Virtual instruments have become extremely common for tracking keys in the last several years. There are a plethora of plugins available, putting just about every sound imaginable at your fingertips. Still, some players have their favorite hardware sound modules. Lately, I’ve been messing around with a Kurzweil PC2R rack module and found myself wanting to use it to record a track via my keyboard controller into Pro Tools while still recording MIDI for later editing. As a fairly common workflow in modern production, I’ll describe how to set up this scenario using a USB-to-MIDI cable.
Today, there are several USB-to-MIDI cables that make this extremely easy. I own an M-Audio Uno, so that is what I will make reference to. Most, if not all, USB-to-MIDI cables are plug-and-play, which means any DAW will recognize it with minimal configuration. Also, I use Pro Tools but this setup should be duplicatable on any DAW, though the exact names of certain features may vary.
If I were using a virtual instrument for my sounds instead of the PC2R, I could still use the Uno, connecting the “to MIDI Out” connector to the “MIDI Out” of the keyboard controller, and the USB connector into my computer.
RELATED ARTICLE
In our case, we will do the same thing, only we will also connect the other MIDI connector, labelled “to MIDI In” into the “MIDI In” of the PC2R.
Next, we will connect the audio outputs of the module into two open channels of the interface. In my case, this will be two ¼ inch cables going into my Chandler TG-2 preamp, which goes into channels 1 and 2 of my UA Apollo.
Next, we’ll set up a MIDI instrument track. The MIDI input is by default set to “All,” which means the track will accept any MIDI input device. You can also set this specifically to be the Uno.
Setting MIDI Track Input.
Next, set the MIDI output of the track to send to the Uno as well. USB-to-MIDI cables are essentially a two-way street, meaning that information can be sent back and forth, which is exactly what we’re doing here. The keyboard controller sends the MIDI information to the computer, which Pro Tools reads and records. Pro Tools then sends that MIDI information back out through the Uno to the sound module, or wherever your output designates. The audio outs from the module then output the sound, which we will set up next.
Setting MIDI Track Output.
Enable Audio track for recording
Now, create a stereo aux track. Set the inputs to the two channels you designated earlier for the module’s audio outputs. In my case, these are inputs 1 and 2.
Now, record enable your instrument track and hit record. When you play your keyboard, you should see MIDI notes appear on the instrument track and hear the module’s sounds on your aux track. You can play it back, move a few notes around to perfect your arrangement and you’ll hear the changes you made.
You can go back and forth between playing your keyboard and editing the MIDI data until you get the perfect take you’re looking for. When you are ready to commit, set up a stereo audio track, and bus the outputs of the aux track to the inputs of the audio track. Finally, you can hit record and go get a cup of coffee while it plays through.