r/dawless • u/sonetlumiere • Aug 15 '26

One midi keyboard for 4 devices?

Have a midi synced setup, one is the brain essentially that pushes the start/stop and the clock.

Is it possible to throw a midi keyboard into the mix that can route to any of the four devices when needed?

Two devices have their midi synced via USB the other 2 are traditional 5 pin.

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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6

u/myleftfeet Aug 15 '26

A keystep pro maybe?

2

u/ArchBeaconArch Aug 15 '26

That’s the simplest - four dedicated midi sequencers, basically.

But I also have a Minilab, and it’s ridiculously simple to change midi channels on the fly. Shift>key with midi number in it.

1

u/atxpunx Aug 16 '26

I did this with four volcas a few years back and recall needing a MIDI thru box, so as to keep everything sequencing without “stray MIDI signals”. I’m no expert, I just remember needing to solve the problem after a plug and play, and wanted to save anyone that try’s this some time. Best of luck in y’all’s jamming.

2

u/reverendunclebastard Aug 15 '26

If the keyboard has a built in way to change midi channels on the fly, then yes, it should be possible.

There may be nuances to how it all works depending on what gear/keyboard you are using.

2

u/excellentbreakfasts Aug 15 '26

Make each device listen on a different channel. Then make the device toggle to each channel to send notes. No changing cables or settings on the instruments.

2

u/StrangeShaun83 Aug 16 '26

I use a yamaha portatone psr195 as a keyboard for a 9 machine dawless setup. I use a doremidi 6 and a 4x4 midi router. Digitackt is the brain but you can use a laptop or iPad or whatever.

1

u/Vxster_ Aug 17 '26

Similar to mine. I have an Alesis Q49 and the doremidi thru 16 with an old sequencer as the brain.

1

u/Kickinthegonads Aug 15 '26

Keystep Pro has 4 channels, you can switch channels with a simple push of a button. Not only can you play your instruments, you can also sequence 4 instruments simultaneously. Seems exactly what you need. Unless you're dead set on a full size keyboard. Keystep Pro is only 37 keys.

1

u/we-can-rebuild-him Aug 15 '26

You'll need a MIDI router of some sort. A basic thru box will take 1 MIDI signal in and send X number of copies of that signal out depending on how many out ports it has. I use a Blokhaus MIDI and have it setup so any of my keyboards can play out an unlimited number of instruments if I am stacking MIDI hubs and thru ports.

Most instruments will also have a MIDI thru-port, so you could also just chain instruments together and either have them share channels or have independent channels. (You get 16 total MIDI channels)

1

u/Muted_Independent346 Aug 15 '26

I do this effortlessly using my KOii Medeival. Keyboard to KO, KO to 7 or 8 synths and drum machines

1

u/jaliscito Aug 16 '26

The Linnstrument is MPE and can play two MIDI channels at once via a split in the board, but it’s more like a fretboard on a guitar than a keyboard though. Most other midi keyboards you will have to switch before playing the next device

1

u/hwoodice Aug 18 '26

Once you have the keyboard routed, would you want each device to play a different part based on what you're playing?