Dawless midi routing advice

Elektron Gear Octatrack
1

Hi!

First post!

I have:
Octatrack mkll, Nord drum 3p, Faderfox EC4 and midisport 2x2.

I want to use Faderfox to midi cc control the Octatrack AND Nord.
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I want to send midi from Octatrack to control Nord (and return Octatrack midi cc info to Faderfox).

(I also have a Mac Studio and ableton if it helps, but would much prefer a dawless setup).

I have searched this forum and YouTube but I can’t find an explanation I understand.

All the best!

2

i would make a research how to:
asigne Faderfox midi cc to Otmkll, and how to MIDI THRU so part goes to Nord drum.
(cc values you can find in BIG Otmkll manual (mention it just in case))
what i dont understand is why you need cc return to faderfox???
( and to my understanding you dont need any outer midi device to do this)

3

Thanks for your reply!
I know how to connect the Faderfox and OT and it’s a wonderful partnership as the Faderfox has a very easy midi learn function.

What I don’t understand is how to “expand” the midi (din) network; I want to play/trig the Nord and “shape” both the OT and Nord with Faderfox.

4

Hello and Welcome.

If i am not mistaken, it should be possible to just plug the Faderfox into Octatrack and then set up a midi track which corresponds to Nord Drums midi channel. Octatrack should send all the data from Faderfox to Nord Drum via that Midi track.

Edit: you have to split up the midi out from Octatrack if you want to send data back to faderfox as well. so a midi splitter would be advisable, something like this:

MIDI Solutions Quadra Thru | djservice.se

Im pretty certain ive done this before.
Give it a go and see if it works, if it doesn´t we´ll put our thinking cap on or ask the grandmaster @sezare56

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5

This should work as splitter.

Another solution would have been a soft thru option on the Nord Drum 3p but it doesn’t seem to have one.

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6

Welcome to the forum!

As far as I can see, you can do what you want without even needing to use the MIDISPORT 2x2 because the EC4 can route data from its MIDI In port to its MIDI Out.

Connect:

  • EC4 Out to OT2 MIDI In
  • OT2 MIDI Out to EC4 MIDI In
  • OT2 MIDI Thru to ND3P MIDI In

In the EC4, route MIDI In to MIDI Out.

The OT2 will send MIDI data to both the EC4 and the ND3P.
The EC4 will send MIDI data to both the OT and the ND3P.

You will need to set the channel numbers for each device carefully.

You might find that @sezare56 's solution (use MIDISPORT 2x2 as splitter) is simpler to use.

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7

Wow! Thank you!

I’ll try all suggestions after the weekend.

8

YES! I have a semi-working solution!

“You will need to set the channel numbers for each device carefully” Well indeed…!
It also helps if all midi cables are fully functioning, one cable was not working properly and made my troubleshooting very chaotic.

So. Using the Midisport 2x2 in “Merge” mode:

  • EC4 Out to OT2 MIDI In
  • OT2 MIDI Out to MIDISPORT In A
  • MIDISPORT Out A to ND3P In
  • MIDISPORT Out B to EC4

I use the dedicated midi cc controls in OT and map them with the correct cc’s (from the ND3P manual) then I use midi learn in the EC4 nudging the rotarys in OT and voila! -I can control the ND3P with EC4 and the Ot and the OT also send its midi notes to the ND3P.

I tried to use the EC4 midi in + midi out internally, but because my routing skills are rudimentary it messed up EVERYTHING…I will try again later.

Anyway, the Faderfox EC4 is absolutely fantastic.

Thanks again!

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