Digitakt, Ableton, MIDI

boblomu · 2023-06-25T20:32:35.411Z

Hi guys, long time lurker - thanks for solving 1,000 problems over the years

I have a very obvious question, which I can’t believe I can’t figure out…

I have a Digitakt which I often trigger external gear with (using MIDI tracks 9 & 10, set to two different pieces of outboard gear, specifically some Roland Boutique stuff).

I have the Digitakt plugged into my Mac, and I can use Overbridge etc perfectly fine on Ableton.

Anyway - I have a controller keyboard going into Ableton, and I’m hoping to ‘control’ those tracks 9 & 10 using this controller keyboard.

While I can successfully trigger Channels 1 - 8 of the Digitakt via Ableton, it doesn’t seem to work for Tracks 9 - 16 (i.e the midi tracks). Therefore, I can’t control the external synths this way…

Any thoughts or ideas on how I might get round this, or what daft things I might be missing to stop this working? It’d be massively helpful to fix this…

elxsound · 2023-06-25T21:18:00.535Z

I haven’t tried to do this before, and I no longer have Digitakt, but I do have Syntakt.

After changing a track to Midi (I’m using track 12) I can confirm it’s receiving Midi from the controller, via Overbridge on just track 12.

I have a separate Midi track, with Midi To, sent to Syntakt, and I’ve specified Track 12.

Do you have a similar drop down for tracks 9-16 after they’ve been enabled as Midi tracks? - Again, I can’t see as I no longer have Digitakt.

Screenshot 2023-06-25 at 5.15.54 PM772×1430 90 KB

elxsound · 2023-06-25T21:22:06.600Z

1 other setting I have enabled on Syntakt: Settings->Midi Config->Port Config->Input From: USB

hausland · 2023-06-25T21:49:43.557Z

what’s your midi channel configuration on the Digitakt? As in, which midi channels have you assigned to the audio tracks and midi tracks or are you using the auto channel?

boblomu · 2023-06-26T10:40:31.247Z

Thanks - yes, I have MIDI To set to digitakt. And I have 16 channels.

If I have it set to 1-8, I can ‘play’ the main samples. But if it’s set to 9-16 (i.e MIDI tracks), nothing happens.

Yet if I press, say, Track 9 on the Digitakt, it triggers the Synth as you’d expect. It’s definitely not Muted on the Digitakt for example.

boblomu · 2023-06-26T10:41:12.193Z

Yes, I was thinking this too. It’s set to MIDI + USB (but no MIDI cable is plugged in - only out), so should be okay… I’m thinking it’s probably some setting like this though

boblomu · 2023-06-26T10:43:17.363Z

This is where I wonder if I’m making a mistake.

I would’ve thought MIDI channel 9 on Ableton would correlate to Track 9 (‘MIDI A’) on the Digitakt. MIDI Channel 9 on the Digitakt, for example, is outputting on Midi Channel 1 to my JU-06A (as per SRC tab, I think it is).

Is there where I’m getting mixed up, and perhaps I need to switch something on the Digitakt for MIDI A (Channel 9) for it to register as Channel 9 on Ableton? Perhaps in a similar way that you need to press Func and click the dial to select the MIDI channel you are using on the digitakt for the outboard gear.

hausland · 2023-06-26T11:55:12.099Z

Yes you gotta set the midi channels for each track on the Digitakt. You do this in its settings - the midi channel you choose INSIDE the track is what it sends out but in the Digitakt’s settings you can select the channels by which each track is addressed. There’s also “Auto Channel” which you can set to address always the track in focus.

I’m at work right now, if you can’t sort this out by tonight let me know and I’ll send you some screenshots

boblomu · 2023-06-26T12:18:58.242Z

you nailed it (i’m embarassed to say). i think i’d looked at this briefly, but just assumed it would go sequentially…

i’ve been flicking back and forth between octa and digi, and my brain has fried.

thanks for the help! i was losing my mind yesterday… always something daft

WhatsApp Image 2023-06-26 at 13.17.061779×2048 265 KB

boblomu · 2023-06-26T14:16:09.453Z

one last connected question on using the digitakt’s MIDI sequencer (as i love it so much, but am only now getting to use it)…

if i have a device on my computer (i.e a vst synth or external piece of gear that’s just linked up to the computer) - is it possible to sequence that using the digitakt’s sequencer?

Tchu · 2023-06-26T14:17:30.192Z

boblomu:

is it possible to sequence that using the digitakt’s sequencer?

Yes. IIRC, you’ll have to enable MIDI Remote control in Live’s Preferences (Options).

davestasiuk · 2023-06-26T14:29:44.274Z

Yes, it should be straightforward. You just set the MIDI channel that the track you want to use on the DT should send to (not the menu you had to set for it to receive above, but in the track itself), and then configure your VST to receive the same MIDI channel, and you should be good to go.

With Ableton, it also should be easy to set your 8 assignable MIDI CC controllers from the DT. PLocking VST parameters is good fun!

boblomu · 2023-06-26T14:34:25.278Z

PLocking is the best thing about Digitakt… It’s an exciting thought!

And yes, I just got this working. I had followed all logical steps, but turning everything off/on again finally fixed it

Getting this all set up - I now think I’ll get over my silly DAWless thoughts… If I close my Mac screen (with Amphetamine running), my gear is all taking now, and I’ve got best of both worlds

Cheers all on thread - I’m set and ready to make stuff. V happy