I have 3 keyboards - V-Synth, Virus TI (on the keybiard stand) and a Novation Remote 25 (on my desk) and 2 additional hardware synth modules (Motif ES Rack and Novation KS-Rack).
All of those are connected to an Edirol UM-880 MIDI patch bay/USB interface, so with pressing a couple of button on the panel of the UM-880 I have complete control of what midi controller is routed to what synth, as well as control of routing to/from the computer.
The TI Is ususual in this setup as it is connected both via MIDI to the patch bay (for controlling the oher synths, or being controlled by say the V-Synth, or Remote 25) and via USB to the computer. THe USB to the computer is required for Virus Control to work.
The problem here is that the TI can can function as a *direct* hardware midi controller when Virus Control is not running. Once virus control is started, then the hardware midi ports on the TI are disabled, and so the only way to control the other synths is to route midi from the TI via its USB through the computer, at which time I find it alot easier to just use the V-Synth as a master for the other synths than fiddling with midi routing in Cubase. (Messing with menus - vs pushing a button on the UM-880).
I should add that I bring this on myself as I DONT like the local control off approach that access and some others advocate for using a DAW.
If you work the way that is advocated, then you will be fine, so far most people, the TI makes for a great master keyboard.
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