How to Record MIDI Note Sequences

[ohthepain]

Is it possible to use Blackbox as a MIDI sequencer for external gear?

I am trying to, for example, play a bass line on a MIDI keyboard and have Blackbox save the notes and play them as a clip or sequence.

I have the MIDI input and output working and can play a synth connected to the MIDI output from a second keyboard connected to the MIDI input. I just can't figure out how to record the notes. I have read through the manual several times and can't find anything that definitively states that BB will do this.

My steps:
Turn the volume of a pad down that contains a sample in the mixer
Tap the pad
Go to MIDI settings and adjust MIDI input and output channels until I can play the synth
Hit Play
Hit record

It plays the metronome, counts me in, and looks like it's recording, but no notes are recorded.

[ohthepain]

I have also set my sequence type to 'keys'.

I can enter notes manually into the sequence and they play properly.

I also set the MIDI Keys input channel to channel 1 and MIDI pads input channel to channel 2.

So I can play on the Minilogue and hear my MB303. I can enter notes manually and hear them on the MB303. The only thing left is recording the notes that I play on my Minilogue.

[ohthepain]

I tried clearing the global MIDI pads and MIDI keys channels in case there was a conflict.

I have actually gotten it to record a note. One note. When I hit record it sometimes records the first note but no notes after that. So maybe that's a clue?

[Zapman]

Have you changed some parameters (step len, quant size) in the sequence you are recording to ?

[Zapman]

From what you wrote it should work fine.
Are you on newest firmware?
I use following settings:
In Tools set Midi Keys to the channel my midi keyboard sends.
Setup a pad with a sample, mute it in MIX.
Set that pads midi out channel to that of the external gear.
Set the pads play mode to Gate.
Select a sequence to record to.
Select the pad and hit rec&play.

[circuitghost]

You need to record it from a slot that contains an actual sample. If the slot's empty, it won't record live from a midi keyboard.

Many are the times I've scratched my head, wondering why this isn't working when it's all set up as it should, only to realise that empty slot is what's missing.

Fill a slot with a sample, mute it from the mixer view and go.

[ohthepain]

Thank you! I was actually able to get it working by following Zapman's steps.

circuitghost, yes that was the problem.

[ohthepain]

From what you wrote it should work fine.
Are you on newest firmware?
I use following settings:
In Tools set Midi Keys to the channel my midi keyboard sends.
Setup a pad with a sample, mute it in MIX.
Set that pads midi out channel to that of the external gear.
Set the pads play mode to Gate.
Select a sequence to record to.
Select the pad and hit rec&play.

Nice to see you on the forum Zapman!

[Zapman]

Where do we know each other from ? Gimme a hint

[ohthepain]

That would be gears...z!

[six_wax]

You need to record it from a slot that contains an actual sample. If the slot's empty, it won't record live from a midi keyboard.

AHA! This!! Thank you!

Making matters more confusing, it appears to default to another pad that does have a sample set. Reeeeally confusing and frustrating to make sense of.

[jayneural]

Would be cool if we could “activate” an empty PAD as MIDI PAD and give it a name, without loading a sample.

They could color code them so that we distinguish them from sample track. And of course, allow recording on it.

[minimal]

I agree. If we are sequencing external gear, the requirement to load a sample to make recording of notes work is somewhat strange. It would be better, if recording notes worked right away without occupying a sample pad.

[focal sounds]

100% No brainer.
Also, it would be handy if it didn't trigger when selecting the pad on screen.

One option when setting up a pad could be to make it a midi pad...?

[bagzDS]

Wow I have been pulling my hair out over this all weekend!!!!! Id even allready seen this post before but was overwhelmed with everything else I was looking into.
Really glad I came back across this, thanks to all here, ill admit im a newbie and as ever have a bit of a learning curve to get through. this comunity is a big help!

[JPFalcon]

Oh thank you very much! This thing was going to drive me crazy

[daffydeck]

You need to record it from a slot that contains an actual sample. If the slot's empty, it won't record live from a midi keyboard.

Many are the times I've scratched my head, wondering why this isn't working when it's all set up as it should, only to realise that empty slot is what's missing.

Fill a slot with a sample, mute it from the mixer view and go.

When I sequence, notes are no recording sustain.... It will record the note, but I have to edit the sustain in after I record which is counterproductive. Not sure if I am doing something wrong. The 1010 is the brain to my portable studio and controls analogue synths.

As for turning the volume down on a sample in order to play midi, these channels/pads can still play loops, so the channel/pad is not lost

[visionmusic]

As said previous, you need to load a sample into a pad, then mute it in the mixer, but in addition you need to set the sample playback to 'gate' to get length out of your midi notes.

[stuartm]

It will record the note, but I have to edit the sustain in after I record which is counterproductive.

Went through it myself (Blackbox newbie ...):
On the "dummy" pad, you need to set the Launch Mode (Conf page) to "Gate". By default it is set to "Trigger", which then will only record single steps at grid's length (i.e. 16th notes).

[Shomit23]

This has been a **very** helpful thread. Thank you.