Hooking it all up (I bought a bunch of stuff)

Hi guys. So yeah I kinda went crazy and just ordered an A4 and Roland V-Synth. Sold a bunch of stuff and well, yeah, the trigger finger got the better of me.

Anyway, I need to work out how to hook all this stuff up now. I was originally planning on only buying a keyboard but there was a nice A4 for a good price so I went with it.

I’d like to avoid a mixer if possible. The set up now is like this…

OT Audio:

A + B = Tetra
C + D = MnM

MnM Audio:

Input A = Shruthi

This leaves me not needing a mixer and only scarifies one MnM track for the shruthi.

Midi is chained from the OT > MnM > Tetra > Shruthi
MnM channel 1-9 Tetra Channel 10, Shruthi channel 12 and OT channel 11

So initial idea was this…

OT Audio:

A + B = A4
C + D = MnM

A4 Audio in = Tetra
I don’t quite know how the audio in works on the A4, not sure if it means I have to sacrifice a track or not?

MnM Audio in = V-Synth
This sacrifices the shruthi. Could be possible to work around if I run the Tetra in mono and then use the tetra and shruthi into the MnM on seperate channels and V synth on the A4.

V-Synth Audio in = OT Cue.
I figured this would be interesting as the V-Synth has some nice onboard effects and being able to choose stuff on the OT and send to the V=synth could be fun.

I also reverb and delay pedal I could dedicate to any of the synths (the reverb works lovely with the Tetra though).

I do have a mixer but I am not using it. It’s a Yamaha MG12/14. It’s easier if I can work with a mixer. I wish the OT had more inputs so bad. I nearly bought an OT instead of an A4 just for the inputs.

Midi wise, the A4 can sequence it self so I’ll just send it clock and transport. I’d like to use the V synth as a midi controller but I am not sure about things like local off and all that stuff I am a bit of a midi newb and have only used it in its most basic sense.
Also if possible I would like to use the midi OUT of the MnM not Thru for the shruthi. Not sure if thats possible but seems it could help reduce the chaining.

Wow that was a long post… sorry guys hope it all makes sense. Would really like feedback and advice.

In terms of my work flow I usually work with thru machines for synths, a few flexs for beats and the odd static for atmosphere. Effects Is always the most difficult. The MnM has great routing options which is making things a bit free-er but I would still like to start using the crossfader more.

Anyway Thanks peeps.

Audio in on the A4 - basically you set the oscillators to L&R in, so you use one track as an external. Place an infinite trigger on step one and then use can use the filters, envelopes, fx ext for the external input.

I’d definitely try to get some cross-re sampling going with the V-Synth and the OT- that’s probably the most creative use of all those resources (since you aren’t really going to be able to get the full voice output of the V-synth through a single stereo pair).

I’d for sure drop the Tetra to mono and use patches that don’t beg for stereo dependent FX or step on the toes of your low and mid too much.

I don’t see running the V-Synth through the A4 as a permanent fixture- more like as the situation calls for it (if everything gets an analog bath it all starts to blend together after a while).

BTW: How you liking the V-synth? I’ve had my eyes on an XT for a while but they’re expensive! But the onboard FX (especially the voice synth) alone are worth a lot.

That’s a shame, not sure I want to sacrafice a track. I saw a seperate FX button between tracks and CV and assumed it was a dedicated input track.

Running the V Synth through the A4 isn’t for effects its just to get the signal to the OT.
The V- Synth is only stereo out as well. It has a separate direct out for clean sounds (I think).
The V-Synth and A4 wont arrive until next week, I am just planning ahead so that I don’t have a headache when they do finally arrive.
Cross sampling with V-Synth and OT should be great fun though. I’m really looking forward to playing with Variphrase stuff.

get an audio patch bay. :kiss:

Or you could use an audio interface and either the bundled software or a DAW to change routings on the fly.

And maybe get a MIDI patch bay too. :slight_smile:

Seriously, the money and initial brain breaking is worth it. It’s then easy to reconfigure, try new settings and so on. On the flip side, you might come up with the perfect hardwiring situation now, until you get something else! Or it might be crappy and you just live with it because of all the work involved in re-routing it (again!). :dizzy_face:

Cheers but no computers allowed. I don’t like having a computer in my music room, too much distraction. I have a patchbay and I have a mixer but i also dont want to be fiddling with patch cables. I like them playing live, not just recording one and then starting on the next. All at once. That way everything is set up and ready to go.
If the set up was less live orientated then definitely patch bay and midi patchbay. Midi doesn’t seem so much of an issue it would just be a big plus to use the v-synth in place of the midi keyboard.

