Akai mpk25 midi/usb interface + macbook = deal?

[grrreg]

Dear midi hackers,

together with a friend im planning to build a midibox64. Basically i'd like to have a simple mixer to control live, while my friend has an eye on some traktorizer kinda thing.

Being quite overwhelmed by the amount of information available on this site we have a couple of questions. I did a lot of research but as i said, the amount of information is a bit... well... distracting links everywhere :frantics:

I do have some knowledge about basic midi stuff, also i know a little soldering and im not completely clueless when it comes to programming (well, reading and understanding sourcecode) in C and ASM. Nevertheless, we need a little push into the right direction:

What we have so far: a basic idea of what we need. (Core, Ains etc...)

What we need: An interface to my computer (macbook).

The first question: Do we have to have a dedicated midi/usb interface to attach our core to the computer or would it be okay to use the midi in/out ports of my brandnew akai mpk25 which i connect via usb? We also do have another DAW controller available (i believe its an m-audio keyboard)

If i got it right it should work out to connect the core to the mpk25 and use it as an interface but... well, im not sure about that.

Maybe someone can shed some light on this?

Thank you, greetings from Kiel/DE

[grrreg]

Oh, and by the way, im well aware of the fact, that most of you guys dont care about commercial stuff like mpk25. Just to make this clear: We are right now approaching to get rid of prebuilt stuff and are willing to learn how stuff works around here :rolleyes:

Also im aware of the fact, that an external midi/usb interface is not the most expensive thing on the planet, we'd prefer to use the stuff we already own though.

so far for the disclaimer :tongue:

[ssp]

firstly welcome to the forum.

if the akai has got midi in and out i dare say that they are for the controller, that is they only output data from the controller, however prehaps in the manual there is a section that states how to use these as additional midi ports over usb? take a look at the manual and see what it says. if not then the easiest thing to do is get your name down for a gm5 kit, its our own usb midi interface, or check to see if nils has any gm5x5x5 boards left and get some of those to make your own 5in 5 out midi usb interface.

now you have two options, you build the gm5 kit and this gives you usb midi, the board has got a midi in and out, you can connect those to the cores midi ports and use it that way. however there is a more easy way, you put the gm5 and the core in the same case, then you connect to your computer using usb. internally you then connect the gm5 to the core using the mi/mo pins via digital.

i have used this option in my builds and its so much easier only haing to hook usb up to the computer, then you dont have to worry about ports etc.

the mb64 is a nice build, however take a look at the mb64e, this will allow endless encoders and buttons using the dinx4 boards.

i hope this answers your questions.

[stuartm]

FAQ on page 38 of the manual:

Question: Can I use the MPK25 as a MIDI interface for other MIDI devices?

Answer: Yes. The MPK25 functions as a MIDI interface and can be used to send or receive MIDI from other MIDI devices connected to it.

So yes, you can plug you MB64 into the MPK25.

Since the MB64 sends only control data and no timing critical stuff (notes, midi clock), the latency shouldn't be a problem.

P.S.: Don't presume we hate "commercial stuff", we just found out that there's an even better way.

P.P.S: Greeting from the other end of DE :wink:

Edited April 1, 2010 by stuartm

[grrreg]

firstly welcome to the forum.

Thank you.

if the akai has got midi in and out i dare say that they are for the controller, that is they only output data from the controller, however prehaps in the manual there is a section that states how to use these as additional midi ports over usb?

Oh, yeah. The manual. I knew i was missing something. One of those moments you realize, that you rely on teh internets so much that you don't even care to read this stuff they print on dead wood. Actually i just downloaded a copy from the akai website instead of going to the room next door where the printversion should be located :laugh:

Apparently the mpk25 is able to work as a plain midi/usb interface. As stated in the manual. (See stuartms posting below)

take a look at the manual and see what it says. if not then the easiest thing to do is get your name down for a gm5 kit, its our own usb midi interface, or check to see if nils has any gm5x5x5 boards left and get some of those to make your own 5in 5 out midi usb interface.

now you have two options, you build the gm5 kit and this gives you usb midi, the board has got a midi in and out, you can connect those to the cores midi ports and use it that way. however there is a more easy way, you put the gm5 and the core in the same case, then you connect to your computer using usb. internally you then connect the gm5 to the core using the mi/mo pins via digital.

i have used this option in my builds and its so much easier only haing to hook usb up to the computer, then you dont have to worry about ports etc.

the mb64 is a nice build, however take a look at the mb64e, this will allow endless encoders and buttons using the dinx4 boards.

Thanks for these tips anyhow. I guess, we'll start out using the mpk for our little journey. Maybe later on we'll build some fancy usb stuff.

i hope this answers your questions.

It sure did. Thanks again

[grrreg]

FAQ on page 38 of the manual:

Question: Can I use the MPK25 as a MIDI interface for other MIDI devices?

Answer: Yes. The MPK25 functions as a MIDI interface and can be used to send or receive MIDI from other MIDI devices connected to it.

So yes, you can plug you MB64 into the MPK25.

Since the MB64 sends only control data and no timing critical stuff (notes, midi clock), the latency shouldn't be a problem.

As i said, i didnt even come close to the idea of rtfm of the device itself.

I think we'll give it a try and let the forum know if it worked.

P.S.: Don't presume we hate "commercial stuff", we just found out that there's an even better way.

I dont. I just wasnt exactly sure if my posting sounded a bit like some lame i-no-need-to-use-search-function kid and figured it would be a good idea to lighten that up. Also i gotta confess that i do love my mpk! Just got it new and still exploring everything. But im pretty confident, that ill be soldering for a couple of months now with my mate :)

P.P.S: Greeting from the other end of DE :wink:

:)