Rayzoon Technologies LLC

[cleartrueblue]

Following up to my earlier post, thought some might like to see what this "Jamstix/Bidule/PC to DFHS/Bidule/Rewired-to-ProTools/Mac" (whew!) thing looks like.

I whacked this together in haste yesterday and instead of Rewiring all the DFHS outs to Pro Tools I just used stereo outs and hosted the rest (Lounge Lizard and the pseudo compressed room mic chain) directly in Bidule.

Actually I'm just using the MIDI out (not the mixer or soundcard) nodes on the PC, so the PC Bidule could look simpler as well.

"Command8" is the MIDI interface on the Mac, "Drummer_0" is the DFHS AU, and"Sync to MIDI Clock(MAC)/MIDI Clock to Sync(PC)" enables tranport control from the Mac.

Cheers/Mark

[Ralph [RZ]]

That's pretty cool
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[andrewwright67]

And it works, right?

How would I go about setting up using my midi out from bidule on my PC to an in on my Digi 002 (control surface), then to bidule on Mac, then to Protools?

Cheers in advanced for any help given m8

I have done MTC, linking my PC and Mac together before, so it seems like the same concept, only i've never used bidule before!

[andrewwright67]

[Ralph [RZ]]

Don't look at me, Andrew...
_________________
Ralph Zeuner
Rayzoon Technologies LLC
http://www.rayzoon.com

[cleartrueblue]

Hey Andrew, get back to you today, happy to assist any way I can as I'm an expert (not!)...mail server on and off this week and I believe bounced the notification of your original query - why I wasn't on this sooner.

Later/Mark

[andrewwright67]

Thanks m8, look forward to the info

[cleartrueblue]

OK, loaded for bear here.

As background: I tried this first using Bidule's OSC (where Bidule's talk to each other over Ethernet) because I didn't have a MIDI interface on the PC. This worked (wireless!)...sort of. I was hearing timing glitches, so I went ahead and bought a pukka MIDI interface for the PC.

After getting the interface I reconfigured everything to work with it (including the Bidule on the Mac).

Turns out the Mac Bidule is entirely optional. I can do it all direct to PT on the Mac side. You can ignore the second screenshot above (unless you want Bidule for the other cool stuff it does).

Do you need Bidule on the PC? Maybe not if you're already hosting Jamstix in something else that can do what Bidule does for me: host Jamstix, route MIDI data between (to and from) Jamstix and my PC MIDI interface, and sync Jamstix (timing and transport) to a MIDI/Beat/Timing Clock stream coming in over MIDI from the Mac.

Whether you host Jamstix in Bidule on the PC or not, the Bidule PC screenshot does a good job of showing the routing and functionality at work on the PC side. In addition, in Jamstix I load up a Superior .rdm as "MIDI out only", set the MIDI out channel to "1", and "enable MIDI out "on the Output tab. Make sure in Bidule to sync to the MIDI clock data that will be coming in from PT (right click on Jamstix in Bidule and select "MIDI Clock to Sync"), AND double click "MIDI Clock to Sync" and uncheck "override tempo" and select "each measure" for the hard clock resynch.

And...

Starting with the MIDI stream coming out of Jamstix via your PC's MIDI interface: If your 002 has the same MIDI functionality as my C8 (1 in 2 out) you'll need to find a way to route the Jamstix MIDI channel THROUGH your keyboard and into the 002's single MIDI input (keeping the channels discrete as they come out of the keyboard)...or get an additional MIDI interface for your Mac.

These two streams (keyboard input and Jamstix stream) need to be set to different MIDI channels: I keep the Jamstix/PC stream on channel 1, and set the input I play on the keyboard to channel 2.

To complete the physcial MIDI set-up: run a MIDI cable out of the second MIDI-out port on the 002 into your PC MIDI interface.

Now go into audio/midi set-up on the Mac and add a device (representing your PC MIDI interface). Connect the "out" of port 3 on your 002 to the "in" of this new device (using the virtual cables...you've probably already done something similar for your keyboard). This allows the PC interface to be seen and routed to within PT. Your keyboard will most likely already be on port 2 of the 002 icon you see here...and port 1 is to be kept free for control surface information to/from the 002.

Open the DKFHS ReWire template in PT. and also launch "Drummer Rewire" (assume you know about this if you've got DFKHS hooked up through PT on the Mac).

The "Superior" track in the template is the MIDI track that will get the feed from Jamstix (and record it when we want to). As the input, select channel 1 of your keyboard MIDI device (assuming you have Jamstix on channel 1 as I do). Set the output (probably already is) to "DrummerRW_target1."

Then create an instrument track, setting the input as your keyboard MIDI device and channel (channel 2 if you're me). Insert an instrument on the track. Then add your PC MIDI interface (just created in audio/midi set-up) as an output in addition to the software instrument you've just inserted (make sure they're both checked).

Then:
Toggle-on "Options/MIDI Thru"
Set "Set-up/Preferences/MIDI/Default Thru Instrument" to "none."
Check the box next to the name of your PC MIDI Interface under "Set-up/MIDI/MIDI Beat Clock..."
Make sure all the ports from your 002 and keyboard are checked under "Set-up/MIDI/Input Devices..."

Set Jamstix to Freejam.
Record enable the Superior MIDI and Software instrument tracks (to monitor).
Press "play" in PT.

And have fun!

Looks more complicated than it is. You're really just routing MIDI to and from a module external to Pro Tools.

I mute a couple bars at the top of the arrangement so that Jamstix and PT and the MIDI clock can all get acquainted first.

Gosh I hope I got this all right, but I probalby didn't, so go set it all up and when it doesn't work ping me.

Best/Mark

[andrewwright67]

Wow!!

I use BFD, and I'll only be using Jamstix as an arrangment tool playing midi out only.

Here's what I have: -

PC

Midi interface
Jamstix

Mac

Midi interface on Digi 002
Edirol 2 in 2 out USB midi interface
Protools 7
BFD

I'll try to take a look at it this weekend and post some feedback

Wouldn't it be so much easier to have Jamstix for Mac's - hint hint Ralph



Cheers m8

[cleartrueblue]

Andrew,

With that set-up you should be in like Flynn.

BTW, you have Superior Custom & Vintage? Can you comment on C&V versus BFD...sounds, ambience control, useability etc. I just have C&V and have been toying with an addition, either the original Superior set, or adding BFD (and that Steve Albini-recorded add-on looks very tempting).

If I had Ralph's new snares on the Mac, though, I would probably just sit tight - darn they sound good!

Best/Mark

[andrewwright67]

[andrewwright67]

I'm gonna try and get this working sometime next week, as I just haven't had time with exams an all.

I'll post back on my progress, and if I get stuck I hope you can help m8.

Cheers

[cleartrueblue]

At your service Andrew...

[andrewwright67]

Cheers m8. It'll be hopefully next week anyway, as I've just had to wipe my Mac for the 5th time

Cheers