Studio One / Kontakt instruments MIDI control via Helix

[narkaor]

Hello everybody,

 

I am looking for a MIDI keyboard controller (ideally 88 keys and a built-in piano sound, for my wife to play) that I could plug to the Helix (floor) MIDI input, and use to control virtual instruments on my PC (Studio one + VST / Kontakt). I use the Helix as the main sound controller to record via USB.

 

I have an old Yamaha PSR-300, and so far I did not get it to run properly in this scenario (there is no note release when I stop pressing a key).

 

I don't know if some of you have any experience with this kind of setting, but I'd appreciate any input. I've been looking to DP-26 or SP-5600 from Thomann.

 

Thank you

[DunedinDragon]

MIDI keyboard controllers typically plug directly into the PC via USB, not through the Helix.  In my case my Helix is plugged into my PC via USB and operates as an audio interface for Ableton Live and Kontakt or any other music output from the PC.  But MIDI controllers are different than electronic pianos like the SP-5600 as they don't have any built in instruments and rely solely on the instruments provided by the DAW.

I actually have a separate Casio Privia 88 key electronic piano which I can play independently directly to the DAW as a MIDI keyboard, or as a standalone keyboard through the Helix as an audio device on the Helix.  But I typically don't use that as much for working with Ableton and Kontakt.  I mostly use my 25 key Novation Launchkey 25 as it has all sorts of custom controls and pads for integrating with the DAW and its plugins which the electronic keyboard doesn't have.  But if I want to use my Casio for directly recording MIDI I just plug it directly into the PC via a MIDI cable and select it as an input device in my DAW.  If I want to just use the electronic piano to record audio output to the DAW I have it plugged into my Helix via 1/4" inputs and I use the built-in instruments in the keyboard along with the volume pedal of the Helix.

In either case of using the Casio or the Novation MIDI controller, the resulting sound is always routed through the Helix as an audio device which has my studio speakers attached to it.

[rd2rk]

+1 for connecting via USB.

My ancient Seiko DS-250 has the same NOTE OFF problem when routed through Helix but works fine connected by USB (DIN to USB Adapter required).

The DAW (REAPER) doesn't care, it's just another MIDI device.

[datacommando]

On 6/6/2022 at 6:17 AM, narkaor said:

 

I don't know if some of you have any experience with this kind of setting

Hi,

 

They way my set up is rigged is to use the Helix floor as the audio interface using USB into my Mac running Logic Pro.
 

I have a pair if 8” Tannoy Reveal powered speaker connected to the Helix XLR outputs for zero latency monitoring. My Arturia KeyLab 61 is patched into an XTouch Universal MIDI controller, via USB into the Mac and Logic.

 

The XTouch manages the required automation of channels, faders etc, and the KeyLab plays the V Collection, UVI Synth Anthology, Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol, and Spitfire audio sample libraries among many other things.

 

All guitars/bass/acoustic/electric and microphones connect directly into the Helix for recording over USB and Helix Native is for re-amping and extra fx as required. I also have some very old classic rack mounted synth modules from Roland, Yamaha and Kawai, outboard multi effects, drum machines and Akai S950 sampler gathering dust over in the corner.

Very simple but efficient and used daily. It just works.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

 

[narkaor]

Thank you all, I will try to plug the keyboard directly via USB (with an USB MIDI cable) !