set track 1 with Overbridge, set midi channel to 16 to change patterns from daw
set track 2 with maschine, set inputs with from digitakt, and midi to digitakt
In maschine vst, set group A > input > midi with “host” and each sound on its own channel, disable midi for outputs . For group 2, do the opposite (outputs of sound sent to host on , Deactivate midi for inputs), and use C1 as root note for the pads modes for all the maschine sounds.
-In digitakt :
In midi config > channel : disable auto-channel anf fx channel
set every track (audio and midi) on its own channel (1 to 16)
With this workflow, group B is used as a midi controller :
Use pad mode to play digitakt like a drum kit
use keyboard mode to play chromatically the last pad you played
use scale/arp and note repeat
Digitakt is used as midi recorder/sequencer :
record midi and pattern on the digitakt
do p-locks etc.
create a song mode by using overbridge track with midi channel 16
Finally, group A is used as synth environnement :
use maschine explorer to browse preset
use maschine midi learn to connect parameter to digitakt
Now I am starting my production on digitakt and then add synths with maschine,
and use the pads to play, best of both worlds.
yeah it works and it is fun. However, note that midi learn in maschine is not very convenient thought.
Since, I also found out an alternative workflow, that might be easier and more convenient (and that I actually always use) :
Similarly to what I posted, I still use one maschine group routed to digitakt to be able to live midi play (group B on my workflow). Also, digitakt and maschine vst audio output are still routed to reaper/daw.
However, in my brand new workflow, I am not using the midi tracks of the digitakt. Instead maschine sound are directly sequenced using maschine scenes/patterns in parallel. but the big trick to make it convenient is to use midi program changes messages to synchronize/link digitakt patterns to maschine scenes. Doing this, scene 1 of maschine will correspond to digitakt pattern 1, scene 2 to pattern 2 and changes is automatic.
Life is easy then, just jamming on both device in the same time !
To do this, you have to enable option on each device. In maschine vst : edit > midi change > program change & channel 10, In digitakt : settings > midi config > sync menu > enable prog change send and prog change receive.
In case, you don’t understand what it does : by setting this, when you change scenes in maschine it will send a program change (a midi message with a number that indicates the midi scenes ) to digitakt, that will obey to it and change its pattern. Even better, It will also work the both way : if you change a pattern on the digitakt, it will also send a program change and maschine will respond to it, a real midi handshake
This is an amazing workflow, and easy to use, and if you don’t want to record the output in your daw but just do a live jam, you can even skip the daw/overbridge part, and use digitakt sending/receiving only midi from/to maschine (in that case, you need a small hardware mixer though, I use the art splitmix 4 for this )
Thank you so much for the explanation. @Dissofiddle
And now, I have some question for you! ahah
I’m thinking of buying a Maschine Mikro because I need a pad controller for the DT in order to:
play the DT 8 audio tracks with the pad of the Maschine synced to my DAW (Ableton Live)
be able to record these 8 audio tracks separately in Live
be able to use the DT sequencer anyway (always synced)
be able to record separately (in case I need it) the sound from the Maschine (I think from the VST)
So, the main questions are:
can I route in the DAW the Maschine MIDI messages with the Overbridge to play (and record separately) the DT audio tracks with the pad OR do I need something like the hardware mixer you mentioned?
can I still use the DT sequencer while I’m playing it on the Maschine?
can I play also the Maschine VST (the NI smiles in few words) while I’m routed to the DT?
Sorry for these booooooring questions, I just want to be sure to understand the whole situation. ahah
I’m reading what you wrote, and I think I can do all of that, but I need these answer to move on.
Thanks again, and again, and a again, and a again.
can I route in the DAW the Maschine MIDI messages with the Overbridge to play (and record separately) the DT audio tracks with the pad OR do I need something like the hardware mixer you mentioned?
I talk about the hardware mixer to “replace” overbridge, but you can do everything with overdridge and maschine vst in ableton, although it is a bit heavy : maschine vst itself it a bit heavy, and overbridge is not flawless and works better with a small audio interface buffer size. But yes, you can set maschine vst to send midi from the midi pads (playing or recorded in maschine), either with different midi channels from each pad, or on the same midi channels with different notes, and send notes to digitakt, it works perfectly. Be sure, that overbridge is corretly synced with ableton though. I spend some time to make it work with reaper (but I read there are no problems with ableton)
can I still use the DT sequencer while I’m playing it on the Maschine ?
-yes. Once again, make sure you properly set digitakt and overbridge with ableton live
can I play also the Maschine VST (the NI smiles in few words) while I’m routed to the DT?
Yes that, the whole point of it.
I can make a summary :
in the original post I made, I use maschine both as a “midi controller” (with arp and chords features) and as a “synth Host” whereas digitakt is the “brain” (recording and sending midi notes and midi CC) . In this setup you can think of maschine as a virtual embodiment of both an arturia keystep that can send midi notes to digitakt, and a external synth setup that receive midi notes. However, please note that midi learn within maschine is not ideal (midi CC on one channel only unfortunatly)
In my previous post, I describe another setup, that I finally prefer using. Here, I still use maschine as a “midi controller” (still to play the tracks of DT with the pads and arpegiator/note repeat that are then recorded in DT ) but this time maschine is not a “synth holder” but a “second brain”. They are just playing together in sync (thanks to the program change trick) as if maschine and DT had fused together . With that setup, you can use maschine sequencer, DT sequencer, and play pads from maschine to trigger DT.
Maybe, you could try to buy a maschine and and try to set this up. If it doesn’t fit you, you can still use the 2 weeks return policy to send it back
So first of all, what I need is to sync Maschine VST and Overbridge to Live and set the Maschine VST to send midi from the midi pads of the Hardware in order to play the Overbridge (DT tracks), who is receiving these midi messages (and these are the options : either with different midi channels from each pad, or on the same midi channels with different notes, and send notes to DT)
Then, I’ll follow your “guide” to set the midi program changes messages to link DT patterns to Maschine scenes.
And I need only two USBb to USB cable to run all of this heaven.
add maschine vst on track 1; route 16 audio out to daw (16 other tracks); add digitakt midi input and output to this track
add digitakt on track 2 ; route 8 audio of digitakt to daw (8 other track)
in maschine :
edit > midi change > scenes linked to Program change on channel 10
create one group, route audio out, with each pad to each audio maschine output, remove audio out from group and master level
create one group, route midi out, with each pads on is own midi channel. choose root note C1 for each
In digitakt :
don’t change midi channels default and keep auto channel on channel 10 (for the program change trick)
go to midi sync : and enable receive and send midi channel program change.
That should do it
Note that pads that machine pads 1 to 8 triggers DT track 1 to 8, and pad 10 (auto-channel), will trigger last selected track of DT (last touched/played)
. With that setup, you can use maschine sequencer, DT sequencer, and play pads from maschine to trigger DT.
