Sending midi commands to more than one device?

Kerry

I am currently using Stage Traxx on my iPad and successfully sending midi commands to my boss vocal pedal via Widi Jack. Recently, I looked at a wolf mix mk2 lighting controller that also accepts midi commands in to trigger lighting scenes. I’m wondering if it’s possible to send commands to two devices from my iPad? Obviously, I wouldn’t want the same command to go to both devices, they would have to be separate so I send one command to the vocal controller and another command to the lighting controller.

Lishy

Kerry yes I send to 4 so you’ll be fine with 2. Just make sure the devices have different channels set up for them.

Kerry

Lishy perfect I was thinking that was probably the way to do It is on separate channels that way each device wouldn’t hear the instructions going to the other one. Thanks!!

marklith

Lishy That's good to know, how do you have it wired to the iPad?

My current setup is that I use a computer running ST3 that sends MIDI to an FX pedal (Ch6) and also to a DMX controller (Ch4), both via USB. I have a 3rd USB that sends the audio to the mixer (Yamaha MG10XU) - so that's 3 x USB connections.

The singer has a bluetooth pedal for track selection, Start/Stop and an iPad on a shared session to see lyrics and to confirm that we're on the right track.

That's too complex with too many failure points for my comfort level, so I'd like to go to a single iPad for the singer that manages everything including a new WolfMix WMX1 MkII that I think we're just about to buy:

Runs ST3
Audio out via the USB-C port
has a BT pedal
sends timed MIDI messages to the FX pedal
sends timed MIDI messages to the WMX1 to trigger DMX presets

Could it be as simple as having a powered USB hub for the Audio and 2 x MIDI?

Sharonzaz

Besides setting different midi channels, so the one device could ignore unwanted commands, your pedal likely accepts CC and/or PG commands, while for lights you could use note numbers to trigger the scenes, so plenty measures to make sure there isn’t issues.

Depending on your lighting app/hardware, many iPad based apps may just accept ANY midi channel (Omni) but usually actual hardware could be set to only one dedicated channel.

My Helix is set to channel 1, my mixer to 16 and my lighting app I set the controller to 13, not sure if it’ll make a difference on the lighting app but me helix and mixer ignore what’s doesn’t get sent on their respective channels.

peter

Yes, a USB hub should work in this scenario. Although you need to find one that plays nicely with the audio output.

marklith

Thanks Peter

Having just watched Scott Uhl, I’ve decided to try the Widi Thru 6 BT where I can protect the integrity of the audio from the USB-C port and send all the MIDI stuff through BT to the Widi Thru 6 where it will get distributed from there.

Let’s see how this goes 🤞

Lishy

marklith was about to suggest this very thing.

marklith

UPDATE: The Widi 6thru BT arrived yesterday and it was surprisingly drama free to set up and, so far, rock solid with not a command missed by either the Wolfmix W1 or the FX box.

Pleased that there’s no computer in the loop now and the iPad is just driving everything.

NachoChez

marklith
I have also been using the CME WIDI products with very good success. These are great companions to ST3.