Controlling Octatrack with Livid instruments OHM RGB

Ritec · 2015-03-14T20:43:15.000Z

I thought I had a master plan regarding my live setup. The idea was to buy an OHM RGB and use it through the MPC 2500 to control THE MPC itself, the Octatrack (via mpc midi out) and the Analog 4 (via mpc midi out) all from one central midi controller with lots of knobs and buttons The OHM RGB.

However last night I read on the other octatrack controllers thread (can’t find it now) that the OHM RGB was useless for controlling the Octa?

Can someone elaborate on the limitations of the Livid Instruments midi controllers for controlling the Octa?

It would be awesome if I could launch patterns from the OHM RGB clip buttons for the MPC, the OCTA and the A4… that would be sick. is there no work around for this?

zeropoint · 2015-03-15T23:07:52.000Z

I’m not sure about any other shortcomings as far as the OT is concerned but for example…each bank of controls is hardwired to a single midi channel (same on the CTRL-R)… so the faders cannot be patched individually to separate midi channels which is a requirement for the OT.

There is a workaround using a max patch - softmap, but that means routing via a computer…but then you have to route it via a computer anyway as the Ohm RGB needs to be connected via usb to a host running midi software in order for midi to be output via it’s MIDI Din jacks.

From the Livid Wiki:

"For MIDI Connectivity
Using a standard five-pin MIDI cable, connect the OhmRGB MIDI in and out to the MIDI in and out of your sound-card or other MIDI interface. The OhmRGB must be plugged into a USB host and have MIDI software running (even if it’s something basic like MIDI Monitor (http://www.snoize.com) or MIDI OX ([url=“http://www.midiox.com”]http://www.midiox.com) running. This is a by-product of USB-powered class-compliant devices with no external power source. However, once you have the OhmRGB connected to a computer and some simple MIDI application running, you can send the Ohm’s MIDI out the MIDI output jack. "

So…as a standalone controller for the OT it’s a non starter.

Things might be different with the Livid Elements using Livid Brain…I don’t know…I saw recently someone on the board is building one of these for the OT so I guess he will chime in…

miketheman · 2015-03-16T08:11:39.000Z

Just a thought. And I realize that it isn´t the most comfortable setup because of the two more peripheral units (albeit small ones). But wouldn´t it be possible to use these below?

USB-host, i e:
http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/utilities/usb-host.shtml

and a ‘MIDI-converter’, i e:
http://www.midisolutions.com/prodepp.htm

I guess it depends a bit on if the Ohm RGB draws to much current. I couldn´t find any info of the iConnect units regarding their max current, but they might be an alternative.

Anyway, the USB-host taking care of the need being connect to a computer. And the event processor plus taking care of handling the shortcomings of the Ohm RGB of its MIDI-communication.