Hi guys!
I have a problem, a lack of knowledge in this crazy field called technology that is! I have a digital piano Technics pr50 with a very, very big malfunction, apparently software has gone wild and it works for only 20 seconds or so before the whole keyboard goes mute. Not all of a sudden but with style and dignity! Notes just seem to vanish one by one. So, I was told by some repairmen that it's the software that's making that trouble, not the mechanical stuff like burned inputs/outputs or something like that. So, if I want it repaired I need to put some seriuos cash, maybe approximately to what the piano is worth. So, you see my point here. I talked about it before on another thread a while ago.
So, here are my ideas and concerns, and I hope some of you can help. Maybe in some other areas I have certain expertise but technology is not one of them. I know some basic stuff, but now I need more!
Ok, here's the thing! I have a couple of more keyboards and all of them have MIDI inputs/outputs. So, I got the idea of connecting one of the keyboards to my digital piano and thus make it work like a keyboard rack/module. Simply because the digital piano has weighted piano keyboard with 88 keys which I adore, while other keyboards are all 61 keys.
My questions and concerns are:

1. There are three MIDI inputs/outputs on each keyboard saying IN/THROUGH/OUT. Logically, I guess I should put the cable in OUT on the keyboard I wish to use as a rack/module, and put in IN on the piano that I wish to use as my main keyboard. Am I right or wrong? 'Cause I tried that and it doesn't work. There are also some MIDI functions on the digital piano within the sequencer that require me to choose a channel.
So, please if anyone could shed some light on this for me and could explain it in detail how this works and how am I suppose to connect the cables and everything. I would very, very appreciate it!

2. Will connecting MIDI keyboards bypass the original software and sounds in the piano and actually work as a keyboard module/rack? Because, that's exactly what I need. Or to bypass it, or to simply choose to use the mounted rack sounds but play the piano not the keyboard.
If this works I am gonna buy a keyboard rack, so...

3. Do I need more MIDI cables or something else?

Hey, don't laugh!!! I've never done this before! I only know how to sit and play! Don't know much about all this other stuff as you can tell now.

I was looking for some information on the internet, but I couldn't think of any better place than our forum here to ask these questions and hope for a more detailed answer!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goran

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

I'm not sure if you're using the 5 pin or 13 pin MIDI connectors and what the other keyboards are.

Maybe this will help some for the Technics board :

http://www.wikizic.org/Technics/

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

No, it doesn't. I think it's a standard MIDI cable.



It's the 5 pin connector. And the keyboard I want to connect the piano to is a Roland E70. It's a 1990 model, an old but great synthesizer. I also have a Korg ix300, a 1997 model. So, I believe they have standard MIDI cables. It's all 5 pin.

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

The MIDI IN port is used to receive data.

The MIDI OUT port is used to send data.

The MIDI THRU port is used to pass on data in a chain of devices (also known as daisy-chaining).

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Yeah, I know that Mike. Well, except for that MIDI THROUGH stufff. Thanks for that, now I know what that is for too. But, there's an option, well more of a request, to choose a channel on the sequencer for MIDI. And when I do, it doesn't work. That's what's confusing me. I guess there's something I'm not doing right.

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

You should connect the MIDI cable from "out" on the Controller KB to the "in" port on the KB being used to generate the sounds.

I would try setting the MIDI channels on the KB generating the sounds to "OMNI" that way it will receive midi data on all paths so you can see if it is receiveing data. If it works and this is the only KB you will be using, you can leave as is. If you want to add another sound module you will need to set it up on discreet midi channels.

Hope that helps a little

I connected the cable right, but I just can't make it work. There is no "OMNI" anywhere. Even when I choose a channel, it doesn't work. In the manual of the piano says that the same channel must be chosen on both keyboards, so I chose channel 4 because that channel is default on Roland. But, I tried other channels as well, but can't get the sound.
Hey, it just occured to me, maybe the cable doesn't work. I must buy a new one. Even though the one I have has a couple of years and has never been used before. Who knows, maybe it doesn't work at all. Or maybe the piano is completely dead, at least as the sound and software goes. Everything else seems to be in perfect order. Except there is no sound after about 20 seconds of playing. A piano with no sound. Imagine that!

Thanks for help guys! I really appreciate it!
I guess I need to make a couple of phone calls and get here someone who knows more about it than I do. I know just the man for that. Not a repair guy, just a technology obsessed kind of guy. And a keyboard player as well. From out of town, but it's a great occasion for him to come by, right!?
Thanks guys! I knew I could count on you!

Cheers! (I got that "Cheers" stuff from Ceri! Blame him! Just joking! I like it!)

CHEERS!

Goran

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

Every MIDI port (one midi in connector and one midi out connector on an interface) carries 16 channels of data. However, you physically can connect only 1 device to a midi input. (The only exception here is if you have a MIDI merge box that will combine several midi cables to one midi stream).

You might think, that you will never need 128 MIDI channels. But it is rather surprising when one gets into MIDI gear how quickly these channels get used up. Want a Mackie Control (or automated digital mixer or control surface)? Count off 16 channels used. A multitimbral keyboard/master controller? 16 more used; 32 gone now. A emu proteus 2000 module (which has 2 MIDI in ports)? There goes another 32, only 64 left. Hardware sampler? 48 left. Say you bought some vintage stuff on ebay, maybe a Juno, a TX802, you are now down to 16. Hook up a few FX boxes and you only have a few channels left.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Wow Mike! Interesting stuff! I love learning new stuff! If you have the will and time, why don't you make a thread about it. About using technology in music, say, or something similar. The only thing I do know is to play and teach music. Don't know anything about sound engineering, or about how, say, guitar processors work, or what actually is a reverb for example. Or phaser, or distortion...I mean I know basic stuff, what it does, how it effects the sound, but overall...I don't know anything really. How does it work for example. How is it made, etc. I think it would be cool if we had such a thread!!! I know I need one! Can't seem to find an easy to understand information about it. Even David Gilmour taught lessons, not teaching how to play guitar, but how to build sounds on sounds using effect pedals, etc. Interesting stuff, I must tell you. I think there is something about it on You Tube. Anyway, thanks for the info! I appreciate it!

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

Others have tried to get some interest in home recording and tech stuff, but it hasn't been of much interest here.

You might want to check out :
http://homerecording.com/

Over there, they specialize in all of that kind of stuff. Good luck!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Hasn't been of much interest here?! I find that hard to believe. I guess I got lucky with my "Music theory!!!" thread then. Or at least I think!? Don't know. I always thought a musician should know as much as possible about music. Not just playing, but recording, mixing, producing...all that stuff.

Thanks for the link. I am going to check it out right now.

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

I must share and inform you guys, this whole MIDI thing with my piano...IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, I'm gonna buy a great rack and play the hell out of it! Maybe I'll post some new demos here.
Thanks for the help!!!

This forum...what a great place to be!!! Fender rules!

Goran

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com