Hey

So. I've got an old yamaha keyboard which has midi in/out. I would like to use it to play software synths, running in Logic and Ableton. I would like to use the SP555 as an "in between" my computer's software synth and my midi keyboard. Is this possible? Or do I need another little midi box to accomplish this?

Ideally, I am using the SP in between computer and keyboard to use the keyboard to play software synths, while also being able to loop capture and apply effects with the SP, as if it were receiving an audio line in - is that clear?

Is this possible? I am new to midi and this kind of stuff - help is much appreciated.

i have an old yamaha practice keyboard plugged into the 555 midi in then the usb sends it to the computer. you might have to turn it on midi thru mode, but what you want to do is perfectly possible

Awesome thanks!

keyboard connected to SP's "midi in" and SP to computer with USB. Have Logic open and have a software synth loaded up.

SP's pads are triggering the software synth, while playing the sounds saved on the pads at the same time. They keyboard's notes do not produce its own internal sounds (local control off) but trigger the SP's pads, playing the sounds saved on them (but not the software synth). So close, fun to play around with, but not there yet.

I am totally fucking brand spanking new at this despite having been playing music a long time, sooooo... thanks for the patience.

-Zee n00b

If you just want to play the synth then use the silence trick to mute the SP-555's samples (ISOLATOR with all knobs to 0 is one way to do it IIRC).

You should verify which MIDI channels are being used and what MIDI INPUT your DAW is using.

Like hurlingdervish said, you might have to use MIDI THRU on your SP-555.

yea do midi through

and look at the midi channel control in the manual

i changed the setting and now the midi thru is on channel 1 i think and the pads come through on 3 and 4 strangely

then in logic just select the midi channel that matches

a bit of trial and error but you can do it!

Ok... almost there. Thanks very much for the help, without human explanation I find the manual fairly useless a lot of the time.

My shitty yamaha is now playing the software synth sounds in logic, using the 555. Great! Except that the yamaha keyboard is STILL triggering the samples inside the SP. Damnit.

I am monitoring the sound through the SP's headphone out.

How can I make the keyboard only trigger the software synth and not the pads?

Ah shit okay OOPS

So I plugged the headphones into the computer and I see that now I only hear the synth playing and not the pads on the SP. The pads are still being triggered when I play the keyboard, but with the headphones plugged into the computer I don't hear them.

Not sure if this is possible, but here is what I'm after:

Play software synth with keyboard controller. Be able to apply SP effects to software synth. Loop capture or sample into the SP, all as if the SP were receiving audio in. Is this possible? Where would I have to monitor the sound from?

Manual, page 42: "changing the signal flow when using USB audio".

You have to turn the USB audio input ON [Cancel + Ctrl 3], switch the output source to InP [Cancel + Line In + Ctrl 3] and then, you can apply effects [Effect Assign + Cancel + Mic/Line In].

if you set up the midi through correctly it will work. midi thru bypasses the pads it is the whole reason it exists.