Connecting 2 USB keyboards to your DAW (Logic in my case)

[orest]

Hi!
I'm thinking of buying another smaller USB keyboard for live sessions.
Is it possible to connect 2 USB keyboards into your DAW?
To split them up, use 1 keyboard on channel 1 and the other keyboard on channel 2.

Does anyone know if this is possible or will both keyboards play on all sounds and the splitting thing might not be possible?

[mazz]

The AudioMIDI Setup utility in OSX will certainly recognize multiple USB controllers, I have three keyboards, a drum pad and sometimes an EWI all connected at the same time. After connecting the controllers, I would think that you would do the routing in Logic. You should be able to assign any incoming controller data to any track, exclusive of other tracks. On Digital Performer it's called "Multi Record". In that mode you assign which controller, or controllers, will record MIDI data on that particular track. You can assign one controller to multiple tracks or limit it to one track. It's all done in the DAW.

HTH,

Mazz

[orest]

Thanks Mazz!
I will check it out, you must be able to do that in Logic as well I think and hope!

[tordenspyd]

Yes, you definitely can do that with Logic.
Ive had jam sessions with different players recording midi on different tracks simultaneously.
There are various ways to go about it.
With USB the Midi streams are summed onto one bus by default and all goes to recording (and through)
You could assign the keyboards to different Midi channels on the keyboard or you tap each individual USB Midi device in the 'Environment' and route (and modify) as you want.
I sometimes record on six tracks at a time, one for each string of a guitar 2 midi interface in Logic.
Good luck.

[mojobone]

You can also do the routing outside the computer, if you like, and if one of the keyboards has a MIDI output, and the other a MIDI in and USB out. You set each controller to send on its own channel, and piggy back the MIDI equipped controller on the MIDI/USB equipped controller. USB is always Thru. Logic can route each channel to its own track. This is handy if you have only one available USB port.