Sending Midi to two FM3 from redundant playback session setup

D

dziugius

New Member
Hello,
I'm looking for some insights how to connect Mac to two Fm3s with long distances from my Mac.
Our band is using two 2014 MacBook Pros running Ableton 10 on stage with iConnectivity PlayAUDIO12 for redundancy.
Is there any possible way to send MIDI from audio interface I have, to maintain redundancy factor?
What is the best way to send MIDI signals and change scenes on both FM3s when they far away from playback station or just simply on another side of stage?
As I understand having long MIDI cables is not a safe option.

 
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How far away is "far away" for those Macs from the FM3s? You could always use Bluetooth MIDI dongle in each of the FM3s and send the MIDI from the Macs, no? I don't know how to set this up, but I'd bet it's possible.
 
There are also other wireless midi transmitters that aren't Bluetooth:

http://pandamidi.com/midibeam

Also, you can use midi over Ethernet (or other types of extenders):

https://www.iconnectivity.com/blog/2018/3/7/ethernet-midi-for-live-musicians-an-iconnectivity-guide

https://www.midiextender.com/ap_notes/Beyond the MIDI 50 ft Limit.htm

http://www.hinton-instruments.co.uk/pmprod/longhaul/index.htm

I have no hands-on experience with these, but if you Google "midi extender" you'll find options.

You will also need a splitter, I think.
 
It has E0 MIDI built in it appears for really long distances, plus the USB Host Port which could host various MIDI Interfaces for 5 Pin DIN MIDI.

I would not trust wireless MIDI personally, too much that can go wrong in differing environments.
 
DJD100 said:
I would not trust wireless MIDI personally, too much that can go wrong in differing environments.
Click to expand...
It's worked flawlessly for me for a year and half, but then again, my iPad is never more than a few feet from the Bluetooth MIDI dongle...

I will say the one issue we used to have, was when my drummer used his electric drums which has a Bluetooth function. I would have some issues connecting, but once connected, it was fine. Once we figured it out and turned it off in his module, there were no more connection issues. Both me and my bassist use Bluetooth MIDI dongles.
 
Great. So now my signal chain from Mac to Fm3 would be like:
Mac---[usb_cable]--->Playaudio12---[ethernet_cable]--->Ethernet Switch---[ethernet_cable]--->MidiGateway 2x2---[midi_cable]--->FM3

I would use Ethernet Switch to split signals for two FM3s, and next to each FM3 there would lie Ethernet to MIDI converter (MidiGateway or iConnectMIDI4+)? Or maybe there is any easier/cheaper way to convert Midi signal?
 
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