Nord Stage + M-AUDIO Axiom + iRig MIDI + iOS device setup

[bere...@gmail.com]

Hi all,

I'm currently using a dual keyboard setup with my Nord Stage classic and M-AUDIO Axiom. The only MIDI feature I use right now is the A/B dual keyboard on the Stage.

Occasionally I'd like some additional sounds and the iRig MIDI + iOS device solution looks quite interesting.

I'm not very experienced with MIDI in terms of channels, in/out/thru, etc. So I'm not quite sure how to set this up.

Axiom OUT -> IN Stage OUT -> IN iRig
or
Axiom OUT -> IN iRig THRU -> IN Stage
or
something else completely?

I think with the first setup I will only be able to control the iRig with the Stage. That's not good. I'd like to use the drum pads on the Axiom for some conga percussion etc.

With the second setup I think I'll only be able to control the iRig with the Axiom. That's acceptable, but I'd love to be able to use the expression pedal and sustain pedal connected to the Stage for other expressive sounds. Some horns, strings, you name it.

Also, I'm a little concerned things might get a bit complicated. I'd hate to have sound issues at a live performance and find myself fiddling with cables and midi settings on 3 devices until it works.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Regards,

John

[Pete]

In article <e480097f-e78a-4439...@googlegroups.com>,

<bere...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>I'm currently using a dual keyboard setup with my Nord Stage classic and
>M-AUDIO Axiom. The only MIDI feature I use right now is the A/B dual
>keyboard on the Stage.
>
>Occasionally I'd like some additional sounds and the iRig MIDI + iOS
>device solution looks quite interesting.

I dunno... I don't have any iOS boxes myself, but it sounds like
it might be a bit limiting. What were you intending to connect the iRig to?
Does it have decent audio output... audio software...?

If you have a laptop with USB, you could probably do more with it.
Especially as for not too much money you could get something like
a MidiSport 2x2 which has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. Much more flexible
for connecting your two devices in various ways.

>I'm not very experienced with MIDI in terms of channels, in/out/thru,
>etc. So I'm not quite sure how to set this up.
>
>Axiom OUT -> IN Stage OUT -> IN iRig
>or
>Axiom OUT -> IN iRig THRU -> IN Stage
>or
>something else completely?
>
>I think with the first setup I will only be able to control the iRig
>with the Stage. That's not good. I'd like to use the drum pads on the
>Axiom for some conga percussion etc.
>
>With the second setup I think I'll only be able to control the iRig with
>the Axiom. That's acceptable, but I'd love to be able to use the
>expression pedal and sustain pedal connected to the Stage for other
>expressive sounds. Some horns, strings, you name it.

I think your assumptions about the capabilities of the configurations
you mention are about correct. And I don't really see any other choices
with the iRig.

I don't gig -- I'm very unprofessional in my musicianship! -- but I
get a lot of satisfaction out of my setup, with my digital piano
connected to and from the 2x2, which is plugged in to my laptop.
I have a separate Synth module, which actually is normally driven
from the THRU port on my piano (as splitting 16 MIDI channels between
the two is mostly quite adequate!), but the second output on the 2x2
is available for that if I need more flexibility, or even -- as I have
done on occasion -- for driving a second computer with its own MIDI I/O.
At some point soon, I want to get something like the Axiom to drive
the 2x2's spare input.

I use my own software on the laptop, but of course there's a wide
variety of stuff -- commercial and free -- available. If you want
extra sounds, an app that plays soundfonts is a good choice -- there
are some very nice sounding soundfonts (both standard and wild)
floating around on the web. Not so sure what's out there for processing
MIDI in real time -- that's what I use my own stuff for -- but I imagine
there are such. (Max/MSP will certainly do it, but it's expensive;
PD is free to do the same sort of thing on Linux, but I don't know
if it runs elsewhere.)

>
>Also, I'm a little concerned things might get a bit complicated. I'd
>hate to have sound issues at a live performance and find myself fiddling
>with cables and midi settings on 3 devices until it works.
>

Yeah, I suspect that could happen, but is probably avoidable (:-))
But anyway, when I see all the cables snaking between amps, stomp boxes,
and so on, I'm surprised things don't go wrong more often!
I see groups using computers in their show more and more, though.
Some take it too far... like the trio I saw (at a free concert)
last summer, who just started their laptop, then just occasionally
strummed the guitar or hit a drum, while the laptop played both
melody and accompaniment!!

Probably the main area of creeping complexity would be the computer
end. You don't want to have to fiddle with arcane controls on its
screen during a performance.

HTH

-- Pete --

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