Connecting external MIDI devices

Extension

Many people have MIDI controllers they like which have only MIDI plugs, and must be connected to computers via a MIDI interface (which is often available onboard with audio interfaces or midi controllers).

This example uses an Doepfer pocketfader box (very sturdy metal box, 16 faders), and connects it via a Fireface 400, which has 2 MIDI ins and outs on a breakout cable.// 1. make an Mktl for the pocketfader MKtl(\pf, "*pocketfader"); MKtl(\pf).gui; // This will say that it is virtual only, because this desc // has an idInfo : "EXTERNAL", which is not an existing port name. MKtl(\pf).desc.fullDesc.at(\idInfo); // So we need to tell it which midi hardware interface we connect it to. // 2. find out which midi interfaces are there: MKtl.find(\midi); // this posts the 2 ports of the Fireface: // Available MIDIMKtls: // MKtl('myNickName', 'lookupName'); // [ midi device, portname, uid] ... MKtl('midi_2_fireface_400__297__port_1', 'midi_2_fireface_400__297__port_1'); // [ "Fireface 400 (297)", "Port 1", 696824605 ] // no matching desc files found! MKtl('midi_3_fireface_400__297__port_2', 'midi_3_fireface_400__297__port_2'); // [ "Fireface 400 (297)", "Port 2", -1112414548 ] // no matching desc files found! // Some controllers have MIDI plugs onboard which show up as extra ports; // these may also have desc files (with zero elements) - e.g. the qunexus_port2 // 3. look at their idInfo entries as copiable code: MKtlLookup.allFor(\midi).collect(_.idInfo).printcsAll; ""; // which posts: "IAC Driver" ( 'destPortIndex': 0, 'srcPortIndex': 0, 'deviceName': "Fireface 400 (297)" ) ( 'destPortIndex': 1, 'srcPortIndex': 1, 'deviceName': "Fireface 400 (297)" ) // 4. now connect them: // tell MKtl(\pf) to create a mididevice by giving it the proper idInfo; // e.g. here, we take MIDI input 1 of the fireface z = ( 'destPortIndex': 0, 'srcPortIndex': 0, 'deviceName': "Fireface 400 (297)" ); k.openDeviceVia( z ); k.device; // -> now it has a MIDIMKtlDevice k.trace; // -> and this should post incoming midi messages!

If your MIDI hardware device has no desc file yet, you can make one by copying the desc file of a device with similar features and adapting it, or by creating one using MIDIExplorer.

Bonus track:// The Doepfer pocket electronics kit is available for making custom devices; // e.g. adc made one with 8 joysticks called the joybox, which has a desc file: j = MKtl(\jb, "*joybox"); j.gui; j.openDeviceVia( ( 'destPortIndex': 0, 'srcPortIndex': 0, 'deviceName': "Fireface 400 (297)" ));