Sort of… I’m running a computer (Mac) centric setup at the moment where this is no issue. Most of the sequencing is done with Ableton Live/Push 3. Fits my needs for now.
As a side note; besides not having separate MIDI cables, I also eliminated analogue audio cables for the synths that support USB audio. This also eliminates the hum some USB powered synths produce on their analogue outputs.
And I combine the USB audio outputs with regular analogue outputs from other synths using Apple’s Aggregate Device (Create an Aggregate Device to combine multiple audio devices - Apple Support) to create one hybrid audio interface for my Mac.
I’m rambling to myself now but I could see this as part of the instrument definition. Like USB Host is the midi out channel for the track but the instrument definitions names and points to USB Host Cable 1.
Hi all, potential Hapax purchaser here. I have a question that I think was pretty clearly answered in this thread already, but I just want to verify:
I have a number of synths and modules running through an iConnectivity MioXL midi router, which is also connected to my computer. Ideally, I’d like to simply be able to connect the MioXL to the Hapax so I can easily switch between my instruments without connecting them individually to the Hapax. Is this possible? I understand that the Hapax doesn’t support USB hubs or allow for multiple USB midi inputs at the same time, but as long as it can communicate with my MioXL that shouldn’t be an issue. Does my question make sense? In other words, I’m wondering whether I can set each track on the Hapax to the proper midi channel and communicate with my gear via the midi router. Thanks!
Thanks for the quick response! And anyone using a Mio in their setups, advice on port routing between the Mio and the Hapax would be very welcome! Will the Mio act as a conduit between the Hapax and my computer, or should I use the device port on the Hapax to go to my computer to connect with DAW and VSTs?
And unfortunately from my knowledge of USB, it’s pretty unlikely that Squarp is going to be able to accommodate standard midi hubs in the future. Those hubs are designed to route USB signals in a way a computer can untangle, but most “simpler” devices (a smart TV, an MPC, etc.) just don’t have the software or hardware capacity to do that. But it sounds like anything that can act as a midi buss–and many cheaper options than something like a MioXL have been suggested here–can do the trick nicely.
I get it, though, that many of us use a hub to run to our computers and wish we could just switch them between devices for plug and play. Maybe synth makers will start adding a second USB midi port someday? Although that might cause midi loops or conflicts… That’s what we get for still being on a 1980s standard!
I’m not sure that is true, that it would be hard to support a USB bus type implementation. Per your example the Akai MPC does support a USB bus for midi data. And while there are no commitments, the team at Hapax have been actively working on USB Midi in the new 2.0 beta.
Just don’t want to close the door on a future enhancement.
DSS
I agree. Synthstrom also added multi USB host support through a USB hub in an update, even on a USB B port, which wasn’t intened to be a USB host port at all.
So I think it may technically be possible to add USB hub support for Hapax and I think Squarp also hinted that they intend to do that in the future. With the recent changes in the beta firmware, I think it is very likely that it will soon come.
I use the mioXL connected to the Hapax via usb. It works great. All usb devices and midi din devices are able to be routed to the hapax and back. The mio is also connected to the computer simultaneously, so you can route to the daw.
Thanks! What I’ve done is routed the Mio to the Hapax from a Mio USB device port to the Hapax computer port. I’m still working out some glitches with Abelton, but the Mio is able to easily manage routing for the Hapax to all my gear.
Does anyone know whether you can go from a Mio device port to the Hapax device port, leaving the Hapax PC port free for connecting to a computer? I suppose that would require a male-to-male USB cable. Is that what you’re describing in your setup? In my current configuration I’m having trouble getting Abelton to recognize midi channels and data from the Hapax via the Mio.
I run the mio host port to the computer so I can mange the routing via the software. The computer also sees all of the mio devices so they can be routed in software. Including the hapax. Then the hapax usb device port to a usb device port on the mio. I’ll admit I dont do much daw or soft synths to test the capability between hapax and the computer though. I don’t see why it wouldnt work though.
I’m not sure this is exactly on point with what a lot of the goals are being expressed here, but I’ll share my set up. I have several MIDI devices running as input devices to the Hapax MIDI input via a BomeBox.
The signal path is as follows:
USB midi devices > usb hub > bomebox > Hapax midi in
The usb hub has switches on each port so I can snap whatever device I want to use for input on and off with the hub. The bomebox allows for input and output routing of midi signals to and from any input output you want, I believe similar to the MioXL that was discussed, albeit a smaller unit (1x 5pin midi in, 1x 5pin midi out, 1x usb, 1x Ethernet in, 1x Ethernet out).
I haven’t tested BomeBox with host, device, or output, only input. But I can confirm the use of a midi hub to bring multiple units as input devices to the 5pin midi in port
