USB Midi Keyboard tracks with Riffworks...? How?

[loadstar]

Hi Guys

I picked up a 25 key USB midi keyboard yesterday as I want to occasionally add synth sounds to compositions in Riffworks and perhaps more often just have a keyboard operating to find notes/keys on etc.

A lot of the Riffcasts with Riffworks have more than just guitar sounds on them and i was wondering how people lay down keyboard tracks and sounds and then get them into Riffworks to mix with the other guitar tracks?

Thanks

Alex.

[Wedgebill]

Depending on what output sockets you have on your keyboard you can probably do what I do which is simply use a 1/4 jack lead and go from analogue out to instrument in on whatever interface device you are using. I have a Yamaha keyboard and Toneport UX2 and it works fine once you suss out the levels etc. The best trick I found is to use a dry setting on your interface as the keyboard I have makes it's own strange noises, adding to it whilst recording soon gets overdriven and farty.

Hope this helps mate

Uncle Bill

[mickeymix]

You can use that in conjunction with a program called Reason (great sounds)...... a bit pricey though at ($500.00 American)..........I myself add keys with my Yamaha Psr-e403 keyboard even though I also have a MIDI keyboard and Reason.
I've also been known to mike a real grand piano that I have access to at work plus I also mike a stand-up piano that I have in my living room......but I rarely use that any more because the proximity to my PC is a bit uncomfortable.........for a MIDI though I would recommend Reason.......although there is a bit of a learning curve to it.

[loadstar]

Thanks Guys.

Not sure the keyboard can produce any sound as it's just a controller.

My thoughts were to get it making nice sounds with a MIDI package and then presumably i can tell my UX2 to record the MIDI out from the package using Riffworks...?

[gatorjj]

I use SampleTank with my controller to put synths into RiffWorks. My interface has multiple outputs, so I set SampleTank to play outs 3&4 and use balanced cables to loop that around to ins 1&2 and viola I'm recording into RiffWorks.

I don't have a Toneport but I recall it has some flexible routing options so maybe you can get something similar going, either in mono or stereo. Another option is to have the MIDI program play to your soundcard and cable out from there to the Toneport.

J.J.

[Wedgebill]

You started playing a viola as well now Gator ? :rolleyes:

[gatorjj]

Actually....yes!

[randy]

Howdy,

gatorjj has the right idea if you have a device that has multiple, assignable outputs. Most don't however, so stuck either purchasing Reason (which has a flaw in it's sequencer when used in ReWire) or purchasing a second interface device. You'd still need synth software for the controller to talk to. What did you have in mind? I recently used the SampleMoog package from IK, and it's brilliant.

So assuming you had a second device and some synth software:

1. Assign one interface device to RiffWorks
2. Assign the other interface device to your synth software
3. Hook up your controller to the computer via USB and assign it to the synth software
4. Connect the outputs of the second interface device to the input of the first
5. Synth it up!

This is exactly what I do for my songs.

Cheers,

[Stephan326]

Use Reaper . Install ReaRoute and set RW to ReaRoute ASIO drivers routing a track back through RW inputs. No Extra wires!! That is what I do!!

[JohnN]

jackdmp (a version of JACK) also works as long as you use JackRoute (included with jackdmp) to handle the ASIO drivers - even under Vista.

It works well as far as set up, and clarity of sound goes. My problem with it is that it adds a bit of noticeable latency - even though it is not supposed to.

john

[parr]

I was about to recommend reaper! very cheap (for non commercial use) and great DAW.
But I use it with RW as rewire slave.
Stephan, is rearoute better? I didnt install it.

juan

[Stephan326]

At the point I use reaper with ReaRoute I am only using reaper as a rack of sorts.

[freakyricky]

Depending on what output sockets you have on your keyboard you can probably do what I do which is simply use a 1/4 jack lead and go from analogue out to instrument in on whatever interface device you are using.)

Uncle Bill

Hi,

I think wedgebill has a good technique goin for him on this. I find this works well for recording midi keys on any riffworks tune. Running an audigy soundcard as I do, there is an out jack on the card itself, 1/8 inch in size, and I route a wire from there into either the left or right line inputs on the Toneport Ux2. From here I have to select Line input in Gearbox, and 'send 3 +send 4' in the input box, found in the bottom left hand corner of the Riffworks application.

From here you need a host program like randy mentiioned. Samplemoog, or some other VSTi standalone software that lets you make music with your midi keyboard. Get this all setup correctly and u should be ready to record.

Good Luck

Aj

[pauncy]

Is there a Mac equivalent of Reaper?

Cheers Paul

[parr]

A version of REAPER for OSX is coming this year:

http://www.cockos.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=34