Hi, I want to add a midi controller so I can play parts in to my Hapax. Something with at least a couple of octaves of notes at a time, Velocity and ideally aftertouch and something that would work well for melodic parts as well as drums.
I’m also interested in workflow. I would like to be able to easily switch between which instrument/track is being controlled, either by changing midi channel on the controller or by switching the selected track on the Hapax. I don’t mind keys or pads or a mixture of both.
Ideally I’d like to play a part using the controller, then press record on the Hapax to save that to a pattern, then change to control a different instrument.
What are people using for this and would you recommend it?
Keystep? Launchpad X? Linnstrument? Keith McMillen K-Board-C?
And are you using Keystep into the Hapax, then out to individual instruments? How do you change what you’re controlling? Does that mean changing the midi channel on the Keystep but also needing to change track on the Hapax at the same time?
I’m using a Keystep 37. Velocity and aftertouch work well enough for me. 37 mini keys is a compromise but it fits in very well in my setup on the desk. Track selection happens on the Hapax. Since I am using nearly all out ports on Hapax, changing channels on the Keystep wouldn’t suffice anyway.
I also have a Waldorf Blofeld keyboard (with Local Off) that I use when I want a better key bed with better aftertouch. That way I can also send notes to other synths routed through Hapax. No MPE controller currently (used to have a Roli) and I’m going to sit this one out at least until Hapax’ MPE implementation is finalised.
Does that mean you also need to change midi channel on the keystep each time? Or set all tracks to use the same midi in channel and they only receive when they’re active?
No changes on the Keystep. I’ve set the KS37 to send on channel 16 to Hapax port B (no particular reason for that, just happens to be free in my setup). I’ve set active track on Hapax to the same. See here under Midi input: Hapax Manual | Squarp instruments
I used to have all tracks set to “All Active”, but I’ve been slowly changing most of them to their own input port+channel so I can also record their knobs/cc. And all receive notes from KS37 when active. This works thanks to Hapax’ active track setting above. I’ve created instrument definition files for all my synths so I don’t have to remember ports and channels.
polynil, not sure if you’re still monitoring this, but I have a question on how you achieved this. I’d have the KS37 also sending notes/cc on the active port/channel to play whatever’s active. Fine, works great. But i’d also like the individual synths to send midi events on their own port/channel to record the knobs. The problem here is how do you avoid the echo? If I set the MIDI INPUT to be REC ONLY, then the KS37 can’t send midi events to play the synths. But if i set it to ACCEPT then I get a loop when the synths send on individual channels. I’d rather not set every synt to be LOCAL mode only. Did you figure out a way to do this without having a loop? Would love the ACTIVE PORT/CHANNEL setting to override other midi inputs but thats not the case. Thoughts?
I have been using a Hydrasynth 49, but I am debating changing that to something with 61 keys and just channel aftertouch. It does not seem that Squarp is going to support PolyAT again anytime soon.