• Registered: 2022-10-21
  • Posts: 23

Topic: Using UFX II to connect MIDI devices to DAW and modular synth

I have a modular synth that at the moment is being controlled by a Novation SL61 MkIII MIDI controller: I have a MIDI cable running from the Novation to the MIDI in on a sequencer in the modular.

The output from the modular runs to my UFX II and from there via USB to a MacBook Pro, where it is recorded by Logic Pro.

I want to set up my DAW (Logic Pro) on my Mac as the master controller of the modular.

One idea I had was to run USB from the Mac to the Novation controller, which would be (as now) connected to the modular via a MIDI cable.

Another idea would be to run a MIDI cable from the MIDI out on the Novation to the MIDI in on the UFX II.  And run a MIDI cable from the MIDI out on the UFX II to the MIDI in on the modular.  Would that work?  Would the MIDI messages flow from the Mac (Logic) through the same USB cable that currently is transmitting only the audio data from the UFX II to the Mac?  That is, that USB cable would now be a two-way street instead of one-way.

Is either of these routes better than the other?  Is the MIDI out from the UFX II likely to be incompatible in any with what the modular sequencer expects?  That is, it's all just one standard „voltage", right? (I haven't really used MIDI that much -- mainly I use CV/Gate). 

Is it at all problematic to hook the Novation MIDI out directly to the UFX II MIDI in?

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 4,539

Re: Using UFX II to connect MIDI devices to DAW and modular synth

The UFX is a audio and Midi interface in one, as most of the interfaces.
USB connection always speaks in both direction for having data transmission under control.
your modular synth has a Midi input ? Great, use it. Connect a Midi cable from the UFX Midi output to the synth Midi input.
In Logic select that Midi port and hit play.
The Novation controller can be connected to the UFX aswell, do the routing in Logic for transmitting its commands to the synth.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2022-10-21
  • Posts: 23

Re: Using UFX II to connect MIDI devices to DAW and modular synth

waedi wrote:

The UFX is a audio and Midi interface in one, as most of the interfaces.
USB connection always speaks in both direction for having data transmission under control.
your modular synth has a Midi input ? Great, use it. Connect a Midi cable from the UFX Midi output to the synth Midi input.
In Logic select that Midi port and hit play.
The Novation controller can be connected to the UFX aswell, do the routing in Logic for transmitting its commands to the synth.

Thanks! 

If I hook the Novation to the UFX II MIDI in, do I actually need to set anything in Logic?  Won't the UFX II simply pass through the MIDI commands from in to out?  At the moment I have the Novation going directly into the synth, so would going in-to-out not be the same as that connection?

If you've done something similar, have you encountered any latency issues?  A friend warned me of that, but not sure exactly what he's referring to.

4 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-11-12 21:47:47)

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 4,539

Re: Using UFX II to connect MIDI devices to DAW and modular synth

I don't own the UFX ll. If the Midi out would be a Midi-thru port, it would be described in the user manual page 44.

There is no word of Midi-thru so I believe it's a normal Midi I/O without thru-put.
you have to create a Midi track in Logic and do the routing there.

The mentioned latency most probably refers to a softsynth, there you have the latency from the audio driver and the time of processing the softsynth by the CPU.
The Midi transmission alone has very low latency, it's neglibigle.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • From: Germany, Tuvalu, Poland, Chile
  • Registered: 2021-07-27
  • Posts: 473

Re: Using UFX II to connect MIDI devices to DAW and modular synth

Is the MIDI out from the UFX II likely to be incompatible in any with what the modular sequencer expects?

Would help to know what exact modular synth/sequencer you use.

I want to set up my DAW (Logic Pro) on my Mac as the master controller of the modular.

What exactly do you mean with that? What is your final goal?

“Do It For Her”
My Gear: Bontempi Magic light Keyboard

6 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2024-11-13 09:36:16)

  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,779

Re: Using UFX II to connect MIDI devices to DAW and modular synth

No midi through on rme devices. You will have to use the midi through of logic. This is the same for all daws and standard practice for midi setups. I have 2 controllers, midi keyboard and a NI Maschine and I route them through cubase to my synths (hardware synths like my Moog and internal vsti's. That way you can also record midi in your daw and create arrangements.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632