Trick: How to output MIDI data to several applications

[HubertPolonski]

"How to output MIDI data to several applications"

So, I'm starting piano lessons again, and I never really learned to sight read. Luckily, I stumbled upon this awesome website, which allows you to practice sight reading with your MIDI keyboard, right in Chrome! https://sightreading.training/

Sadly, the website doesn't seem to output any sounds itself, in response to your MIDI input. At least, I can't get it to work (event though there's a selection of sounds to choose from. If you figure it out, please tell me how!).

So I thought I would just start up my favorite VST, EastWest Play, outside of a DAW and just have it recieve the MIDI input also, so that it would handle the sound part. But! It seems that Windows 10 (or at least my setup) only allow one application to use the MIDI keyboard at any time (maybe it depends on the keyboard?).

So, I needed a way to send the MIDI input both to Chrome AND to my VST.

The answer? loopMIDI by Tobias Erichsen!
https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html

How it works is, that you open a "loopback MIDI port" in the application. That port will then show up as a MIDI device everywhere, both as midi in and out. So you can send, and recieve from it.

So I let https://sightreading.training/ use my MIDI keyboard as midi in, then as MIDI output I choose the loop midi port. Then in my VST I choose as MIDI in the port. Voila! Now the MIDI IN was routed through both applications via loopMIDI.

https://i.imgur.com/TVTCYxD.png

Another way of doing it? I also thought of just putting my audio interface card as MIDI out in Chrome and then connect MIDI out of the interface to its own MIDI in. Then Chrome would use the MIDI keyboard as MIDI in, and my vst would use the audio interface.

Note: I realize now, that all this is dependent on the fact that https://sightreading.training/ allows to relay the MIDI in as MIDI out. If you're doing it between other applications, then maybe just make sure you have some application first in the line, that recieves from the MIDI keyboard and then outputs to the loop port.

[Philbo King]

CopperLAN is much more elegant at this. But if this works for you, run with it

[HubertPolonski]

Originally Posted by Philbo King

CopperLAN is much more elegant at this. But if this works for you, run with it

It certainly seems to be more advanced But thanks! I'm checking it out right now! But having problems achieving what I want - maybe you could help me out?


I've tried these two setups, but my EW PLAY VST reacts on none of them.
https://i.imgur.com/41A2EEB.png

https://i.imgur.com/Dd2Gvvp.png

I would just think, that if Chrome uses the VMIDI 1, that I could at the same time, reroute whatever VMIDI 1 gets to VMIDI 2 and then use that for PLAY. But either: 1) my setup is incorrect or 2) PLAY / computer still sees the connection as 1 connection, that's hijacked by Chrome.

Any ideas/suggestions?

UPDATE: I also tried to add another "Full cable: MIDI virtual cable" from my Launchkey to VMidi 2, still having EW PLAY VST recieve from VMidi 2... But nothing happens :/ https://i.imgur.com/XSMpEWv.png

UPDATE 2: I know why nothing happens now. Because when I close Chrome, PLAY suddenly receives. So it seems that no matter which of the above setups I make, it won't work because Chrome somehow hijacks it all. Which is the whole reason, I'm fiddling with loopMIDI and this, to begin with. Any ideas?

[Philbo King]

Well, first of all, ditch Chrome, it's pathetic IMO. Maybe try Firefox...

I have at times needed to use another virtual midi cable in addition to CopperLan; it doesn't always create multiclient ports like midiox and loopback do, and sometimes I need to filter incomimg midi content before it reaches Reaper.

So you might try routing Vmidi1 to another virtual midi port, then tell your browser to use that for midi.