Connecting 2 keyboards

[brindabella]

Ok, lets see if people here that are savvier than me in computers ( and that means everybody else ) Can help me with this.I have a Korg keyboard connected directly to my sound card which is an M-audio 2496.Keyboard is connected to the card thru a midi cable, the M-audio has audio and midi I/O. Now I need to connect a second keyboard. How do I do that? What do I need to buy? Thanks!

[ibanez468]

brinda,I suppose that depends on what you want to do. Do you want to record audio with the second keyboard, or do you want to record MIDI? If want to record audio using the second keyboard, I suppose all you'd have to do is hook up either a mono or a stereo 1/4" cable (depending on the output of your 2nd keyboard) to the audio "IN" of the m-audio box, and call up an audio track on your DAW to record the second keyboard on. Seeing as it sounds like you only have one MIDI input to work with (I'm assuming), you could always convert the MIDI from the first keyboard you record, into audio, unplug the connection to the first keyboard, hook up the second keyboard and record the MIDI coming from that to your DAW program. If you need the first keyboard to generate MIDI to the second keyboard in order to record the 2nd keyboard, you can hook a MIDI cable from the "OUT" (or the "THRU", I think that's correct, not 100% sure) of the first keyboard to the IN of the second keyboard, and run a cable from the OUT of the second keyboard to the m-audio IN, and record the second keyboard to a MIDI track. I'm just assuming & trying to picture your setup, as I'm not familiar with the type of korg keyboard you have, and you didn't mention what make 2nd keyboard was. But I'm going to assume that the Korg has 3 midi connections, and the 2nd kb has at least 2 midi connections (IN/OUT). You should be able to work something out the way I described. If I missed anything, I'm sure others'll chime in and set things straight. WARNING: This stuff can get complicated sometimes, so you really have to know your way around your DAW, and how to match your keyboard MIDI out channels with your DAW MIDI in channels, or things may not sound/work the way you expect. But if you got one keyboard working properly than getting the other to work properly shouldn't be too bad. HTHibanez468

[mazz]

You have two options as I see it (using the Thru port on the Korg seems like it would be too confusing given the issues with MIDI channels, etc. that it would entail)1. Get a MIDI thru box. You would then hook up the MIDI out from your M-Audio card to the MIDI in of the thru box and then run 2 cables out, one to each keyboard's MIDI in. You'd still use the MIDI out from your Korg to play sounds from either the Korg or keyboard #2.http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... ku=7025042. Get a MIDI interface. This is the best option IMO as it would allow you to address each port (keyboard) individually from your software. You'd connect the MIDI ins and outs to this interface and then you could play either keyboard and control either its internal sounds, or the other one's sounds and still control the software instruments in your DAW. This unit will give you more flexibility. It also leaves the MIDI cables from your 2496 available in case you buy/borrow another keyboard or sound module.http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... 701226Hope this helps,Mazz

[brindabella]

Ibanez, sorry, forgot to mention: The Korg has also audio connected directly to the M-audio Audio I/O. The second Keyboard is ( God bless my friend who gave it to me as a gift) a Yamaha DX7. Working double shifts this past week, I only made sure that it turns on and off.Im not familiar with that keyboard, but it has midi in/out/thru. It has to have audio out, I just tested it with my headphones. I guess I would want to record audio and midi too with the Yamaha, dunno yet. I do both with the Korg.I went thru the "instruments list" for Sonar with the Korg. I dont think there is one for a DX7, I mean, that thing is what, 20 years old? But the sound is pure gold!

[ibanez468]

Mazz's 2nd suggestion is probably the best. I have a MOTU micro lite 5x5 that does what he describes. It does offer better flexibility. Just trying to give some possible immediate solutions to your situation, as there will be a wait on a piece of gear to arrive at your doorstep, unless of course, you can pick something up at the local music store.ibanez468

[brindabella]

Mazz I looked, and the midi interface looks like it is the thing to go. And I like M-audio.So the Korg audio would still be connected directly to the soundcard, and both midis (Yamaha and Korg) to the midi interface. What about the Yamaha's audio? In case I can do it, I assume you can? Thanks!

[brindabella]

Quote:Mazz's 2nd suggestion is probably the best. I have a MOTU micro lite 5x5 that does what he describes. It does offer better flexibility. Just trying to give some possible immediate solutions to your situation, as there will be a wait on a piece of gear to arrive at your doorstep, unless of course, you can pick something up at the local music store.ibanez468Nah! Wouldnt mind waiting. Im waiting also for the keyboard stand. Yamaha is sitting right now on top of my ironing board!

[mazz]

Quote:Ibanez, sorry, forgot to mention: The Korg has also audio connected directly to the M-audio Audio I/O. The second Keyboard is ( God bless my friend who gave it to me as a gift) a Yamaha DX7. Working double shifts this past week, I only made sure that it turns on and off.Im not familiar with that keyboard, but it has midi in/out/thru. It has to have audio out, I just tested it with my headphones. I guess I would want to record audio and midi too with the Yamaha, dunno yet. I do both with the Korg.I went thru the "instruments list" for Sonar with the Korg. I dont think there is one for a DX7, I mean, that thing is what, 20 years old? But the sound is pure gold!You might need to get a small mixer and plug the keyboards in to that first and then in to the m-audio. The 2496 only has stereo I/O.I always liked the feel of the DX7 keyboard. The sounds can be pretty cool, although if you use some of the stock sounds they can end up being dated. The nice thing about the DX7 is there's about 20 quadzillion patches available, most of them free to download. A quick google search will reveal a lot of options.Good luck!Mazz

[brindabella]

Duh! Yes, the sound card only has Stereo. Hmmm...the plot thickens and my purse gets thinner!

[ibanez468]

Mazz, or couldn't she just record one thing at a time? I know it can be a little time consuming, but that's always another option. Or record one keyboard using midi and the other using audio, at the same time? That would work, wouldn't it? I've done all 3 ways before.ibanez468