New to MIDI

Ralphwcurtis wrote:

Can I program MIDI to accept other commands from my keyboard? I. E. I normally use strings as a second voice but cannot do this when I run keys through pianoteq. I use Pianoteq Stage! Thanks

Your question "Can I program MIDI to accept other commands from my keyboard?" doesn't make sense, strictly speaking. 

Your keyboard sends midi messages to your computer.  The good news: these midi messages can be routed to different applications to achieve what you want.  You need to figure out how to "route" the keyboard's midi messages to both Pianoteq and to whatever application you're using for string sounds.

Midi from your keyboard can be routed in a bewildering variety of ways on your computer.  How you would route it depends on what apps you're using on your computer in addition to Pianoteq, and what OS you're running.  One of the reasons many people use a DAW is to route midi messages to different applications, but you don't necessarily need a DAW to route midi.

Welcome to the forum!

MIDI is a protocol used primarily to control virtual/physical instruments. It sends things like note on/off messages, and has some control channels for things like pedaling, pitch bend, mod wheel, breath control, etc. One thing it can't do is send audio from a device like your keyboard to a virtual instrument like Pianoteq, though, if that's what you're trying to do.

Do you normally do the layering directly on your keyboard? If your keyboard has audio outputs, one common approach is to use an audio interface to route the audio into your computer, and digital audio workstation (DAW) software to mix, record, etc. Or you could load a virtual strings library alongside Pianoteq inside the DAW. Some newer keyboards have integrated audio interfaces, and you can send Pianoteq audio out to those keyboards, and layer the keyboard's built-in voices directly from there. Lots of options.

Could you tell us a little bit more about your setup? Where you're trying to layer from, what kind of keyboard, if you're using an audio interface, if you're using a DAW, etc?

I just noticed you listed the Yamaha E363 in your profile, which makes this a little easier with its built-in audio interface (it CAN send both audio and MIDI over a single USB connection). To use it, you'll need to download and install this driver:

https://o.steinberg.net/en/support/down...river.html

When you launch Pianoteq, click "options" and select the "Yamaha Steinberg USB ASIO" device.

Thanks so much. I’ll try this today!

Pianoteq audio should now come out of your E363 speakers and headphone jack, along with whichever other instruments/patches you choose on the keyboard. If you did set "local off" on the keyboard (like Hesitz mentioned), you can turn that back on to hear the built-in sounds on the E363. Hope that helps!