USB outs using OTG cable?

Andrew J

I still haven't wrapped my head around using the OTG cable for the RK-006. I have two keyboards that are doing CV stuff, the KMI QuNexus and the Arturia Keystep Pro. Ideally I'd really like to clock them with MIDI over USB. Works fine with a hub and using a DAW as the clock, but when I'm doing stuff outside the computer I haven't figured out a way to do USB MIDI on the RK-006. I have the USB hub that you guys included with the RK-006, and the OTG dongle as well. Is it possible to get these on MIDI outputs this way? If not, what exactly are the use cases for the OTG cable? I'm not sure why I keep scratching my head over this, so forgive me if it's something super simple.

Andrew J

Andrew J I should also add, I know that the RK-008 and RK-006 can interface with each other really well, and in some special way. Right now I only have drum machines hooked up to the RK-006, so I just run one of the outputs of the RK-008 to the 006, and everything syncs to the 008. But I do end up having to put a note filter on on my MPC60, and in general I'm wondering if there is a better way to link them up, probably via USB. I'm also now realizing I could probably save a MIDI note filter on the output to my MPC60, on the RK-006 itself...which would be helpful.

grit

Basically you change the operation mode of the RK006 with the OTG Cable
In the manual there is on the first page a little schematic (top right):
https://www.retrokits.com/rk006/RK006_manual.pdf

Using the OTG in between also means the RK006 is not an interface anymore, it's a host, so a PC with OTG and then the RK006 will not work (host <-> host)

You can connect a usb hub on the OTG cable and the RK006 can also interconnect up to four devices on that USB Hub, all midi which comes in from those devices connected to the hub will be merged and distributed by the RK006 to each other and to the TRS outputs.

If you want to use the MPC with the RK006 and some USB devices, probably this is a setup

USB power, OTG Cable (and maybe hub) with connected usb device(s)
RK008 out, RK006 in (or host via otg+hub usb)
RK006 MIDI out -> into other MIDI Devices you want to control, MPC, etc

Now the MPC can slave to the RK008 and also the other USB devices, you can indeed put a note filter on the TRS-port where you have connected the MPC.

Andrew J

So just to make sure I'm getting this right:

Using the OTG cable will disable any sort of syncing to a computer/DAW
Extra USB devices will work as outputs? I just want to send MIDI clock to the KSP and QuNexus over USB.

grit

Yes, because in OTG mode the RK006 is the host, and so is the computer, they won't talk to each other like that.

And yes - extra USB devices on a USB Hub connected to the RK006 /OTG combo will act as inputs and outputs, so would you connect a usbmidi interface to it for example (USB Class Compliant that is) it will add and extra input and output to the RK006. If you connect a KSP and QuNexus, it will connect the two via usb to each other and add all the inputs/outputs to these devices as well.

Andrew J

grit Awesome. I'll give it a try, thanks for the clarification