothing special yet.
The key is in the Paste menu.
I don't have MC6, so I'm not sure which of two variations you will see.

Now, Paste the clip into another MIDI track.
You may see only Paste, or you may also see Paste Special.
If you see Paste Special, the linking option will be there.
Otherwise, it will be under Paste.
In either case, be sure the Link option is checked.

When the clips are linked, they will have a dashed border.
If you edit notes in any linked clip, the change will be reflected in all of the linked clips. 
You will still need a separate MIDI track for each synth, but this approach will allow you to simultaneously make the same edit to all of them.
Give this a try. I think you'll like it.

Note: When learning a new procedure, I highly recommend lots of "Save As" at critical steps. It makes it easy to go back if you get tangled up.

I'm guessing cake did not make that function work because as Robert mentioned, it's something that people rarely do.  I can't think of one single time I have used that method. 

I clone tracks on rare occasions but it's not normally to do what you are doing. I sometimes clone audio vocal tracks to work on them in melodyne .... in case I screw up royally, I still have the original to fall back on. I delete the original tracks when I finish and am satisfied. 

I believe a simple instrument track is just what it says. Instead of having one midi and one audio track linked with the synth, you only see the midi track and the audio track is essentially hidden.... you rarely ever do anything with the audio track anyway, so that is a way to "declutter" the screen. Being "old school" I still like to see both tracks of a synth.... so I don't use the simple instrument tracks very often.

You can also hide and unhide tracks. Both in console and track view. 

I general don't hide tracks, I will make them as small as I can if I don't need them, but I always do want to see them.  Out of sight, out of mind and I don't want to forget a track. Besides, nothing is as irritating as working on a mix and hearing something but not "seeing" where it's coming from. 

I will only hide a track if it's muted and I don't think I will need it in the mix..... just temporary until I finish the project mix, then I unhide it and delete it from the project. 

Always remember..... "delete" isn't always permanent.... it just seems that way.