New MIDI day!

[Rosie C]

I've decided to get back into MIDI. In the 90s I used it a fair bit with player pianos, but not since. Our band varies in size from 2-4, and when there's just two of us I end up playing intros on descant recorder, then switching to mandolin. I'm hoping to set up something with MIDI where I can have my iPad play the intro through MIDI.

 

The first arrivals came today...

 

Roland SPD-6 drum pad. We used one of these last summer - a recording session in a narrowboat, and heading towards 'vintage' now, so I've been looking for a good example. I like the instrument sounds, and as a bonus, it's compatible with the Boss FS-6 pedal I already had, adding high-hat and kick. 

 

 

Behringer UMC204HD to add a 2 channel interface and MIDI ports to my Mac. Early days but it all seems to work as expected.

 

Ah, this takes me back!

Edited March 21 by Rosie C

[bass_dinger]

14 hours ago, Rosie C said:

Behringer UMC204HD to add a 2 channel interface and MIDI ports to my Mac.

I had my eye on the Umc404hd (same basic specification, but four rather than two input channels, £2 more expensive - and out of stock everywhere). 

 

I would be interested to know how you are finding the 204, especially as a midi interface. 

Edited March 22 by bass_dinger
Number of channels now included

[Rosie C]

9 minutes ago, bass_dinger said:

I had my eye on the Umc404hd (same basic specification, but rather than two input channels, £2 more expensive - and out of stock everywhere). 

 

I would be interested to know how you are finding the 204, especially as a midi interface. 

 

I would have got the 404, but I couldn't find it both at a good price and in stock. The 2 input will do me.

 

I'll let you know how the MIDI goes - so far it's been very good, no problems, just plug & play as they used to say. Earlier today I had the SPD-6 plugged into my Mac via the UMC204, and was playing drums with my Mac acting as drum synth. Currently I have the UMC204 connected via twin MIDI DIN cables to a CME U4MIDI on my iPad and MIDI files are happily playing from one to the other   

[Rosie C]

My keyboard controller arrived. The keyboard is lovely, although only 2 octaves it has proper full size weighted keys. I've managed to find a copy of the user manual, and there's much reading to do.

 

 

The last bit of the jigsaw is a synth. I was going for a new one from a smaller company, but I've found them quite unhelpful. Instead I'm thinking of staying 'vintage' with a rack-mounted Roland XV-3080. But I'll have to do some research first...

 

 

[Rosie C]

I had the spanners out today - a £10 Roland bracket off ebay, the bottom half of a spare cymbal stand, and a 22mm tom arm and ... ta da!

 

   

 

Edited March 27 by Rosie C

[Rosie C]

The final bit of the jigsaw... a Roland XV-3080 synth, with a pair of expansion cards for more woodwind options

 

 

 

 

[Woodinblack]

Sounds fun - I had the axiom 25, no tell a lie, I have an axiom 61, and a midi-air 25!). I wanted one of those pad things, although haven't got round to getting one. live I use the akia sample player with 16 pads on it, and I have a 12 step keyboard, most things covered. Currently I am using the synth in the Mod Dwarf as it is there anyway, although I got a micromonsta II for synth duties (I used to user the iPad)

[Rosie C]

I nearly got the air 25, but I liked the look of the Axiom 25. It sits on my desk hooked up to my desk top computer. It's great for entering notes/data but I can see I would need the 49 or 61 to perform live. 

 

I have a pile of manuals to read now! 

 

[Woodinblack]

The only feature the air has is the wireless keyboard, which works pretty well, and an aditional midi interface (as well as USB) so you don't need a separate Midi interface (not an issue for you as you got the Behringinger, which I also have, but only for the Audio ins).

A 25 key keyboard still has its use live, for lead lines, and the fact that you can fit it anywhere

[Rosie C]

A month on, I've rack-mounted the XV-3080, and hooked it up to a CME "U4MIDI WC" MIDI router so I can drive the synth from two MIDI devices and my iPad simultaneously.