2 ipads input into Roland Fantom 0

[SGLYNN55]

How do I setup two input devices into Fantom? I have my iphone sending midi to move drawbars and it works. And my ipad with forScore sends midi program change to bring up scene and it works. Both plug into the USB B plug in Fantom. But I haven't figure out how to use both of them at the same time. Is there a way?

 

[anotherscott]

An easy way should be to plug one of your i-devices into the 5-pin MIDI IN jack of the Fantom. (The exact cabling you'll need depends on whether your i-device has lightning or USB-C.)

 

[SGLYNN55]

Yes I've ordered a USB to midi cable and will try this. I was hoping both could go into the USB but I doubt it. Also there is an external device port but it does seem to recognize iphone input

 

[anotherscott]

I was hoping both could go into the USB but I doubt it.

You can probably attach both devices through USB as well, it would just be more complicated. I believe it will work if you put a USB hub on your iPad, and use the hub to be able to attach both your Fantom and your iPhone to your iPad. Then use an app to configure the MIDI routing (allowing the iPad to take the MIDI messages being generated by your iPhone and send those messages back out to the Fantom). I think Keystage and Camelot Pro would be two such apps that would work for this.

BTW, another way you should be able accomplish your goal, without having to use a hub or a 5-pin MIDI connection, would be to connect the Fantom to the iPad via USB, and connect the iPhone to the iPad via bluetooth, using the midimittr app enable its bluetooth MIDI capabilities. Again, you'd use an app like Keystage or Camelot Pro to route the MIDI among all the devices.

Also there is an external device port but it {doesn't} seem to recognize iphone input

The functionality of the external device port appears to be pretty limited. Here's what Roland says about it:

https://support.roland.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039197531-FANTOM-6-FANTOM-7-FANTOM-8-What-kind-of-devices-can-be-connected-to-the-USB-EXT-DEVICE-connector

I have my iphone sending midi to move drawbars and it works.

As an aside, I'm curious, what iPhone app are you using for that? I could see where that could be useful as an alternative to using the Fantom's own screen, since you'd be able to manipulate the drawbars while leaving the Fantom's screen on some other display (e.g. a Scene page or a Chain page), and multitouch should also let you drag multiple drawbars at once.

 

[SGLYNN55]

I got it all working. I hook up my iPhone to midi in by using a USB to midi cable I bought for $25 bucks on ebay. I use the app called MidiDesigner to control the draw bars. Note they are channel 2 70 then 2 71, 2 72 etc for 9 bars. These are CC's. I hook up my iPad to USB B input port on Fantom and it sends Program Changes to Fantom to bring up the proper screen. I use forScore to do that. My initial problem was trying to put both iPhone and iPad into the USB B. Couldn't figure out a way to do that. So one port one device one function. If I grow equipment I'll have to figure out how to add more ports. Being able to move the drawbars without hitting the PARAM button is cool and leaves the sliders to control volume for all zone.

 

[Stampanator]

I have this working with many more than just 3 devices. I do like the tactility of actual sliders to the iphobe or ipad with mididesigner pro (which is a fantastic app)

I have interconnected the following devices all via bluetooth. I use yamaha bt midi din (aka widi) adaptors and when talking ipad to iphone i use midittr.

Yamaha ck61 - portable good sounds no percussion
Hammond sk1 - Tonewheel
Yamaha reface yc - surprising handy organ
Yamaha reface dx - synth
Yamaha reface cp - lovely EP
Yamaha cp4 - weighted key heavy but sturdy oiano
Roland sound source (percussion) - happened to have it
Korg studio nano bluetooth - very nice 8 slider, 8 rotary and a zillion buttons (but missing that 9th drawbar for organ work)
Boss fs1 bluetooth - 3 button footpedal
Boss exp bluetooth - wireless expression pedal
Boss rc600 looper - beast of a looper, hard to tame but sound quality is top notch
Ipad 128b newish ipad mini - 128gb ram
Ioad 128a older ipad (fourscore) mini - 128gb ram
Zoom l12 mixer - really love this and it records in 12 tracks too and has 5 monitor outs
Pair of Bose Sp1 pro (battery powered) PA speakers (portable and off grid)
Pair of JBL EON front of house speakers (heavy and loud)
leslie 2101 mk2 - heavy
Leslie 2103 bass unit - heavy
Ryobi 18v 6ah battery and 150w inverter

Ipad 128b has midifire as the spaghetti controller (using streambyter applets extensively). This is the heart of it.
Ipad 128b also has midittr receiving from ipad 128a
Ipad 128b has mididesigner pro essentially reporting on whats happening in midifire
Ipad 128a has sunriser, korg module, funky drummer and sometimes b-3x running in background mode. Timing source is the rc600.

