Connecting GR-1 to PC (for MIDI recording / playback) ?

JKM

So far I used the GR-1 stand-alone, with just a MIDI keyboard connected to the DIN MIDI IN.

Now I am wondering what I would need for recording and playing back MIDI
using a DAW on the PC/Mac (e.g. Ableton Live)?
The release notes for 2.4.0 say that "Most knobs now send CC's via USB MIDI".
So it seems that recording MIDI on the PC should be possible.
But how do I connect the GR-1 to my PC?

The manual suggests using the iConnectivity Mio2 that supports USB MIDI "Host-to-Host".
But it seems that the Mio2 has been discontinued and is out of stock everywhere I looked.
Are there other interfaces that have the same functionality?

I have a Focusrite interface (Scarlett 18i8) with DIN MIDI IN/OUT. Would it be possible to connect the GR-1
to that interface (using a USB-to-DIN MIDI adapter - such as the M-Audio USB Uno or the Swissonic MidiConnect 2)
and then route the MIDI data through the Focusrite? Or would that not work?

Other options?

tastychips

If the mio2 is discontinued (shame), then perhaps another product from them will do. I see several audio interfaces from them that use the dual USB-B ports..

JKM

Ok, I will try to contact iConnectivity and ask about alternatives to the Mio2.

What about connecting via DIN MIDI (USB-to-DIN MIDI adapter
plus an interface with DIN MIDI ports such as those audio/MIDI interfaces from Focusrite).
Could that work?

tastychips

The GR-1's DIN interfaces are exclusively IN and THRU :/ No way to output MIDI data via them.. You really need USB host-to-host functionality.

JKM

Yes, the GR-1 does not have DIN MIDI OUT. I understand that.
What I meant was: Is is possible to use a simple USB to DIN MIDI interface such as the ones mentioned above
for connecting one of the USB ports of the GR-1 to the DIN MIDI ports of my Focusrite?
Or would that not work?

tastychips

Oh, I see. That may work yes. We've never tried it, though. Let us hear how you fare..

JKM

I contacted iConnectivity, asking for alternatives to the Mio2.
They said that the Mio XM might work but they couldn't say for sure
because they don't have a GR-1 to test it.

I noticed that here in the forum someone started a thread a few months ago
saying that she/he had trouble getting the Mio XM to work.
But no updates to that thread. So I wonder if the problem was solved in the end?

Since the Mio XM is not cheap (240 Euros in my favourite store)
I am not sure if should buy it without knowing if it will work.

So I decided to first try something else and I had some success
but also currently have some problem (see below).

I bought a USB to DIN MIDI interface cable, the "ESI MidiMate eX",
and used that to connect one of the USB ports of the GR-1
to the DIN MIDI ports (IN and OUT) of my Focusrite interface.
For the tests I used an Alesis Q25 keyboard connected directly to my Mac via USB.
I then created a short MIDI track in Ableton as follows:
I first set the Q25 as input and the Focusrite/GR-1 as output and recorded
a few notes. That worked fine.
Then I switched input to the Focusrite/GR-1 and used "MIDI overdub" mode
to record the movement of the position slider of the GR-1 to the same track.
That did indeed work! When playing the track in Ableton, the GR-1 plays the notes and
the position does change (also visible on the display). So far, so good !

However, I came across one problem:
When I set the Q25 as input and arm the MIDI track in Ableton
and then press some keys on the Q25 it works fine as long as I only use the Q25.
But when pressing and holding a key on the Q25 and
then moving the position slider or turning the FX1 knob on the GR-1
while releasing the key on the Q25, then the GR-1 keeps playing the note!
It seems that the "note off" message is lost (or ignored?) in that case.
The GR-1 keeps playing the note until the key is pressed and released again
or until the "stop" button in Ableton is clicked (that also seems to send a "note off" ?).
Not sure what the problem is, but it can be reproduced.

Any idea what might be causing that behavior?

JKM

I wonder if the "ESI MidiMate eX" is the problem.
It has an automatic detection of IN / OUT ports. Maybe that doesn't work correctly in this case?
I think I will try a different interface cable to see if that makes a difference.

JKM

So I bought another interface cable, the "M-Audio USB Uno".
And now it works as expected! Problem solved.