TI and... USB or MIDI or Both...? this is the question.

[theMusicMan]

Hi All

I am a little fed up with each of my synths and pieces of gear taking up a USB port on my PC just for MIDI communications. So, I am purchasing a MOTU MIDI Express 8*8 rack. This will currently free up 4 USB ports on my PC and use just the one USB instead.

Am I able to set up the TI such that I can leave the TI's USB connected to its own dedicated hub on my PC, but connect the MIDI In and Out to and from my MOTU MIDI Express as well?

Sometimes I don't need to use VC and so could use MIDI as an alternative.

Should I do this or leave alone?

[iand]

You mean to use both as your sequencer input? As long as it's stable enough I'd only use the usb. Most other synths that use usb, only use it for midi & maybe file storage. If most of your synths use usb midi, I'd just get a high powered usb hub, of course not for the TI. Those 8X8's are alot more expensive than a usb hub, and the hub will get the job done. One simple usb cable vs. 2 midi cables running in and out of every synth. I don't know about you but I HATE wires, so if you can lesson them you might as well. I like the synth/usb option, and I prefer to buy synths with usb just for the convenience. Although sound is the ultimate reason.

[theMusicMan]

Hi iand - thanks for the reply.

Yeah, that's what I meant. I appreciate what you say re using a USB hub, but quite often I have issues with Cubase not recognising a synth if the synth isn't turned on prior to launching Cubase. It is a pain in the arse when one has to continually shut down Cubase to then start it up again just so the synth will be recognised by USB. I am happy to buy a few MIDI cables, set them up and leave 'em for each of my synths. I only do home stuff (nowhere near anywhere good enough to play in for any group, or to play outside the comfort-zone of my home studio :)) so once the gear is set up, and working well, that's it for layout et al.

Hence my rationale for a hot-swappable 8*8 MIDI interface device that uses just the single USB port for up to 64*2 channels.

I haven't had real stability with the TI either if I am to be totally honest. On its own it is awesome, but when I start VC I get the usual run of issues you read here every day. I can't seem to sync the arps when any more than 2 patches are loaded - in Seq or Multi mode. And I just have a mare when trying to record arp data.


I have booked the services of a Music Producer / Audio Engineer for a day who is coming to my home on Thursday this week. Hopefully I will learn more in that day than I would have in a period of 6 months on my own.

Can't wait.

[iand]

As for the issue of Cubase to not recognizing your synths, I ALWAYS turn on all my equiptment before loading the sequencer.... it's second nature now. As for the TI issues your having ask the board here if any use a usb pci card, and if they can recommend a brand or model that they have zero problems with. Yer using Windows, right? Well adding a new pci card should(as long as you have unused IRQs)create another bus; the Virus will be the only device on the tree and hopefully stop your issues. And as for paying for someone to create you a setup, that kinda sucks, but I guess take notes and please let us know what he thinks. I'd be crappy for him to recommend a bunch of stuff you won't need.

[Khazul]

The reason Cubase wont recognise the synth unless its turn on is very simple - Cubase scan the midi ports that exist when it starts up - if the TI isnt switched on, then the usb midi port doesnt exist and so it cant find it - the plugin will however still be able to communicate with teh TI, but you wont be able to open the TI Synth In port - which is a problem if you have a keyboard/polar version.

As for USB cards - adaptec seem to be the best I think, though Im actually using the on board ports now (975X intel chipset) for the TI, my midi interface and the onboard firewire for my audio interface (24 ch in, 16 out and about 5ms latency...)

The most important thing with the TI is to make absolutely sure it is not sharing a root hub with anything else - alot of on board USB ports do share.

The way to check - devices manage on XP, view devices by connection expand all the USB controllers until you find the TI devices - idealy there should be nothing else on that host controller.

Also you will probably want to ensure that same for your new motu midi interface and its an absolute must for reliable operation of a USB2 audio interface if you have one.