Connecting MIDI controller properly to PT 11

[AanoNin]

Hello, I have just purchased PT 11 and no matter how I seem to situate my I/O my external MIDI Q61 Alesis is not working, even though it is recognized in the PT midi studio box. I am running the Q61 (midi out) into the MBox (midi In) and I have the Q61 USB plugged into the iMac for power supply. The screen shot below shows my config with a VST plug-in.... the VST (here the FM8) keyboard works fine on screen playing with my mouse... but how do I get it to route to the Q61 external controller? Confused.

[xps4000]

Originally Posted by AanoNin

Hello, I have just purchased PT 11 and no matter how I seem to situate my I/O my external MIDI Q61 Alesis is not working, even though it is recognized in the PT midi studio box. I am running the Q61 (midi out) into the MBox (midi In) and I have the Q61 USB plugged into the iMac for power supply. The screen shot below shows my config with a VST plug-in.... the VST (here the FM8) keyboard works fine on screen playing with my mouse... but how do I get it to route to the Q61 external controller? Confused.

try using the audio midi app in launchpad.

[musicman691]

First off - vst's do not work in PT. Only aax64 plugins.

Second - why are you using an aggregate device? Use the Mbox only.

Thirdly - do you have MIDI thru selected? And in MIDI setup accessed from Preferences do you have 'use first selected MIDI device' selected?

[mesaone]

You don't need the MIDI cable going from your Q61 to the Mbox. The USB connection will carry MIDI.

That might be why you're not getting any activity - the way you have it set up now, you would have to select the Mbox in the track's MIDI input selector.

[ChuckS]

Don't know about the Q61 specifically, but sometimes USB devices show up as a MIDI interface rather than a MIDI device (or something like that, mostly with older stuff). Disconnect the MIDI cables and try creating a MIDI device in AMS (call it something like Q61Keys) and connect it to the MIDI in/out on the Q61 shown in AMS.

If you want to keep it connected to the MBox then keep the MIDI cables connected, disconnect the USB cable, create the same Q61Keys device and attach it the MIDI in/out of the MBox in AMS.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by mesaone

You don't need the MIDI cable going from your Q61 to the Mbox. The USB connection will carry MIDI.

That might be why you're not getting any activity - the way you have it set up now, you would have to select the Mbox in the track's MIDI input selector.

He could leave the USB cable hooked up for power for the keyboard but that depends on the keyboard itself. Some keyboards that have both traditional 5 pin round MIDI connectors and USB MIDI can run on one or the other but not both at the same time; that selection is usually made in the keyboard itself. I'd still delete one or the other path and power the Q61 off a wall wart - Alesis does sell one - in either case.

Parallel MIDI paths like this are dangerous.

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by musicman691

He could leave the USB cable hooked up for power for the keyboard but that depends on the keyboard itself.

Yeah, but my take on it is if you have a USB cable for power, why not use it for both power and data?

[sw rec]

I'm thinking for no more current than is available on a typical USB port, use the wall wart wart (if it's available.)

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by mesaone

Yeah, but my take on it is if you have a USB cable for power, why not use it for both power and data?

True.

[AanoNin]

Hey, thanks for all the replies! I have some maneuvering to try. I am a complete PT newbie here and learning. The VST plugins I am using are the NI Komplete 9 instruments, which do work inside PT 11... :) I will reply with my worked out solution as soon as I figure this out! Thanks everyone! :)