Well, I could spend some time, this sunday evening, trawling the internet to find out what the 4 devices you mention actually are, but wouldn't it be nice if you actually said in your question? I'll guess that one might be a keyboard, but is it just a controller, or a synth?

Also, it would be a help to know how the devices are connected together.

Also, you say it's the Korg triggering something on the Yamaha, but why do you say that? Why would the Korg be triggering something? Is that a keyboard as well? If you'd said how the devices were connected, this might be clearer. From it's name, I'd have expected that the korg was a keyboard, but it's the second item in your original list, rather than the first?

So, more information please.

Geoff

Ok...
The roland mc500 is an old midi sequencer with a midi in, 2 outs, and a thru. The microkorg is a synth, the hr-16 is a drum mahine, and the Yamaha dd 12 is a drum pad based rythm maker.

I can record a drum track from the Yamaha on the sequencer, but when i go to record the 2nd track with the synth it triggers unwanted reactions feom the Yamaha

Hello Brandon,

Right, the extra detail is a bit helpful, allows me to focus a little better on possible problems. I may still need to dig a little on the internet, but I've got some ideas as to what to look for.

So, I take it there is no computer involved at present. The sequencer is being used to record, a bit like a multi-track recorder.

How are you using midi channels to do this?

When you 'play' the Yamaha and record on the sequencer, all is OK.

But when you play on the korg, and try to record more on the Seq, you have a problem. Do you NEED the Yamaha to be still connected at this point? What happens if you disconnect the Yamaha, record the keyboard bit, then reconnect when you play back later? I'd guess that you need to hear the Yamaha playing while you record, but if you could record something, even if it's musically wrong, to establish the point that it's data from the Kord and not from the Seq that's causing the problem.

What sort of thing are you playing on the keyboard, is it just notes, or is there a lot of control changes, patch changes, etc?

I'd need to try and find out just what sort of midi data can trigger the Auto Accomp. It may be a fluke that a specific something you're playing just happens to be the same command to activate the Auto Accomp?

Maybe it's to do with channels - can you try to set the Korg to send data on channel X, and set the Yamaha to respond to data received on channel Y. This may require altering defaults, you may need to study the manual! I'm sure the sequencer will be able to receive and record data for specific channels, this will be how it separates data for different instruments that it might play back.

Another thing, just to make sure, make sure there isn't any spurious data (from previous experimentation ?) still recorded on the Sequencer that is playing when you play back.

I'll see what else I can find??

Geoff

Thanks for your reply. I've seen video on YouTube of people doing pretty much what I'm trying to do.

The sequencer is very much like a multitrack recorder, but more of a real time trigger device. I have set everything to separate channels, (pretty easy on the microkorg, figured it out on the drum machine) and it is still triggering even during playback.
The sequencer uses oldschool 3.5 floppy disks that i got new with software from Ebay.
This is my first experience with midi and it may be the simplest thing. I really just don't know. ?

Hello Brandon,

The idea of all this is that I ask a lot of (silly ?) questions, hopefully you answer them, and gradually we rule some things out, and gradually narrow things down, until we hit the problem on the head.

I've found the 'Owners Manual' for the DD-12 on the web, and had a quick look at it. There's not a lot there about MIDI, I don't know if there's a more technical manual as well, maybe not.

Anyway, the Owners Manual does not give any indication that Auto Accomp (AA) can be set, or started, or stopped, via midi. Midi seems to refer only to a set of note numbers, each of which relates to a percussion effect, and sending a note ## sounds the associated percussion sound. There are no 'controllers' involved.

So seems that it's not midi data that's starting AA?

When the AA comes on when it should not, which style starts up? Is it always the same style? Is it always style 00, i.e. the default style?

There's a button, or switch, that turns style on/off. This, I suppose, should be off unless you're using AA. There;s a light which comes on when AA is on. When you start playing something, is this light off, but then comes on (i.e. it turns itself on). As I read the manual, when it's off the two digit screen that shows the AA style selected shows nothing. When AA is on, this screen will show the style ##, i.e. the default of 00, or whichever style has been selected.

Oh, have you had the DD12 since new, or have you got it 'used'? Has it always had the problem you describe, or is this something that's turned up recently, i.e. when you've used it with other gear?

Geoff

It sounds like something may be sending a Start message to the Yamaha DD-12.

The MIDI Implementation Chart on page 17 of the manual says the DD-12 recognizes System Real Time Commands (Start, Stop, Continue). The manual doesn't specifically say what happens when the DD-12 gets a Start message, but I guess it probably starts the Auto Accompaniment.

Try turning off the DD-12's "MIDI Synchronization" setting, that might get it to ignore an incoming Start message. According to page 16 of the manual, you hold both the left and right PAD/PEDAL ASSIGN buttons and press the RECORD button to toggle the setting between "on" and "oF".

If that doesn't work, the following information may help responders here further diagnose the problem:

How are MIDI cables connected between all of your equipment?
Do you have to change connections to record a different device?

Yes, the AA starts at 00 or the default style. Whatever I've recorded plays back great, but the AA is also triggered. I have tried starting it with the AA light on and off and it starts regardless.
I recently got this from Ebay so i don't know if this is normal or not.