Cables connection ???

[ksor]

I'm connectiong my PHASE88 to my pc with the FireWire cable, but IF I want to do some MIDI tracks too I should connect some MIDI cables too.

I have my keyboard, a Roland SC55 witch I want to use too.

In the first place I DON'T want to use replacements in the Reaper for the SC55.

Is it posible to connect it ALL so that no cables has to be switched afterwards ?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

I'm connectiong my PHASE88 to my pc with the FireWire cable, but IF I want to do some MIDI tracks too I should connect some MIDI cables too.

You'll need a way of getting midi from your keyboard one way or the other through a midi cable or USB if you have an interface that can do that.

In the first place I DON'T want to use replacements in the Reaper for the SC55.

I'm not sure what you're talking about here.

Is it posible to connect it ALL so that no cables has to be switched afterwards ?

Unless your keyboad has onboard sounds and you want to use those sounds from your keaboard, there's no reason to have more than one midi cable connected. If it does have sounds you want, then you will need two midi cords or, like you say, switch the cable.

[Fex]

Originally Posted by ksor

In the first place I DON'T want to use replacements in the Reaper for the SC55.

Originally Posted by Tod

I'm not sure what you're talking about here.

I think what he means is....

Originally Posted by Tod

Unless your keyboad has onboard sounds and you want to use those sounds from your keaboard

It does, and he does.

So, ksor, unless you want to program the MIDI entirely in Reaper rather than performing on the keyboard, you'll need MIDI in, MIDI out, and audio out from the keyboard.

Originally Posted by Tod

you will need two midi chords

Chords?

Chords?

[ksor]

I think I'll make a sketch of my cabling then you can comment on that.

[ksor]

This is my first attemt ever to do this harddisk recording _BEEP_ - so by patient !

Attached is how I plan to do my cabling.

With this cabling I beleave I can:

1) Play on the keyboard, hear it through the amplifier by speaker/headphone
2) record MIDI-tracks OR audio from the SC55 in Reaper
3) record audio (MICs and GUITARs)in Reaper
4) playback audio AND MIDI-tracks and hear it by the amplifier in speaker/headphone

WITHOUT switching any cables - is that so ?

Should it be done some other way ?

Any comments ?

[Tod]

Hi ksor, there are other ways to set it up but I think this setup is the simplest and should work. The main thing is to get your routing setup properly in Reaper.

[ksor]

Hi Tod

Why did you delete the USB-cable from the pc to the SC55 ?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

Hi Tod

Why did you delete the USB-cable from the pc to the SC55 ?

>Do you have some special software that turns the USB output to MIDI out (or MIDI in for that matter)?

>Although you have two midi inputs on SC55 it still only has 1 port and the two MIDI inputs are combined so unless you had a very very special reason, it really has no advantage.

If you setup the way I show above, then setup the I/O of Reaper's midi tracks to receive (MIDI input) from your KeyBoard and send the MIDI to the SC55 using MIDI hardware output which is also in the I/O routing. this should work well. One way or another you'll have to us the MIDI hardware output to send midi back to the SC55 if you want to play back midi that you record in Reaper.

[ksor]

How can Reaper then record a MIDI-tracks as MIDI-sequences and NOT as audio ?

The "MIDI hardware output" you talk about - what is it - I thought it was the USB-MIDI-cable I had in my first layout.

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

How can Reaper then record a MIDI-tracks as MIDI-sequences and NOT as audio ?

The "MIDI hardware output" you talk about - what is it - I thought it was the USB-MIDI-cable I had in my first layout.

The Midi Hardware is your Phase88.

>In Preferences>Audio>MIDI devices you need to set it up to see both your Phase88 Midi inputs and outputs.

>On the Midi tracks Right-click on the Arm button, scroll down to Input: MIDI and select your Phase88 (you can probably also select All Channels).

> Left click on the I/O button and under MIDI hardware output also select your Phase88.

>Arm the midi track, turn Monitoring ON and you should hear the SC55 if you've got your audio setup right.

[Tod]

How you comin' KSor, if you need more explaining I'll sure try.

[ksor]

Easy, easy - I'm an old man, you know ... I'll try when I finished my coffee

[ksor]

Oh ... that coffee was good ....

I'm trying to set this MIDI cabling/routing up so I can hear something.

I wonder why I have no MIDI outputs to get in the menu Preferences>Audio>MIDI devices - see attached piture.

I think this missing MIDI-outputs is the ones I should be able to select when right-clicking the I/O-button of my MIDI track - right ?

Why do I have no MIDI outputs in the menu Preferences>Audio>MIDI devices ?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

Oh ... that coffee was good ....

Hey ksor, long coffee break aye..

It appears your Phase 88 has two midi ports. It's very strange that you can see the Midi-Ins but not the Outs. Might be a driver issue.

