Digitakt+Launchpad+USB Host

Elektron Gear Digitakt
1

Hello all,

My Rig
I have a Digitakt, Syntakt, Octatrack, and a Virus TI2.
I have everything working together the way I want. The issue arises when I try to introduce a Launchpad Pro MK3 as a controller for the Digitakt that is sequencing the Virus with the MIDI A thru H tracks.

My Goal
I want to use the LP to play in notes and rhythms for real time recording on the DT.
The setup I’m describing works for recording but I can’t switch patterns from the OT when the LP is connected.

Base Routing
My rig is setup with the OT as master. MIDI out from OT to DT in. DT thru to ST, DT out to Virus.
This works fine. I can sequence and use 8 different Virus patches with no problem. Patten switching works.

My Problem
Once the LP is introduced in the MIDI routing, I get transport and clock but no PC. I can’t get it to switch patterns from the OT.
I also tried to run a DORE MIDI USB host for the LP and got the same results.

What I Have Tried
When I introduce the LP, the MIDI signal flow goes OT MIDI out to LP in, LP out to DT in. DT thru to ST, DT out to Virus. I also tried using the LP’s MIDI thru options and had no luck.
With the USB Host the flow is almost identical. OT MIDI out to USB host in, Host out to DT, with the LP plugged into the USB port on the USB host.

Doubled Tempo When Merge Selected
There is a MIDI merge button on the DORE MIDI USB host. When I activate that, I get the tempo doubled (120bpm to 240bpm) but patten switching from the OT DOES work. :crazy_face:

What am I doing wrong? I will be the first to admit I am not a MIDI genius but there has to be a way to get this all working together.

I’m already looking at a MIDI merger box but I was hoping I wouldn’t need yet another box and more MIDI cables.

Any and all help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

2

One if the issues I’ve run into with launchpads and usb hosts is that usually they connect to the 1st USB connection, and that goes alphabetically, so on say the Launchpad pro mk3, there’s 3 usb “ports”: DAW midi in/out, DIN midi in/out, and (USB) MIDI in/out.

So being the 1st port in alphabetical order, the host grabs the DAW port, thus breaking (standard) usb midi. The DAW port controls session mode.

So this may be the usb host issue you’re running into.

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3

Interesting. I’m looking for a way to test that theory.

Thanks for the information.

4

People ran into the same issue connecting them to their iconnect audio4/4c host ports (common interface for iOS users).

The way to test it is enable session mode via sysex. If session mode gets enabled (and sends note data from the pads in session mode) when connected to the usb host, then you know your host grabbed the DAW port.

But in the past 3 years, no one has found a solution. The best workaround I can offer is use an old iOS device/iPhone as a midi router in between the LPP and the rest of your hardware if you’re trying to stay away from a DAW/computer. It will pick up all 3 usb ports and you can route whatever wherever there.

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5

I just got it to work with the USB host in Merge mode.
I have not tried it with the TRS MIDI connections yet.
Transport and Clock are working and the OT can send pattern changes.
YES!!!

What I did is go into the setting on the LP by holding SHIFT (lower left hand corner) and selecting the MIDI settings tab (4th button from the right) and disabling Clock Transmit.

image
image676×749 48.3 KB

Looks like this when selected.
LP-Transport-MIDI-2
LP-Transport-MIDI-22442×1099 351 KB

Awesome!
I hope this helps someone else one day.

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