Hi guys, is there any way to control master volume level of two takt boxes with a midi controller sending cc messages? Trying to make a sort of mixer with my EC4 but via midi not audio, tried to think of various ways to do this and I can’t think of any that would actually work.
I know I can control audio input level on one of the boxes via midi cc but don’t know how I would adjust the master volume of the elektron box receiving the audio without also turning down the one sending audio.
I could set all tracks to the same channel and control track volume, but I don’t want to do that because the ec4 is also controlling individual track parameters for performance.
Any midi solutions that could work before I go and buy a mixer? I also realize I can use Ableton or an ipad for this but would rather avoid having to use these options.
Elektron master volume on most devices is set by an analog volume pot which acts as an attenuator between zero and a line level signal, there is no midi control possible over the analog pot.
You would need to set an individual CC control knob (or fader) for each track whose level you want to control, or as you’ve stated you could set all tracks to the same channel and control the level this way using (I think) CC 95.
There is no midi control over the analog master volume pot, so it is not possible to control the master volume with a midi controller.
I wonder if I can use control all to lower the volume of all tracks simultaneously on one of the boxes and the mixer input level to control the volume of the other box? Though I guess that would make simultaneously controlling the volume of both boxes impossible?
Guess the easiest thing is to just get a mixer. Do you have any recommendations for a compact preferably digital one that also has a L/M/H eq per channel? Considering either a 2 or 4 channel mixer.
I guess some kind of audio merging cable or box would also work and I could use the actual volume knobs on the elektrons to control levels
So, let’s clarify your goal. You would like to be able to lower and raise the volume on both boxes simultaneously?
Beyond that, if it’s with a mixer, then having an eq for each channel would be preferred but is not your primary objective, is that correct?
Are you monitoring with headphones or do you have speakers? How are you currently listening to your combined audio? Straight out of the headphone jack or are you using the primary outputs?
Are you intending to use this as part of a live setup or for recording at home? I think that it’s probably important to establish in what capacity you’d like to use this setup to determine the simplest and most cost-effective option.
Basically to mix between two elektron boxes like with a dj mixer for performance, very curious how that would come out sounding. Not a live setup per se but I do want to use it to record performances at home. Headphone monitoring / cue would be a plus combined with my monitor speakers.
And I need it to be able to mix 3 elektron boxes if possible, but I could settle for just two
I have an audio interface that I normally use (connected to monitor speakers) and the elektron boxes audio is chained in series with only the last one connected to the interface (scarlet 2i2). But sometimes I just use one box with headphones (or sometimes chain it with Ableton move)
I think that you might like this Roland Go Mixer PRO-X, it’s probably a little bit more than you’d want to spend on what you’re trying to do and honestly, you could buy something cheaper, but it seems like the form factor would be useful for what you’re trying to do and it’s nice to have an option to battery power it.
I looked into it a bit and found a couple audio interfaces that respond to midi control for volume, but they were super expensive RME and other not very affordable brands so I think it’s better to stick to your idea of an outboard digital mixer and just adjust by hand.
Unless you’re ready to drop money on a really expensive mixer, I think this one is worth considering after you look at your other options. If you want to consider an analog mixer with limited functionality you can definitely get something for less money though.
Oh awesome, thanks a bunch :), this looks pretty neat. I definitely like the form factor and the price. Guessing it has no EQ though by the looks of it? Though I can probably get around that with control all on the base width filter.
Probably not with dedicated knobs. It does have a companion app, but I didn’t research what it can do, might just be for audio capture. I bet there’s some youtube content on it.
I think you dont need a mixer
Controll all and filter 2 low-cut helps you to cut bass in entire song of 1 device
Reload kit helps you to drop
You can turn on and off individual tracks
You can use delay and Reverb on both machines, also with control all like it is a dj mixer
Enough mixing possibilities within 2 st’s not to need a mixer, I think.
I use one dt2, and loop + dj mix within dt2 for song transition, works very well
And if you want a mixer, why not take a mixer
No experience with this one, but looks interessant
Does “Pattern Volume” affect the External Audio In level?
I’m not able to check right now, but my thinking was to MIDI map Pattern Volume for each machine, then use this plus the filters and control all as @wouzer suggested to mix between each box.
Would be worth trying before spending on a mixer.
May I ask what your process and workflow is for loop/dj transition is within one elektron box? Like you mean just switch pattern? Or do you use one half of the tracks for one song and the other half for a second song?
I’m not sure about pattern volume and the external in, it’s worth a try.
A $900 mixer is cool of course but it’s also $900 so maybe more than needed? I can think of other ways to spend the money but everyone will have their own priorities.
Either way, some good things to try or at least consider.
Note that if pattern volume works as intended, it will need to be adjusted on a per pattern basis. If you work mostly in single patterns that might be no problem but I tend to use multiple patterns and it could be tricky since it doesn’t behave globally like a master volume does. It will be like staggered drops between different patterns.
If you do a lot of one pattern stuff it’s definitely flexible enough that it may be a good solution.
Thanks for pointing that out. I guess I could have specific patterns (like intros to the next track) start out at a pattern volume of zero to get around this
Thanks for sharing