How to avoid midi loopback: Octa // Retrokits // Roland Boutiques

So I have a setup where I connect OT, Nanokey, TB-03 and SH-01a. I’m not that experienced with midi setups, but I managed to have it working without midi loopback, but only using a bunch of midi cables and adapters… (this setup isn’t illustrated, because it’s not optimal)

One challenge is that the Boutiques only have 1 channel for midi in/out

My goal is to:
• Sequence the Boutiques from OT
• Use nanokey as a midi-keyboard for the OT (connected to RK-006 as usb host)
• Midi cc back from Boutiques to OT for midi learn

The question is: does anyone know if the setup shown in this diagram would be possible? Or something similar

I get midi loopback every time I try to route all ins/outs via the RK midi-hub…
Would it possible with some clever filtering? Or is there some magic setting in the OT?

Something that might be worth trying before purchasing a retrokits is switching the SH01a’s MIDI out to the soft THRU. I believe this is available with a firmware update. This way you could go OT OUT to SH IN, SH OUT (thru)to TB IN and done! Somewhere in the settings for the SH this is possible. I am not as familiar with the TB - but it may have something similar.

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Just realized that you are looking for CC OUT from boutiques - so my simple method will not be complete. I will have another look at the diagram you posted.

Thanks for the input!
Yes the TB have the same soft thru option.
So I already have the retro kits, and it all works fine, it’s just that I wasn’t able to solve it with usb midi to the Boutiques, and had to use a separate path going back into OT with midi cables + merger.

So it already works but with more cables and dongles than what is shown in the diagram :slight_smile:

I would imagine that an additional device with selective midi filtering like plexus 4 would be required to replace your host, otherwise you already see the results.

Your title would be better stated as midi loopback issue, if that’s what you’re concerned about. Your post makes it seem like the diagram shown is the one which is currently working without loopback and that you’re attempting to reduce it further.

Thanks for the input! The title and description is hopefully more clear now

Hmm, what is it that I need to do exactly? Haven’t used midi filtering before so I feel a bit lost… The RK-006 has per port midi filtering that you configure from a web-app. Does that work or are you thinking of something else?

Thinking it might work if I filter out all notes coming back into the RK-006 from the Boutiques, while still allowing CC.
Is there even such a thing as a midi CC loop? :thinking:

Also consider channel remapping, assuming the RK-006 can do that. I remember doing something like that on my Blokas Midihub a while back to solve some loopback stuff.

Didn’t consider that idea, thanks!
It can even do polychaining/polymux, so I guess it could work(?), but afaic it’s not possible from the editor: RK006 Port/USB settings editor [2.08] (but I’m no expert), might give the note filtering a try either way

Should be possible on RK006 indeed.

A simple thing you can do : once midi learn done (OT stopped), disable soft thru on concerned gear. If midi feedback cause freezes, enter CCs manually with midi implementation values.

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