Can anyone suggest a way to set up key switching so that one key will change the midi output channel for the entire keyboard? (for example C0= Channel 1, C#0 = Channel 2, etc.

Thanks.

You don’t say what you’re trying to accomplish, so it’s hard to make a suggestion.  But, taking a guess, have you looked into Master Mode (p. 35 in the Owner’s Manual, p. 211 in the Reference Manual).  Master mode allows you to set up several “masters” and map the keyboard into four zones, each assigned to a different master.  This doesn’t directly address your question, but it might help you accomplish what you’re trying to do.

Thanks. I am trying to play back different external samples and I want to switch between them with left hand notes at the bottom of the keyboard since each sample resides on its own midi channel.  I can do it in song mode with the channel buttons, but it is tedious to play with right hand and reach over top with the left to change the channels so I would like to use some of the lowest register notes to accomplish the same thing.

jimi_a - 17 February 2013 12:34 AM

Thanks. I am trying to play back different external samples and I want to switch between them with left hand notes at the bottom of the keyboard since each sample resides on its own midi channel.  I can do it in song mode with the channel buttons, but it is tedious to play with right hand and reach over top with the left to change the channels so I would like to use some of the lowest register notes to accomplish the same thing.

You cannot assign individual keys to MIDI channels.

However, if you’re triggering samples, each of which is a one-shot (like a
musical phrase, or a sound effect, or even a drum loop), why note load those samples to the Motif and assign each one a specific key range? For example, let’s say you have an explosion sound effect that you want on C0.
Make sure it’s a 16-bit, 44.1khz .wav or .aiff sample, and load it from a USB drive to the Motif in voice mode, assigning its center key to C0.
After loading, you can edit the sample’s parameters so its key range is restricted to “C0-C0” meaning it will only sound on that one key.

Please download and try the following tutorial:
Loop Kit Tutorial for Motif XF

In the PERFORMANCE provided with the data - I use the octave between C1 and C2 to house different audio loops… white keys trigger the loops, black keys are “stop” keys. One white key loop will replace another white key loop. Any black key in that octave simply stops the play. The right hand is a saxophone sound to play over the loops.

DavePolich - 17 February 2013 12:51 AM

You cannot assign individual keys to MIDI channels.

While you and Bad_Mister gave good advice on alternate ways he might be able to do what he needs, I also don’t see any reason he can’t assign individual keys to MIDI channels. Master Mode lets you create zones that send different notes to different MIDI channels… AFAIK, there’s no reason a zone can’t contain just a single key.

anotherscott - 17 February 2013 11:45 AM

DavePolich - 17 February 2013 12:51 AM

You cannot assign individual keys to MIDI channels.

While you and Bad_Mister gave good advice on alternate ways he might be able to do what he needs, I also don’t see any reason he can’t assign individual keys to MIDI channels. Master Mode lets you create zones that send different notes to different MIDI channels… AFAIK, there’s no reason a zone can’t contain just a single key.

Well, yes, that’s correct. I just think the solution of loading the loops/samples and assigning them a specific range is easier.

It would be nice if jimi_a chimed in again and defined exactly what he means by “play back different external samples”.

Bad Mister...excellent tutorial, thank you...not exactly what I was looking for but it is a valuable exercise on it’s own.

Dave...I want to play back different samples that are on different channels of a software sampler that does not have its own key switching function..I can switch the midi out channel on the XF using the part select buttons in song mode, but I would prefer to use the bottom left portion of the keyboard so I don’t have to reach over my playing hand.  I was just wondering if I could map a few keys to change the midi channel of the rest of the keyboard.

I was just wondering if I could map a few keys to change the midi channel of the rest of the keyboard.

well, no, of course not. Keys generate channel events called NOTE-ON events. It would be illogical for a note-on event to cause the MIDI channel to change. What kind of chaos would occur? Would the note-on occur on Channel 12, and then the note-off occur on channel 13… In theory It would cause nothing but hung notes all over the place. This is a theory because, of course, MIDI does not work this way.

You still don’t say why they need to be on different MIDI channels… As each MIDI channel has 128 notes on which to place you audio samples. There are only 16 MIDI channels… Using a MIDI channel for jut one sample seems wasteful, but then again you have not really stated what you are trying to do.

What you have asked, pressing a key to send a message to change the transmit channel, is NOT possible. Doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish your goal, just means you cannot accomplish the way YOU have come up with ...

If you software sampler cannot place individual samples on different keys of a single MIDI channel (?)… Why use it, export the samples to the XF’s INTEGRATED SAMPLER, because it does!!! Quite easily.

jimi_a - 16 February 2013 11:48 PM

Can anyone suggest a way to set up key switching so that one key will change the midi output channel for the entire keyboard? (for example C0= Channel 1, C#0 = Channel 2, etc.

Thanks.

What you’re asking for can be done with the addition of external hardware. It would have to send SysEx messages to the XF to change the keyboard transmit channel, of the form:

F0 43 1n 7F 00 00 0B dd F7
n = device number (typically 0)
dd = MIDI channel data (00-0F = 1-16, 7F = off)

So F0 43 10 7F 00 00 0B 02 F7 would have an XF (set as first device) keyboard transmit channel change to 3, for example.

A MIDI Event Processor and a MIDI Thru could accomplish the job.

The Event Processor would have to be programmed to send the required messages when selected XF keys are pressed. The external tone generator might have to ignore note-on messages in the range of keys used for changing MIDI channel.

Are you sure you need to do this? :-)

Bad Mister,

The software sampler is Miroslav Philharmonik.  The string articulations are divided over 8 midi channels, but the program does not accommodate “key switching”.  My work around to change articulations from the XF is to go into song mode and use the number buttons to change midi channels.  However, this is cumbersome (for me anyway) if you are playing a part with your right hand because you have to cross over with the left to reach the buttons.  I would actually like to load some of the Miroslav samples into the XF, but there are two issues.  1) the sample library is 7 GB, and 2) I can’t find a translator to extract the sounds for the Motif. Apparently, Chicken Systems Translator only translates into Sample Tank formatting, but will not convert that format to others.