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Topic: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX (Read 4954 times) previous topic - next topic

MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

I cannot get any sound via the keyboard (Korg SP500) on any other channel that channel 1. As by default, the treble staff gets assigned channel 1 and the bass staff channel 2, only channel 1 plays. If I change the bass staf to channel 1 (they're both piano by default) the piece plays correctly. I contacted Rolland by email, was told to call their support which I did and was told that UM-1EX is a simple passing inteface and the problem is with the software.
Is there anything I might have missed in the configuration?

Another a, probably dumb question, velocity of the piece played is much higher than the velocity of the keyboard when I play. Is there some kind of a global setting to adjust that?

Andre

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #1 –
G'day Andre,
I'm pretty sure the limitation is related to the Korg... And any other MIDI instrument for that matter.

A chain of MIDI devices exists when the MIDI out of one device is connected to the MIDI in of the next and so on, provided they each have the capability to provide MIDI pass through.  Sometimes you'll have a pass through connector as well.

In this way you can have up to 16 devices under the control of a single MIDI controller of some kind.  Normally each device/instrument will be on its own channel but this is not an absolute necessity.  The different channels allow you to control each device/instrument individually.

While I haven't played around with it much, I would expect a reasonable MIDI keyboard to accept multi channel input and reproduce it correctly but I'm sure you would need to configure the device first.  This could not be a default or you would have every instrument in your MIDI chain playing every channel...  Not what you would normally want I don't think.

If you look at the Korg's (shock, horror <bg>) instruction manual you might find how to make it respond correctly to multi channel input.

Velocity is an entirely different question.  In NWC, the easiest way to control velocity is to simply place dynamics - Unless you override it, a dynamic marking like "p" will have a velocity of "45" out of a range of 1 to 127 (0 seems to have no effect - may be synth specific)

The UM-1ex is simply a USB to MIDI interface - it does no processing of the MIDI stream itself other than to change the transmission media - I.E. from USB cable and electrical characteristics to standard MIDI cables and electrical characteristics.
I plays 'Bones, crumpets, coronets, floosgals, youfonymums 'n tubies.

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #2 –
Thanks Lawrie, I appreciate it and will follow up with Korg if the "manual" doesn't get me anywhere.

For the velocity question, will other dynamics placed in the score itself be ralative to the dynamic I placed at the beginning? That means, If I put "p" at the beginning and there is a "p" in the score later on will that be softer to my "p" being a new base?

Andre

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #3 –
Quote from: ASocha –
will other dynamics placed in the score itself be ralative[sic] to the dynamic I placed at the beginning?
No. The first dynamic is not given special treatment.
Registered user since 1996

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #4 –
Quote from: ASocha –
Thanks Lawrie, I appreciate it and will follow up with Korg if the "manual" doesn't get me anywhere.

No worries Andre - hope you get the answer you want.

Quote
For the velocity question, will other dynamics placed in the score itself be ralative to the dynamic I placed at the beginning? That means, If I put "p" at the beginning and there is a "p" in the score later on will that be softer to my "p" being a new base?

As Rick suggested, each dynamic marking is absolute, not relative.  To put it another way, when you play a peice of music on whatever instrument you favour, when you get to a dynamic you change how you're playing to suit.  When you get to the next dynamic, you change to suit that requirement - regardless to the previous dynamic.

So, you're playing a piece at p and come to a ff marking - you immediately play louder, then you come to another p so you go back to the same level you were playing before the ff.  If you then come to another p without an intervening dynamic, then you don't change nuthin' 'cos you're already at p.
I plays 'Bones, crumpets, coronets, floosgals, youfonymums 'n tubies.

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #5 –
Thanks again Lawrie.
That's what I was afraid of and tried to find a "global" setting. Right now, if the piece already has dynamic markings, it needs to be redone so everything, the whole piece wouldn't play that loud but retaining the inteded changes of dynamics.
Perhaps, there is a setting that can be change on Korg side to vary MIDI in and out velocity. I'll try follow up with them.
Andre

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #6 –
G'day Andre,
is velocity your real problem or volume?  They are quite different things when talking MIDI.

You can alter the volume of each staff without needing to alter the dynamics.  Simply <Alt-Enter> on the staff, Midi (Tab) "Part Volume".  The range is 0 to 127 with 127 as the default.  Try dropping it to, say, 90 and see what happens.

I plays 'Bones, crumpets, coronets, floosgals, youfonymums 'n tubies.

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #7 –
Many thanks Lawrie. As you have probably guessed, I'm quite new to the MIDI side of music. When I asked Rolland'd support this is what they said, you needs to adjust the velocity. But, you are right my real problem is that when Noteworthy plays, it plays very loud on my Korg comparing to me playing. So if, for instance I want to play along, it doesn't work. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again.
 

Re: MIDI Channels with Edirol UM-1EX

Reply #8 –
No worries Andre, glad to have been able to assist.
I plays 'Bones, crumpets, coronets, floosgals, youfonymums 'n tubies.