My full setup : SH-4d, Reface DX, Tracker mini

Hi, I just wanted to share my setup, as this is typically what I was looking for when I was thinking about buying a Tracker mini.

Sometimes I use the Tracker mini alone, sometimes with one synth, but here is the complete setup :

The gears :

  • Roland SH-4D : 4 synth parts + 1 drum part
  • Yamaha Reface DX : 1 part
  • Polyend Tracker mini

Midi connections :

  • Tracker mini MIDI OUT to SH-4D MIDI IN
  • SH-4D MIDI OUT to Reface MIDI IN
  • Reface MIDI OUT to Tracker MIDI IN

Midi config :

  • SH-4D configured with “soft midi thru” (to pass MIDI IN to MIDI OUT)
  • Reface on midi channel 5
  • Tracker : midi instrument 1-4 for the 4 parts of the SH-4d, 10 for the drum part of the SH-4D, 5 for the Reface.

Audio flow :

  • SH-4D phone out to Reface Aux-in
  • Reface phone out to Tracker line-in (Tracker line-in unmuted)
  • Tracker line out to Headphones

With this setup, I can :

  • enter my notes with the Reface’s keyboard
  • create patterns with up to 6 midi instruments in parallel (5 synth + 1 drum)
  • play samples from the tracker
  • hear everything (synths + sample) on the headphones

There is lot’s of cables and adapters of course, but no wall plug involved, all the gear are battery operated.

I’m quite happy with all of this ! Hope this can help someone.

7 Likes

Very nice! Did I not see an extended photo of your setup that included an Analog Heat? I thought it was cool that I wasn’t the only person using Polyend boxes with the Heat!!

Nope ! Not me

Sick setup bro, did you have to update any firmware or change anything with the DX for it to connect to the mini? For some reason my DX doesn’t work when with the MIDI out to the tracker mini MIDI in, or I’m just not understanding how they work together

Nothing special
Ensure that your DX « midi control » is ON in « function »