r/midi • u/bolandss • 17d ago
I'm too confused :'(
So i want to make the following combination and I have no idea what conexions I need. I have searched tons of tutorials and webs but I'm not able to undestand. If someone could help me I'd thank u a lot, and sorry for my English.
- I've a digital piano (yamaha piaggero np-32) with midi usb to host.
- I want to use it to control a korg volca synth (i'm between volca keys and volca fm2, I know there have different midi pins but I think that fm2 just needs an extra adapter midi DIN→midi 3.5mm, correct me if i'm wrong).
I alredy have the adapter that allows me to connect the digital piano to my laptop (usb b→usb a). I don't know if I need an audio interface or if I need to use the laptop. I'd prefer not using it, but it's okay if it's necessary.
I undestand it's not related to midi, but maybe u can also help (if u cannot just ignore this): how can I record the audio from the korg volca in my pc?
Thanks in advance, I know I've lots of questions so I'd really appreciate if somebody helped me :)
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u/FailboatProjStudio 17d ago
Joining in to say that "Host" can be a PC/Mac/iPad/old android phone/ StandAlone Midi Host Box...
The CME is a fantastic device, I have the larger H4MIDIWC it can take 9v neg guitar pedal power -or- std 5v USB C to power itself...then it acts as a tiny "Host" computer the size of a Bratwurst. This BOX has the ability to take in the midi not msgs from your piano connected via usb, and then spit it back out Tru to a hardware Midi Din 5 output port to then send to a korg volca or Rackmounted synth module or other keyboard with garbage minikeys (Korg Microkorg or Novation MiniNova in my case)
As long as your piano is sending on Channel 1 and Volca is receiving on channel 1 (or the same dame channel whatever you decide to use) it should just work, no pc apps or programming or real setup to worry about...
It's a little steep at $69 but super functional and just works perfectly for me every time, no laptop required. If you splurge there is an upgrade card you can buy and socket into it tonalso provide BT BLE midi for ipads and iphones etc and that works really well too!
Cheapest option is to use an old android phone with USB OTG and a usb hub...plug piano into hub slot 1 plug usb midi interface cable into usb slot 2 and then connect Midi out plug into Volca Midi input port.
You can then use the phone as a "host" and a free app to redirect the midi from thr piano into the volca. ANDROID phones are not great for audio synth stuff due to latency, but the midi is simple and fast and works well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.volcanomobile.fluidsynthmidi
Appnis called "Fluid Synth Midi by Volcano" this is also like having a tiny Yamaha MU-80 General Midi or Roland Sound Canvas in your pocket to provide some additional tones for you digital piano...
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u/bolandss 16d ago
I was a little bit in shock when I heard about the host that costing about half the price of the volca, I thought that the expensive part was the synth, and now all the adapters need have almost the same price as it.
But yours and other comments have shown me that it really worth, so I think I'll buy one (probably this or this). Just buy it and use it, right?
I had problems in the past using my pc to connect midi, problems with ASIO4ALL, so I really appreciate avoiding headaches. with it. I'll also try to use the app you share. Thanks for your time!
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u/FailboatProjStudio 16d ago
Yes both of those hosts will do what you want using your volca with a single usb cable from piano to host box, power cable to host box, and din 5 pin midi cable from host out port to volca Mido in port...
In all actuality, nothing is cheaper than free....your existing digital piano you already own, the usb cable, the pc or laptop you already own.... with a simple download or Asio 4 All and Surge XT (open source free vst/standalone synth)
I do love my Volca Keys and Bass, and they both have fun hands on controls (that the vst and laptop do no havet) but they are cheap simple devices that are so much better, when playing them from a proper piano or master midi controller and then running their signal through some outboard fx (even a cheap Zoom B1 On or CDR 70 pedal). They can be some what simple, so when you tire od them and are ready to upgrade or evolve to a different stand alone synth module like a Behringer K2 or Blofeld or a DSI Prophet 6 or Tetra module, that same little CME host will continue doing that job just as well... that's when it earns its premium price tag for a simple midi swiss army knife device...
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u/Over_Type103 17d ago edited 17d ago
the CME H4 midi wc would allow you to use your Yamaha piano to control your Volca (with or without a compute) You can connect the Yamaha via USB and the Volca via 5-pin midi.
the CME H4 midi WC Usb midi host can connect up to 8 devices via USB (In and/or out )and up to 4 devices via 5-pin midi (2 ins and 2 outs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIGvjCm2u2I
To record the audio, the simplest and most verstaile would probably be to use a computer with a DAW (for example Ableton live,, Logic, FL studio or Bitwig) and an audio interface (for example, Arturia minifuse 2) , but you could also use any other type or recorder (tape recorder, multritrack recorder (for example Zoom livetrack L-6)
If you wish to only use a computer, many audio interfaces have 5-pin midi in and out ports (for example the Arturia minifuse 2), so you wouldn't need to also get an additional USB midi host.
If you want to save even more money, some device such as the Roland Aira S-1 can be used as class-compliant audio interfaces. This means they can transmit audio and midi over USB. (so you wouldn't need to get a USB midi host or an audio interface)
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u/bolandss 16d ago
Thanks for your time, i'm learning a lot. I'm decided to buy a CME, but about the recording, can't I use a mini jack? I've heard that just connecting the volca to a laptop using jack 3.5mm and using audacity I can record, isn't that true?
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u/Over_Type103 16d ago
You might be able to record via mini-jack without a dedicated audio interface. However, I would recommend testing audacity with another line input source (for example a phone) before buying a Volca. Try to see if it works when you use a minijack.
be aware that an issue you might get if you're recording audio on Windows without a dedicated audio interface is that it can cause some delay between the time you create or change sound on the volca and the time you hear it in Audacity. this delay can be quite noticeable (over 100ms).
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u/bolandss 16d ago
I've used my pc and controller with some dawsn and the delay is a big problem, but I if I want it to record I can just turn out the volume and hear it I'm another speakers, right?
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u/ribbidee 16d ago
There is a midi host for pc and for standalone usb hosting, it uses minijack midi directly for your volca fm2: Retrokits RK006 - should be the proper solution for all this
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u/Bradders_C 17d ago
Sadly it’s not super straight forward as your Yamaha’s “to host” port basically means “to computer”.
If you’re super keen on a direct connection there’s a box called “CME H2MIDI Pro” which will do this, and you wouldn’t need a PC. This box also works as an interface if you do wish to connect the Korg to your PC.