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Midi thru on iPad with camera connection kit? - MIDI Designer Q&A

Midi thru on iPad with camera connection kit?

0 votes
Summary: cannot get midi thru working in my setup.

Details: I am connecting a Roland F-130R digital piano. Mididesigner will not find it on WiFi, although the Roland can connect over WiFi to Roland apps. No matter, because Mididesigner can connect using the camera connection kit. I confirmed that I can send notes and sysex messages and have them understood by the Roland.

Now I want to use Mididesigner to manage the configuration of the Roland, e.g., to change the tuning system (temperature) to Arabic, where the notes are slightly off. The way the Roland works is that this can be done, but only on the external midi input. Apparently, the synthesizer has two inputs, one connected to the keyboard and the other to midi in and it is the latter that can be configured through sysex messages. If I do this and then play the keyboard, I get double notes: those from the keyboard, with the standard tuning, and the retuned notes through midi out/midi in (slightly off). What I now need to do is switch off "local" on the piano. Then whatever I play goes out on the midi interface only. If it then comes back, I have what I want: a single, retuned note. I have confirmed that this works on the PC with Midi-OX, connected through the camera connection kit.

But with Mididesigner I do not get it working. I have seen a tutorial on midi thru for Mididesigner on YouTube, but there there the iPad is connected through WiFi and the extra keyboard through the camera connection kit. Could that make a difference? I made sure the midi thru button on the config window is active. I also made sure that the retuning message has been understood by the Roland, by playing a scale on Mididesigner which comes out slightly off, as it is supposed to.

Any suggestions what I might try, or is my scenario currently not supported? Thanks in advance!
in Advanced by jeroen (120 points)
recategorized by MIDI Designer Team (Dan)
The way MIDI thru works currently is that it won't echo back to the same-named interface. The reason for this was to avoid MIDI loops. Does that help explain what's happening? That's the first step in this conversation. Then we'll see what we can do.
by MIDI Designer Team (Dan)
Thank you for your prompt reply!

I understand your explanation. Since the scenario worked for me with Midi-OX, I think my Roland does not echo incoming midi messages back - only keyboard events seem to go out (and pedal etc., presumably). If I am right in that, am I also right in thinking that in my situation there is no danger of a midi loop?
Would there in that case be any chance that my scenario could be supported in the future?

My compliments for an excellent program by the way! For my purpose (easy configuration of my piano, which is a pain to do via the console) this functionality is crucial, however.

Thanks a lot!
by jeroen (120 points)
Thank you for the kind words! Please feel free to put a 5-star review in the App Store, if you can.

Regarding this functionality: it's certainly possible. I'll add it to the suggestions list, but we're still figuring out our release schedule for the next few releases.

Thanks for your patience and for the #appLove.

Best!
Dan
by MIDI Designer Team (Dan)
I will certainly put a 5-star review in the App Store as soon as I can use the app for my purpose. Looking forward to this... it will really open new possibilities for me.

Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Jeroen
by jeroen (120 points)
Thank you, that's great to hear.
by MIDI Designer Team (Dan)
Just thought to let you know that I have found a workaround. I will do the configuration in Mididesigner, and then use Miditrail (a midi stream visualizer) to echo midi in to midi out. I just confirmed that it works. Your reply set me on the right track.

That also means that my requested feature, though still useful, is not that urgent anymore. Will give the app 5 stars now.

Many thanks for your help!

Jeroen.
by jeroen (120 points)
Thank you! There's MIDI Bridge, MIDI Flow, and a few others too. At some point, we're going to roll this functionality into MD.
by MIDI Designer Team (Dan)

Any updates on this? I think it's also related to this question: http://mididesigner.com/qa/2662/irig-midi-thru-function

by kjlaumann (100 points)
moved by kjlaumann
hey there, no movement forward on this. We do allow for MIDI thru but NOT back to the sending port (nor its same-named port). For that you need another app. Thanks!
by MIDI Designer Team (Dan)
Thanks for coming back on this.
Just to be sure: I understand that it is currently not possible.
But on Jan 8, 2015 you said this functionality will be rolled into MD at some point. Is this enhancement still on the roadmap?
Thanks!
by jeroen (120 points)
MIDI thru is in MIDI Designer since 1.6, but you cannot send from the SAME input port to the same output port.
by MIDI Designer Team (Dan)
I do KNOW that it is not possible at the moment. My question was: is it on the roadmap, as indicated in your reply of Jan 8, 2015?

Thanks.
by jeroen (120 points)
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