Have you downloaded the latest drivers for it? Other than that I don't know. Did you try Reset all MIDI devices in MIDI Devices?

[ksor]

Hi Tod

Yes it has MIDI IN/OUT on the front panel and the same on the rear panel.

I have the newest driver and the latest firmware installed - just downloaded from the TerraTec website.

I found this in the PHASE88 manual:

"The MIDI drivers
Two separate interfaces with their own drivers are available for recording and playback of MIDI information via the MIDI IN and OUT sockets. The drivers designated as “PHASE 88 FW(0) Midi In/Out 1 or PHASE 88 FW(0) Midi In/Out 1(2)” in this system can be selected in any situation in which their use would be appropriate.

Practical tip: If MIDI files, which can be played back using Windows' media players, are also to be transferred to externally connected devices, open the “Sounds and Multimedia Properties” dialog window from the Windows Control Panel and set the “MIDI Music Playback” device to the driver mentioned above."

I can't see what this information means right now - meybe you can ?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

Practical tip: If MIDI files, which can be played back using Windows' media players, are also to be transferred to externally connected devices, open the “Sounds and Multimedia Properties” dialog window from the Windows Control Panel and set the “MIDI Music Playback” device to the driver mentioned above."

I can't see what this information means right now - meybe you can ?

I think all that means is if you use the Windows Media Player (or any audio software which would include Reaper I would imagine), that you direct it to the Midi Outs. That's not your problem at this point, your problem is you can't see the output drivers. Did you try Reset all MIDI devices in MIDI Devices?

Maybe re-install the drivers. It sounds like each In/Out port has it's own set of drivers.

[ksor]

Yeah, I tried to "Reset all MIDI devices" - no effect at all.

After my coffee break ;-)) I'll try to install the drivers again !

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

Yeah, I tried to "Reset all MIDI devices" - no effect at all.

After my coffee break ;-)) I'll try to install the drivers again !

Hi ksor, what version of Windows are you using? I did a little searching and found this on the Terratec site.

PHASE 88 - Driver and Software
Driver and ControlPanel
For Windows 2000 / Vista (32/64 Bit) / XP (32/64 Bit)
Version: 5.51b | Filesize: 4.68 MB

It looks like their last modification was in Jan-2007 and the version is 5.51b.

[ksor]

Originally Posted by Tod

Hi ksor, what version of Windows are you using? I did a little searching and found this on the Terratec site.

PHASE 88 - Driver and Software
Driver and ControlPanel
For Windows 2000 / Vista (32/64 Bit) / XP (32/64 Bit)
Version: 5.51b | Filesize: 4.68 MB

It looks like their last modification was in Jan-2007 and the version is 5.51b.

Oh ... I use a XP SP3 32 bit !

I'll try to get that from their site and try install it - THX a lot !

[ksor]

Originally Posted by ksor

Oh ... I use a XP SP3 32 bit !

I'll try to get that from their site and try install it - THX a lot !

How come I can only find this - both on the german and UK sites:

PHASE 88 RACK FireWire - Driver and Software
Driver and ControlPanel
For Windows Vista (32/64 Bit) / XP (32/64 Bit)
Version: 2.44.41 | Filesize: 9.26 MB

and thi is what I installed - and you version is 5.?? much much younger !

Oh ... maybe it's for the PCI version - mine is FireWire version

Do you have a link to what YOU found ?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

Do you have a link to what YOU found ?

I downloaded it and put it in dropbox, see if you can download it, just click on the link I think.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/63198126/EWS...a_XP_5.51b.exe

[ksor]

Originally Posted by Tod

I downloaded it and put it in dropbox, see if you can download it, just click on the link I think.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/63198126/EWS...a_XP_5.51b.exe

I beleave it too is from the DriversCollection AND for another unit that mine - I tried to install it but it CAN'T see my FIREWIRE version ;-((

I then re-installed the original (latest) but still no MIDI outputs to find ;-((

HELP .... someone here having a TerraTex PHASE88 FIREWIRE speak up !

[ksor]

I took a screendump of the PHASE88 controlpanel ABOUT dialog but to me it has no information right now

[Tod]

Is it the rack version?

Okay, it's the rack version..

[Tod]

yep, it looks like Version: 2.44.41 is the latest for the Phase 88 Rack version.

Have you got any other audio software that has midi that you could check to see it that software see's the midi-in/out.

[ksor]

Originally Posted by Tod

yep, it looks like Version: 2.44.41 is the latest for the Phase 88 Rack version.

Have you got any other audio software that has midi that you could check to see it that software see's the midi-in/out.

I have a very, very, VERY simple and old program called EvolusionAudio - it can't see nothing at all af my PHASE88 - but I'm sure that's caused by simplicity and age.

