Questions & Answers
controlling internal synthesizers with external equipment??
I am currently running Magix Music Maker 15. It contains built in synthesizers such as Vita. It is often tedious to produce an arrangement with such synthesizers one click at a time. I am wondering if there is a way to control such internal synthesizers (the ones provided with the program) with an external synthesizer/ midi controller (such as a keyboard)? I know the internal synthesizer Vita allows for control with the computers keyboard, but it would be much easier if I could control it with a real musical keyboard.
Cool. So my next question is how do you control the internal synthesizers (such as Vita) with an external keyboard/synth? What settings do I need to configure within MM-15 and/or my external keyboard/synth to be able to control Vita with my external device? It is connected via USB, if that is useful to know.
Since I don't play keyboard very well myself (yet), I've not tried it, so I am not an expert and you can take it for what it's worth.
Obviously, you'll need a MIDI and/or USB interface of some kind. Your USB connection is the simplest solution.
If you are using a synth that has its own voices, you'll need to set it to LOCAL/OFF so that it behaves as a controller.
In MM-15, you'll need to set the MIDI settings (Audio/MIDI tab) in the Program Settings ('Y' key).
Beyond that, you should read those sections of the manual to make sure I haven't missed anything. There's an index at the end that makes it easier to find the relevant section(s).
Yes, MM-15 will support any MIDI keyboard as a simple keyboard controller for laying down MIDI tracks. MM-15 does not support pitch-bend/mod-wheel messages or other synth controls; only note ON/OFF, velocity, volume,etc.
The resulting MIDI tracks can be played in MM-15 using any of the internal VST instruments, or any other imported VST instruments. Any modulation, etc. within the VST instrument itself is supported (not dynamically by the keyboard).