Assigning A Widi jack as a separate controller

General discussion about Gig Performer
1

So what is the best way to have a remote WIDI keyboard controller

  • I need it to play its own set of notes and controls - (its a minilab3 for my bandmates)
  • the widi jack (on the remote keyboard) is going through the Widi Bud in my MacBook (connecter to GP)
  • so is my other widi is at the moment a duplicate control (globally) (my widimaster is a keytar which serves as my upper tier keyboard as well)

How can I split these efficiently in GP if GP just recognizes the one widi Bud input on my Mac regardless of remote widi controllers?

I was going to assign it a midi channel - but then how do I globally unselect that channel from all of my original keytar set ups? Id hate to go in and have to unselect a channel for every single keytar set up I have already done

Temporary Solution: since its mimicking my upper keys(keytar) I can just assign some octave changes for now

2

UPDATE: the temporary solution won’t work - because it triggers both blocks causing octaves - so I need a solution

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3

Usual Disclaimer: I am sort of guessing in the dark…

Consider setting up a different midi in block in select specific midi channels to use in the different midi in blocks (I think a good idea anyway) (?)

4

Is that the channel mappings on the controller? - I’m trying channel 5 and shutting off that one but now I have to learn the top and bottom ranges of the same keys - which is tricky - because you need the lowest note on both controllers (pick the one that goes the lowest) and the do the same for the highest key or something will not play

seems like there must be a better way

5

Are you using the MIDI in Omni plugin?

6

No - Im using the WidiBud (the wifi dongle that plugs into my Mac (gig performer)

The current work around feels like a lot:

For the songs that require the mini lab:

1 - Load it on a separate midi channel (5)
2 - Create two midi controllers for widi Bud - take the current keytar (mine) and disable channel 5
3 - Only enable channel 5 on the minilab cnotroller
4 - this is important - I’m going into the actual VST and making sure its channel 5 (created a separate VST instrument for it - using the Korg M1 and if I don’t assign 5 it won’t come out)
5 - then I have to make sure I learn the lowest setting and the highest setting of both keyboards so it will register when I play either)

I know there has got to be a better way

7

This makes sense to me.

With regard to this:

This suggests (to me) that you were using the “omni” setting (all channels). But, you then disabled channel 5.

I think it is always better if you just use one channel at a time, rather then using OMNI.

But, I may be getting a bit over my head here.

8

You are connecting minilab and your Keytar over widi bud?

9

Correct.

10

Does widi bud only appear as 1 midi device in GP?

11

yes. - But now I have serious Widi issues with my keytar (keeps freezing) and replaced with the powered 61 Arturia - also keeps freezing.

So now I need to desperately swap out the wireless keytar to a wired 61 key controller - don’t really know how to do that in Rig manager … my hair is falling out…

12

I would never rely on Bluetooth
I am using this

Panda Audio midiBeam v2

1 Like
13

I wouldn’t touch Widi for anything real…ever…bluetooth is just not ready, I don’t care what anybody says.

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14

Im starting to see that now…

15

I’ve used 2 keyboards and a pedal board in my rig and added a WIDI for a singer that could play a few notes. I would convert those to chords in GP. But, I used this device

mioXM — iConnectivity

to keep my inputs straight. Everything comes in as channel 1. But, you can select which input in the mio is related to the MIDI in. His keyboard was almost close enough to use a USB cable to connect him. We went with blue tooth only to avoid an additional tripping hazard. At close range, it never failed us.

haven’t tried Panda Audio midiBeam v2 but it looks like a good alternative.

16

My experience with wireless turned out to be a disaster. One particular outdoor gig in the middle of a nearby town completely confused my setup to the extent that GP could not play anything due to the large number of wireless setups trying to take over. I switched to an Ethernet connection and have not looked back.

1 Like
17

I was going to assign it a midi channel - but then how do I globally unselect that channel from all of my original keytar set ups? Id hate to go in and have to unselect a channel for every single keytar set up I have already done.

See your other post Rig Manager Emergency - #28 by Spav