[Tod]

Dang, I want to see you get this going ksor.

One thing to try:

>Click on Start and select Control Panel.
>Double click on Sounds and Audio Devices.
>Click on the Audio tab.

Closer to the bottom you'll see Midi music playback, check and see what that says and if you can see the Phase 88 there. I'm not sure this will mean anything but maybe.

[ksor]

Originally Posted by Tod

Dang, I want to see you get this going ksor.

One thing to try:

>Click on Start and select Control Panel.
>Double click on Sounds and Audio Devices.
>Click on the Audio tab.

Closer to the bottom you'll see Midi music playback, check and see what that says and if you can see the Phase 88 there. I'm not sure this will mean anything but maybe.

Here is a screendump of what you asked for - I can see the PHASE88 near the buttom and I have opened the properties too - see attached picture.

[Tod]

So the midi ports aren't showing in your 2nd picture. I think this is strange, on my old XP computer all my midi ports show up there including some virtual ports I've added.

I wonder if this is a 1394 firewire issue?

[Tod]

Looking at your first picture there's another thing to check.

Under the MIDI, Double click on TerraTec 1394 Audio Driver.
Make sure Use MIDI features on this device is checked.

Just another shot in the dark.

[ksor]

Originally Posted by Tod

Looking at your first picture there's another thing to check.

Under the MIDI, Double click on TerraTec 1394 Audio Driver.
Make sure Use MIDI features on this device is checked.

Just another shot in the dark.

They WERE checked ;-((

[Tod]

Okay ksor, lets step back for a moment. In post #5 you state this as what you want to do:

Originally Posted by ksor

1) Play on the keyboard, hear it through the amplifier by speaker/headphone
2) record MIDI-tracks OR audio from the SC55 in Reaper
3) record audio (MICs and GUITARs)in Reaper
4) playback audio AND MIDI-tracks and hear it by the amplifier in speaker/headphone

So starting with:

1) Play on the keyboard, hear it through the amplifier by speaker/headphone, you can do this already right, using direct monitoring or the monitoring button on the Reaper track?

2) record MIDI-tracks OR audio from the SC55 in Reaper. You can also do this right now right?

3) record audio (MICs and GUITARs)in Reaper. You can do this too right?

4) playback audio AND MIDI-tracks and hear it by the amplifier in speaker/headphone. You can playback audio right? The only thing that's missing is you can't get the MIDI tracks to play back your keyboard sounds right?

I just want to make sure I havn't missed something here.

[ksor]

Originally Posted by Tod

Okay ksor, lets step back for a moment. In post #5 you state this as what you want to do:



So starting with:

1) Play on the keyboard, hear it through the amplifier by speaker/headphone, you can do this already right, using direct monitoring or the monitoring button on the Reaper track?

2) record MIDI-tracks OR audio from the SC55 in Reaper. You can also do this right now right?

3) record audio (MICs and GUITARs)in Reaper. You can do this too right?

4) playback audio AND MIDI-tracks and hear it by the amplifier in speaker/headphone. You can playback audio right? The only thing that's missing is you can't get the MIDI tracks to play back your keyboard sounds right?

I just want to make sure I havn't missed something here.

I just took a little time off from this PHASE88 _BEEP_ and when I started the system this morning ..... the MIDI output where there !!!!!

Now the setup looks like the attached picture !

And I too know what has happened - I used to REMOTE CONTROL the XP pc from my Windows 7 pc and this remote controlling let the MIDI outputs crasch !

So I'm doing a little "trial/error"-things about what I CAN and what I CAN'T do from the list.

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

So I'm doing a little "trial/error"-things about what I CAN and what I CAN'T do from the list.

Ha, that's great ksor. Let me know how it goes or if I can help. Heh heh, us old farts gotta stick together.

[ksor]

Now I got a solution for the "Remote Desktop" problem too - if this setup is run on the computer witch do the remote controlling of the PHASE88 - then all PHASE88 MIDI output are still there, when accessing the PHASE88 by "Remote desktop control":

a) Click Start
b) Type "remote desktop connection" without the quotes in the start search box and hit Enter.
c) When the Remote desktop connection window opens up, click on the dropdown for Options.
d) Select the “Local resources” tab.
e) Under Remote audio, click Settings.
f) A new window will open up.
g) Under Remote audio playback, select the option-Play on remote computer.
h) Click Ok.

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

Now I got a solution for the "Remote Desktop" problem too - if this setup is run on the computer witch do the remote controlling of the PHASE88 - then all PHASE88 MIDI output are still there, when accessing the PHASE88 by "Remote desktop control":

Hi KSor,

I've never used two computers like this so I don't know anything about it. What advantages does it give you?

Are you getting your midi and audio to work properly now?

