I would appreciate help on MIDI configuration that’s including Squarp Hapax, Linnstrument and synths (Erica Synths Steampipe, Dreadbox Typhon and Moog Minitaur).
Everything is well connected and it’s working great as expected, so when i change one of the six memory presets on Linnstrument it changes to appropriate synth that i can then play, and it’s great. Every synth is on different midi channel, and both Hapax tracks and Linnstrument presets are set accordingly.
My problem arise when i set Steampipe and Hapax to MPE mode. When i change preset on Linnstrument to play Typhon or Minitaur it’s now triggering Steampipe also (which isn’t the case when Steampipe and Hapax are not in MPE mode).
What i suspect is something that I’ve read in Hapax manual regarding MPE tracks, quote “Notes played live are transmitted on MIDI Channel 01, which
serves as the Global Channel in the MPE specification (used for standard, non-
expressive note data).
Note MIDI Channels 2–16 are the expressive per-note channels: and each note gets
its own channel during an MPE performance.”
So i’m guessing what’s happening is that Hapax “occupies” all 16 channels (including the ones of Typhon and Minitaur) and that is causing Steampipe to triggers other synths!?
Appreciate every help, thanks in advance and sorry for bad english, best regards, Filip
Interesting, I’ve got the Hapax & Linnstrument combo as well. Was thinking of picking up the Steampipe for a bit as well but talked myself out of the GAS impulse.
You’re right about the MPE occupying all 16 channels. Good thing is it should be a really easy fix.
Try putting the Steampipe on it’s out midi-out plug. Make sure it’s the only thing assigned to that plug. Even with the Steampipe being 8 voices (sorry if that’s wrong), the global channel will still be sent to all other devices on that midi-out. Using a different out should avoid that behaviour.
I’m away from home right now, so I can’t give you specifics right now about how I’ve configured this, but I run the Linnstrument into the Hapax via USB. Then I get the Hapax to route midi-in to the selected track/column. That way I just leave the Linnstrument on channel 1 & the Hapax routes the midi with a single button press on the Hapax. I’ve been too lazy to try setting them up to play my Hydrasynth with MPE, gonna have to change that soon.
thanks for reply, i’m not sure that i understand you completely.
How i connected and assigned:
Linnstrument via USB → Hapax USB Host
Typhon and Minitaur MIDI In ->Thru Box → Hapax MIDI Out B
Steampipe MIDI In → Hapax MIDI Out C
Steampipe MIDI Out → Merge Box → Hapax Midi In A
Minitaur; track 3; MIDI Out (Port B, Channel 9); MIDI In (USB Host, Channel 9)
Typhon; track 4; MIDI Out (Port B, Channel 10); MIDI In (USB Host, Channel 10)
Steampipe; MPE track 5; MIDI Out (Port C, Channel MPE 1…16); MIDI In (USB Host, Channel MPE 1…16)
On Linnstrument Minitaur preset is set on MIDI Out ch 9, Typhon preset on MIDI Out ch 10, and Steampipe preset on MIDI Out ch 1-8.
Sorry for the extensive spec, thought it best to just lay it out.
Yes, it is 8 voices. Steampipe is set on separate port from other synths as you suggested. Maybe i should look more in to Linnstrument and Hapax settings, maybe i missed something.
This part is unclear to me. Do you mean you use All Active setting on tracks MIDI In or do you specify Port and Channel for each track/instrument?
Hope you’ll get better results with Hydrasynth and MPE, you should definitely try it, you have all the ingredients.
best regards, Filip
Thanks for the list of connections, your set up is a lot more complex than mine. My set up is a one way journey like this:
Linnstrument → Hapax → Synth
Nothing is sent from the synth back to the Hapax because I use the macro knobs & CC automation rather than the synth’s controls for sequencing filter sweeps. I never change the midi channel using the Linnstrument, that’s done with the Hapax. I do that in the Hapax to keeps things simple.
To be honest I think you’re over complicating things by using the Linnstrument to change which device is being played. The Hapax is designed do that when you press a track button. Using the Linnstrument to change channels may be mixing messages in the Hapax.
We’re almost at the limit of how I can help.
Otherwise the list of connections looks OK. From here the fix is probably going to be done by diving into the Hapax & Steampipe manuals:
Are all your Hapax tracks set up with the correct input & outputs (Hapax manual page 10)?
Have you checked the midi in/out/thru settings in the Hapax (Hapax manual pages 155 through 167)?
Is the Steampipe the only synth with the mergebox on midi in A? It probably should be on its own so the Hapax isn’t blending signals with the use of MPE. If you’re using the merge box with other devices, it should be sent to midi in B.
Is the Steampipe set to OMNI & could that be causing the overlapping messages (Steampipe manual page (Steampipe manual page 15)?
I’ll have to get back to you in a few days to confirm my Hapax’s midi settings. I messed around with the midi/in/out/thru settings a lot until I got things working the way I wanted.
No worries, I’ll double check this when I’m back home. I always use specific port & channel settings with midi definition files in a default project so my Hapax always has stuff like:
Hydrasynth on track 1, port A, receive channel 9 (polysynth mode).
Peak on track 2, port A, receive channel 10 (polysynth mode).
Pardon, not sure if I’ve got out set to all active
You’re absolutely right about me over complicating, and the solution i found is to change Steampipe MIDI In Port on Hapax track to something other than USB Host Port for time when i’m not playing Steampipe. And when i want to play Steampipe i just change it back to USB Host, so it’s just two clicks more, acceptable. Thank you for help, best regards, Filip
No worries, glad you got it working! You should’ve seen the mess I made with my first few Hapax configurations. I was trying to sequence with the Linnstrument, Hapax & Ableton together with everything connected via USB so midi messages could go in every direction & still be captured. All it achieved was crashing the Hapax & Ableton simultaneously with endlessly looping CCs. Hence why my set up’s so basic now.
Been thinking about how your set up enables recording knob tweaks etc & how it’s a quicker method than mine for capturing filter sweeps etc. That & I’m going to have to have a go at MPE sequencing soon.
I’m back with the Hapax now. Having a look at the settings & there might be ways to get everything working without flipping the input back & forth.
In the Hapax’s settings, could a combo of the following avoid loops & get you swapping between the Steampipe & other synths seamlessly?
Setting the midi input’s active track port & channel to fixed values
Turning off midi thru for certain inputs, devices & hosts
There are still many open problems on how to connect external synths with Hapax, and I myself encountered MIDI loops that I solved along the way, sometimes successfully and sometimes unsuccessfully.
As for sending cc messages to Hapax from knob twisting on external synths i’m still struggling, but it’s one of the main goals i’m trying to achive. Minitaur only sends cc messages through USB I/O, and it was working great, but then i bought Linnstrument, so i moved Minitaur to MIDI Out din and now it only recieving.
With Steampipe i have problem if i use pot catch pop setting on and send cc knob movement to Hapax it echoes back cc messages to Steampipe which gets stucked cc values. Earlier this year I asked a question on the forum and good people offered potential solutions, but due to commitments I didn’t have time to look into it.
Typhon can’t send midi cc, only receiving, so it’s out of equation.
I definitely need to look more in to Hapax settings. I did try different settings regarding Hapax active track port & channel, but probably did something wrong, so I’ll have to dig some more.
Other day i broke my leg (nothing serious), so once the pain is gone and recovery begins i will focus on problem solving my gear and will report you back with the results, thank you very much for your help and kindness.
As for MRCC, wow, it offers lot of MIDI manipulation, potential solution to the aforementioned problems.
