Does anyone use device slots A, B, C, D?

hi,

I use multiple midi devices as i have some softsynths in my daw and some external synths connected via a different (external) midi devices then record the audio back into my daw. If there is another way to do this under the new system then that would be fine. Guess I could insert an external midi instrument in the daw then connect that daw channel to synfire like a softsynth?

I like the idea of multiple ports in Synfire, although I only use one port at current time.  I eventually will connect a Yahama Motif XS rack, Tyros 4 and Korg M3.  However I also remember the quote, "if you can't arrange a tune with 16 or 8 parts, and make it good, you need to take some arranging lessons. 

Will you continue Synfire Pro as a stand alone?  I like the approach right now of two independant programs.  Although I'm sure eventually I will like it as a plug-in too.

If losing the multi port device set-up makes it easier for you to devote more time to other aspects and functions, it would be OK with me. 

I use the multiple ports a lot, especially for Orchestral softsynths like Garritan Personal Orchestra 4, and Synful Orchestra.

16 x Woodwinds
16 x Brass
16 x Strings
16 x Keys & Percussion
(and you could go a little further if you wanted) 

It is a LOT easier to condense the device description down to one file over 4 sequential MIDI busses rather than having separate device descriptions for each class of instrument.

In some cases I've used the multiple ports as a way to work around some deficiencies (there are a few) with articulations.  For Synful orchestra, using the bank switch method of articulations in combination with program changes has worked better for me than keyswitched articulations...That, and not being able to look at a segment and tell right away that it has an articulation without clicking on it and looking, makes having a bank devoted to a specific type of articulation a little more easy to use in some cases.  If you extend that method to a program like Garritan (ARIA) which requires fixed instruments on fixed channels, then you almost need to have 4 bus ports (if not more.)  With 4x16 and Garritan, without using the keyswitch combo instruments, or creating your own ensemble using the "player 1", "player 2", and "player 3" instruments, etc., you have to kind of thin out your orchestra a bit.  Especially the strings...again, unless you make a bunch of device descriptions.

I guess I should mention that it would be a HUGE HELP if you could apply articulations (and other properties) to more than one segment at a time.  This was another reason I favored having "articulation banks."  It was just easier to have an instrument devoted to a specific articulation, especially during random experimentation.  It was nice being able to drop figures onto a different instrument for an different articulation, rather than changing each segment to one at a time.  If you wanted to try something else, you have to change each segment one by one again, and that takes forever using the "normal" method, unless I was doing things wrong?

I have used all four ports as well.  It is useful for the GPO.