Virtual MIDI Connectivity

VST Live
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I never used Virtual MIDI ports until last week and somehow it worked to port MIDI out of a USB controller and into USB audio interface attached to the same computer. For no apparent reason, it no longer works.
Since I couldn’t find a diagram of how virtual MIDI ports are supposed to work, I’m just re-trying the setup that once worked. I’ve also tried controller as MIDI IN and audio interface as MIDI OUT, but that doesn’t work.
I need the audio interface to receive MIDI on its USB bus so it can send it out its MIDI OUT port. I can’t plug the controller into it directly because the controller only has a USB-C connector, no 5-PIN DIN connector.

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I’ve tried this using both Focusrite and Quantum audio interfaces, but no MIDI arrives at physical 5-Pin MIDI Out on either. Moreover, the MIDI light on the front of the Focusrite 4i4 never lights as it does when I direct connect a controller to MIDI IN on the back of it. The Quantum doesn’t actually have a MIDI light, but when I send it MIDI for its internal use, it performs the expected actions.

I have a vocal processor attached to the MIDI OUT on the Focusrite. It has a MIDI light, but it never lights up, since the Focusrite MIDI OUT sends nothing. Again, I can light up the attached vocal processor by direct connecting a controller to its MIDI IN port and playing notes.

Neither VM01 or VM02 can be used for connectivity in the methods I’ve tried. As an aside, I don’t like the naming system. Why should an OUT in the first layer be used as an IN the next layer, like it’s chasing its tail?

I’m using just updated Windows 11 and VST Live Pro 2.2.24 347.

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They are meant to be used within the app. Like you select a “VM-Out 1” T for output at a given instance and you set “VM-IN 1” for an another one. Just like a cable inside VL’s “box”. Does this explanation make sense? :slight_smile:

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As fkalmus explained, these are “cables” inside VSt Live, which have no connection to physical ports (or System, or other extensions called “Virtual MIDI”) whatsoever.

Sending to Virtual XX Out will propagate that signal to Virtual XX In, where XX to match on both sides. This also works for audio, and DMX.

You could send the output of one Layer to another Layer (or the global Layer) or any other MIDI receiver. Set Layer out to “Virtual MIDI Out 7” (as an example), and receiver Input to “Virtual MIDI In 7”. You can use this to send controller/automation from tracks to Layers, Stacks, other Tracks, Quick Controls etc too. And as said, you can create complex audio routings with this method as well.

To send to external hardware, use available ports (see “Devices/Connections”). Add a port, give it a name describing its use (“Motif”), and assign one of the available hardware ports.

1 Like
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Okay, I’ve stopped trying to use Virtual MIDI to communicate between MIDI hardware. I’m back to using hardware ports for communication between hardware. These work for some but not all MIDI messages, and each piece has unique issues I need to debug and filter and/or forward. You can close the issue.