Rack mixers are usually all over the second hand market- patch bays are overkill but a cheap rack mixer with a relatively low profile could sit below a bunch of gear and stay out of the way- and make your life much easier.

Plus having access to at least track volume tweaks and panning right in front of you is invaluable- for a live set up especially.

You don’t need to master, just use Fletcher and Munson to your advantage and turn that $#!¥ up! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

That’s a shame, not sure I want to sacrafice a track. I saw a seperate FX button between tracks and CV and assumed it was a dedicated input track.[/quote]
_ Yes you can use the FX Track for external input,…still gives you access to A4 FX for that input, but no filter, lfo, envelopes etc.

That’s a shame, not sure I want to sacrafice a track. I saw a seperate FX button between tracks and CV and assumed it was a dedicated input track.[/quote]

You don’t have to sacrifice anything, unless you specifically want to use the A4’s filters. From the top of my head, click the FX button, then the OSC 1 button, then just use the knobs to change how you route the inputs, you can even route them to the FX if you wish.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RX1602/

8-channel line mixer- slim 1U rack

$149

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PowerMix3/

ART 3 stereo channel line mixer- kinda a cool little box- tons of uses!

$80

That’s a shame, not sure I want to sacrafice a track. I saw a seperate FX button between tracks and CV and assumed it was a dedicated input track.[/quote]

You don’t have to sacrifice anything, unless you specifically want to use the A4’s filters. From the top of my head, click the FX button, then the OSC 1 button, then just use the knobs to change how you route the inputs, you can even route them to the FX if you wish.

[/quote]
That’s great news. I don’t need the filters etc, I just wanted a way to route audio to the OT.

I didnt realise you could get small mixers like that. Not so sure about using Behringer though. I’ll have a look about. Maybe I can swap my MG12/14 for one.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MultiMix8LN/

Well this Alesis one is the “standard” one for $199- there are probably 4 on Craigslist here. Best part about it is stereo FX bus with individual sends per channel (which could also just go into the OT inputs and you could sample whatever channel(s) you choose.

I didnt realise you could get small mixers like that. Not so sure about using Behringer though. I’ll have a look about. Maybe I can swap my MG12/14 for one. [/quote]
I would not ever go for Behringer…!
For Elektron boxes i would go for some goood valves or at least something that HAS a Sound!
Something like this:
http://www.thermionicculture.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=30&virtuemart_category_id=1&Itemid=54

or this

http://www.thermionicculture.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=28&virtuemart_category_id=1&Itemid=54

or this

http://www.jdkaudio.com/jdk8mx2.html

Not cheap things…though

That thing is crazy expensive over here. cheapest I found was $430

I didnt realise you could get small mixers like that. Not so sure about using Behringer though. I’ll have a look about. Maybe I can swap my MG12/14 for one. [/quote]
I would not ever go for Behringer…!
For Elektron boxes i would go for some goood valves or at least something that HAS a Sound!
Something like this:
http://www.thermionicculture.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=30&virtuemart_category_id=1&Itemid=54

or this

http://www.thermionicculture.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=28&virtuemart_category_id=1&Itemid=54

or this

http://www.jdkaudio.com/jdk8mx2.html

Not cheap things…though[/quote]
Yeah I just abought two new synths so no chance for these.

Any thoughts about midi? Seems like I don’t have enough channels. I need to send midi to tetra mnm but A4 only needs program change and transport (and sync). The midi set up is getting complex and I’m getting confused.

Audio wise everything is running nicely.

For the audio, I’d also recommend a rack mixer. I have this one: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SM10/ , which gives you 10 sets of stereo line inputs, main outs plus aux outs that you could use for routing into, say, the MNM for fx use.

For the MIDI, if you want to stay away from the computer, I’d recommend something like this: http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/utilities/m-thru-5.shtml , which gives you five outputs from one input. So the OT MIDI OUT to the Kenton IN, then the Kenton OUTs to the Roland, Shruthi, Tetra, A4 and MNM MIDI INs.

To use the Roland as a controller, plug the MIDI OUT of that into the OT . . . although that will probably only allow you to play the OT from the Roland (unless there’s a setting in the OT to pass the MIDI IN to the MIDI OUT).

MIDI gives you 16 channels, which I should think is adequate, no? The OT is only going to be outputting on 8 channels plus a control channel anyway, right? The A4 and MNM will sequence themselves, then you can assign one channel to the Shuthri, and split the other seven between the Tetra and Roland as you like.