The idea of useage depends on the circumstance. It started with wanting to grab two tiny reface keyboards and an ipad and being able to make sounds off grid reliably and over 5-6 octave (piano, organ, ep, bass, brass).

At home (studio) i use the hammond sk1/73 and the Cp4 and i love looping too (friend in a box). But its a “rig” and not that portable.

I was half way through the reface centric build when I came accross the yamaha ck61 and this is the device i grab if im going to a friends for a jam. Its great!

Obviously theres an element of too much time and some extra cash about it but it has kept my mind occupied and i have a lot ive learnt. Ipad apps and bluetooth midi are simply awesome! I know my limitations as a keyboardist and like the golf hacker one goes one the journey of trying to make uo for being average by buying more gear.

One thing I do love about my stuff is I can use any combination of devices and if i retune one they all follow suite. (Im not very adept at playing in B major for example). The flexibility and with two Bose so1 pro speakers the dream of being able to go bush and play off grid is very appealing.

If anyone has any questions about this stuff Im happy to assist. I have recently helped a guy to drive the hammond b-3x app from a digital accordian. I think hes happy.

 

[SGLYNN55]

Wow, nice collection of equipment.
My mission is all about going out to gig, not at home in studio, so I'm trying to keep it simple. Nice to hear you are having luck with widi. I've tried them, but I found that they drop out in the middle of a show. Not sure if it is my equipment or stray noise from microwaves in the area that cause them to drop, but I've had to use cables (hard wires).
Have Fun

 

[happyrat1]

I have this working with many more than just 3 devices. I do like the tactility of actual sliders to the iphobe or ipad with mididesigner pro (which is a fantastic app)

I have interconnected the following devices all via bluetooth. I use yamaha bt midi din (aka widi) adaptors and when talking ipad to iphone i use midittr.

Yamaha ck61 - portable good sounds no percussion
Hammond sk1 - Tonewheel
Yamaha reface yc - surprising handy organ
Yamaha reface dx - synth
Yamaha reface cp - lovely EP
Yamaha cp4 - weighted key heavy but sturdy oiano
Roland sound source (percussion) - happened to have it
Korg studio nano bluetooth - very nice 8 slider, 8 rotary and a zillion buttons (but missing that 9th drawbar for organ work)
Boss fs1 bluetooth - 3 button footpedal
Boss exp bluetooth - wireless expression pedal
Boss rc600 looper - beast of a looper, hard to tame but sound quality is top notch
Ipad 128b newish ipad mini - 128gb ram
Ioad 128a older ipad (fourscore) mini - 128gb ram
Zoom l12 mixer - really love this and it records in 12 tracks too and has 5 monitor outs
Pair of Bose Sp1 pro (battery powered) PA speakers (portable and off grid)
Pair of JBL EON front of house speakers (heavy and loud)
leslie 2101 mk2 - heavy
Leslie 2103 bass unit - heavy
Ryobi 18v 6ah battery and 150w inverter

Ipad 128b has midifire as the spaghetti controller (using streambyter applets extensively). This is the heart of it.
Ipad 128b also has midittr receiving from ipad 128a
Ipad 128b has mididesigner pro essentially reporting on whats happening in midifire
Ipad 128a has sunriser, korg module, funky drummer and sometimes b-3x running in background mode. Timing source is the rc600.

The idea of useage depends on the circumstance. It started with wanting to grab two tiny reface keyboards and an ipad and being able to make sounds off grid reliably and over 5-6 octave (piano, organ, ep, bass, brass).

At home (studio) i use the hammond sk1/73 and the Cp4 and i love looping too (friend in a box). But its a “rig” and not that portable.

I was half way through the reface centric build when I came accross the yamaha ck61 and this is the device i grab if im going to a friends for a jam. Its great!

Obviously theres an element of too much time and some extra cash about it but it has kept my mind occupied and i have a lot ive learnt. Ipad apps and bluetooth midi are simply awesome! I know my limitations as a keyboardist and like the golf hacker one goes one the journey of trying to make uo for being average by buying more gear.

One thing I do love about my stuff is I can use any combination of devices and if i retune one they all follow suite. (Im not very adept at playing in B major for example). The flexibility and with two Bose so1 pro speakers the dream of being able to go bush and play off grid is very appealing.

If anyone has any questions about this stuff Im happy to assist. I have recently helped a guy to drive the hammond b-3x app from a digital accordian. I think hes happy.

Your network leaves you highly dependant on Yamaha's ecosystem. Would this be doable interspersed with Roland or Korg products?

Personally I'd rather network with a mac the old fashioned way than turn my phone into an octopus multimedia device.

What do you do when a software/firmware update breaks the whole thing?

Here's a simple diagram of my current studio.

 

[Stampanator]

In 3 years ive only lost connectivity to the rc600 once and i think the bt adaptor is cooked. I find these widi more reliable than usb hub.