[ksor]

It gives you the abilit to "use" two computers with ONE set of SCREEN, KEYBOARD and MOUSE - and in my case the "remote" computer HAS TO BE one running XP, because the PHASE88 only can run on XP - and my "own" computer runs Windows 7 - but now I can "run" the other computer "from" my usesual desk - that's really nice, I can even turn ON/OFF the remote computer from my desk - a DIY-program I made !

In fact you can use this "Remote desktop controlling" through the internet too - so at the office you can access your home computer and visa versa - it's a facility in Windows - else there are a lot of "remote controlling programs" on the net - seach for "Teamviewer" - free for private use !

I had an old Lenovo ThinkCentre with 3.3Ghz processor and 4 Gb RAM setup for musical use ONLY - it run XP and the PHASE88 is Firewire connected to it. Then I only have to BACKUP my Reaper-projects.

Yes, it runs with no problems at all - at least, what I tested so far !

Tomorrow I'll get some stereo jacks and "RCA phone"-plugs to make some cables to get it all hooked up with amplifier/headphones ect. ect.

I'll too try to convert two of my mikes to "balanced" mikes - I think it can be done by changing the "crappy" connector in the bottum of the mike to a XLR-connector and then change the cable to a balanced cable too.

But I'm happy now it turns out all my MIDI ports are there !

Now I have to figure out all the routing setup in the Reaper.

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

It gives you the abilit to "use" two computers with ONE set of SCREEN, KEYBOARD and MOUSE - and in my case the "remote" computer HAS TO BE one running XP, because the PHASE88 only can run on XP - and my "own" computer runs Windows 7 - but now I can "run" the other computer "from" my usesual desk - that's really nice, I can even turn ON/OFF the remote computer from my desk - a DIY-program I made !

In fact you can use this "Remote desktop controlling" through the internet too - so at the office you can access your home computer and visa versa - it's a facility in Windows - else there are a lot of "remote controlling programs" on the net - seach for "Teamviewer" - free for private use !

I had an old Lenovo ThinkCentre with 3.3Ghz processor and 4 Gb RAM setup for musical use ONLY - it run XP and the PHASE88 is Firewire connected to it. Then I only have to BACKUP my Reaper-projects.

Yes, it runs with no problems at all - at least, what I tested so far !

Ah, I see, sounds pretty complicated, I've never done anything like that yet. However, I am in the same boat in regards to an interface that won't work in Win7. I've go 3 old Aardvark Q10s that are actually pretty good sound cards. They all have 8 Line outs and 8 Mic/Line ins, for a total of 24 Ins/Outs. 12 of the 24 Mic inputs have phantom power. There's no way I can replace them without costing a bundle.

Tomorrow I'll get some stereo jacks and "RCA phone"-plugs to make some cables to get it all hooked up with amplifier/headphones ect. ect.

I notice the PHASE-88 line ins and outs are all balanced 1/4" plugs so the RCA plugs must be for your headphones?

I'll too try to convert two of my mikes to "balanced" mikes - I think it can be done by changing the "crappy" connector in the bottum of the mike to a XLR-connector and then change the cable to a balanced cable too.

Yes, XLR and balanced mic cable is the only way to go. I notice your mic inputs also have phantom power so you can us condensers which is great.

But I'm happy now it turns out all my MIDI ports are there !

Now I have to figure out all the routing setup in the Reaper.

Keep me informed how it's going and I'll help you if I can.

[ksor]

Originally Posted by Tod

Ah, I see, sounds pretty complicated, I've never done anything like that yet. However, I am in the same boat in regards to an interface that won't work in Win7. I've go 3 old Aardvark Q10s that are actually pretty good sound cards. They all have 8 Line outs and 8 Mic/Line ins, for a total of 24 Ins/Outs. 12 of the 24 Mic inputs have phantom power. There's no way I can replace them without costing a bundle.

IF you can set up another computer running XP (and running your Q10's) you can control this computer from your Windows7-computer WITHOUT any problems - it's a peace of cake to set it up and then you can see IF your Q10's will still run when "remote controlled" - use my recipe from start.

Yes, the RCA-plugs are for amplifiers and headphones ... I found out the store is closed Saturday, so I'll have to wait till Mondag ;-((

[Tod]

Originally Posted by ksor

IF you can set up another computer running XP (and running your Q10's) you can control this computer from your Windows7-computer WITHOUT any problems - it's a peace of cake to set it up and then you can see IF your Q10's will still run when "remote controlled" - use my recipe from start.

Okay, but there's something I don't understand. If the interface is connected to the XP comp why do you need to control it from Win7? Or is it just the software you're controlling from Win7 (the mixer)?

Or do you have the means to go from your PHASE-88 outputs to the Win7 comp? In my situation I think I need to control Reaper on the XP from Reaper on the Win7 to lock up the project files. Heh heh but I could be totally wrong.