Managing Multiple MIDI Keyboards with Kontakt 8 in Studio One

[sintil8]

We're on Mac (as stated in OP).

Dealing with additional software would be manageable for me—I’ve used MIDI routing software before—but since it needs to be as easy as possible for the teachers to use, I’d say it’s not a good solution.

The more programs, cables, and extra hardware involved, the greater the risk of things going wrong.

With Cubase, everything works with what we already have—no need for anything extra. I can make a template that works everytime they start it up. I think that will be the best solution for now.

But thanks for the input!

Attached is a file showing what kind of works, but the issue is that the keyboards don’t always get assigned the same external instrument. Hopefully, this helps anyone facing the same problem—as long as they don't have eight identical MIDI keyboards

Sorry, I must have read your OP about being on a Mac, my bad.

The Bome stuff should be a setup and forget about affair...unless something gets corrupted or broken.
You are on the ground and in the best position to make the choice and if Cubase is offering the best solution then go for it.
The eight identical Keyboards via a usb midi hub is quite an unusual scenario. but hey ho why not.

Good luck with the Keyboard Orchestra, kind regards

 

[lokeyfly]

Still don't understand how that works in our setup since the Keyboards don't have traditional MIDI/DIN-ports. Only one single USB, that is used for transmitting MIDI and power.

Well, that's a conundrum, and something I did not consider. I'm a little surprised at most any keyboard controller (Nektar being no different) not having MIDI ports, and I see few of them. Still, some evidently exists not unlike some entry level e-drum kits without MIDI ports. Ok, with that I'll leave that as a future consideration if you ever upgrade. I didn't mean to throw you off on the MIDI ports. When in actuality, I got thrown in your controllers not having them.
Mia culpa.

Added: A future consideration if I may is that in your music development room, having MIDI ports and patchbay with so many same controller devices is going to allow either your DAW or other MIDI devices to perform all kinds of switching configurations to and from your DAW for program changes, cc filtering/sharing, etc. This might include the MIDI channel exchanges you brought up between players, live settings, jam sessions, lighting, and even outboard synchronization for video (SMPTE). Sure your DAW can basically be the brain of all of that, but not on its own via USB only.

As sintil8 mentions and had some very good points with Kontakt that I'm not clear were all answered, go for it with USB and see how it pans out with either another DAW or some plugin that ties in. I know BlueCat audio make some very MIDI capable switching plugins. Guillaume Jeulin is a sorcerer over there (and owner) with that stuff, so reach out to him.