More than 16 channels of MIDI?

Elektron Gear Monomachine
1

When it comes to MIDI, I’d like to think that I have somewhat intermediate knowledge of it, but I’m a bit confused as to how to figure out something.

I have a Saffire Pro 40 interface that I run with FLStudio. The MIDI out of the SP40 goes to my Yamaha MJC8 MIDI Patch Bay.

My gear is hooked up as such:
Channel 1 - PAIA Fatman
Channel 2 - Access Virus C
Channel 3 - Korg MS2000BR
Channel 4 - Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 UW+ (which comes tomorrow!)
Channel 5 - Korg Volca Beats
Channel 6 - Monomachine

I don’t plan on ever really controlling the MD besides transport as I’ll be programming directly on the unit. That means that I could still technically control all the voices of the MnM at the same time independently with FLStudio while also controlling the other 4 non-Elektron pieces of kit.

My question is, if I wanted to control everything independently, I’m assuming I could not do so being that MIDI maxes out at 16 channels?

Anyone have any ideas on this? I doubt I’ll ever actually need to do this, but it’d be nice to know if it’s even an option.

Thanks!

2

It depends what you mean by “control everything independently”.

MIDI carries 16 channels per port. So if you are only using the computer to sequence, you can only use the 16 channels available from the Pro40’s MIDI Out for sequencing.

However, the MJC8 is your hub and, if you connect one instrument to each of its 8 ports, you can use it to patch any of your seven (including the computer) pieces of MIDI-enabled gear to any other, so that any sequencer can sequence or sync any sound source.

For example, the computer could sequence the Virus and sync the Machinedrum, Monomachine, and Volca Beats, while the Monomachine sequences the other synths.

3

RIIIIGHT! I forgot about the ports.

I’m an idiot.

On a side note, does the MD need to take up one of the MnM’s MIDI OUT slots if I just want it to control transport and not actual sequencing?

4

MIDI System Real Time messages (including transport and also clock) do not have channel numbers.

As long as there is a physical MIDI connection between the two units and the appropriate settings are enabled on the master and slave, transport control will work. Therefore you don’t need to reserve one of the MM’s six MIDI sequencer tracks for transport messages.

5

That is hella awesome. Wow. Ok. Thanks.