8/8 Midi interface question

Dragon's Lair · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 12:58 am Post subject:

The PICs are only in my Midi Pedal, the midi patch bay just uses opto-isolators and some hex inverters, it's actually a pretty simple circuit, just think of it as 8 - 1x8 midi through boxes ganged together.
The hardest part was making the rack case!
I have been using this one for almost 15 years now, with no problems, and a friend of mine is still using the 4 channel one I built before this.

jksuperstar · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 1:11 am Post subject:

Stein, sorry I missed this one earlier. Are you not interested in a used one? I have an Emagic AMT8 (ala Unitor8). It was designed for Logic, within which it can pre-queue midi, such that on the next clock, all 8 channels go out, so timing is improved. It has both serial and USB interfaces, can operate stand-alone, and the unitor adds some of the video sync stuff.

Works flawlessly in windows, and since it was originally used with MACs, that says alot.

Comes in the amt4 (4x4) as well.

blue hell · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:32 am Post subject:

Dragon's Lair · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:26 am Post subject:

Sorry guys, try this

www.dragonslair.ca/midipb.html

cappy2112 · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject:

Dragon's Lair · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:29 pm Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 11:11 pm Post subject:

A DIY midi patchbay seems like an excellent project. However, what I really need is a device like the Motu Express XT. Very Happy

cappy2112 · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject:

Dragon's Lair · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:35 am Post subject:

I don't have the schematic handy, I'm getting ready to move so a lot of stuff is already packed away, but I do have the pc board layout in EAGLE format, all the parts and connections are on the layout.

I tried uploading the EAGLE .brd file, but it is not a recognized file type, so I uploaded a bitmap of it, if you want the .brd file, pm me with your email address, and I'll send it to you

MidiPB.bmp

Description:

Download (listen)

Filename:

MidiPB.bmp

Filesize:

2.81 MB

Downloaded:

375 Time(s)

MidiPB.zip

Description:

Download (listen)

Filename:

MidiPB.zip

Filesize:

15.47 KB

Downloaded:

322 Time(s)

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:29 am Post subject:

A zipped version will probbaly be allowed as an attachent. Very Happy

Dragon's Lair · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I added a zipped version of the .brd file to the above post.
I haven't added any of this stuff to my webpage yet, I am in the process of selling my house and moving to another town, and it depends on where I end up, whether I can set up the server again.
I am looking at a place just south of Nakusp, a block away from the lake, NO Cable or ADSL!, so I'm also looking into a direct satellite connection, but they are pretty pricey, I may just end up with a dial up connection head banging monitor

lamarcph · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:12 pm Post subject:

Where is everyone in their quest for a 8x8 midi card? With all those cheap knob box, I wonder how the average user is connecting everything.

I need a midi interface that will do some basic routing when the computer is not connected.

I could get for a few bucks an old Motu Midi Express XT, the serial version.
A serial adapter to USB adapter is also a few bucks.

Is this doomed to fail?

Else, I would have to buy a new Motu Midi Express XT usb... anyone had experience with it?
I have a Motu 828mkii and it work perfectly, I can play thru the internal mixer, then connect my laptop and boom, all the input are available for recording. If I could have this functionality with a midi card, it would be perfect.

jksuperstar · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject:

My bandmate has a MOTU Xpress XT. Works as you describe, as do most other interfaces I've used. The only thing that you should understand about all the intefaces: they claim to have routing tables, filtering, etc. But these only work in standalone modes (no computer). Once the computer is attached, all those functions are disabled and the MIDI basically is just IO to computer. So, the Computer has to do the routing & filtering for you Sad

XpanderXT · Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 137 Location: the flat universe

I'm looking over this because I'm having issues with the internal routing of the MOTU MIDI Express XT and Logic 7. My system has two 8x8 interfaces, the USB MIDI Express XT and a Serial port MOTU MIDI Timepiece (the original one). I have a G-port serial interface on my G4 Mac.

I am having a couple of problems with this set up.
1. both interfaces seem to drop some MIDI data on a regular basis leaving stuck notes or sysex streams that get interupted.
2. the MIDI Express XT is too "smart". I hate the built in routing. You need to use their application to set your User presets. It has a bunch of factory presets, and it has nothing that lets me know that the computer is handling all routing when it's working in Logic. I get it rerouting MIDI clock in loops and all kinds of things.

The old MIDI Timepiece works OK. I also have a serial interface Unitor but it's about as good as the others.

I really want a 16x16 interface that works in standalone nicely, will allow the computer to take over and route things properly, doesn't drop MIDI data and has a USB connection....I know, dream on.

The new solution is one that Waldorf is using with Blofeld, make it USB.
The problem is I already have a 4 port USB 2.0 port on my computer, the 2 built in ports and a 4 port hub hooked up to one of the 2.0 ports and I'm out of ports! I'm sick of USB audio products. I want an interface I can chain like firewire (without the driver nightmares that every audio interface is having).

GovernorSilver · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:58 pm Post subject:

I still have my MOTU MIDI Express 128, which is the dumb version of the XT - it needs a computer to do its mapping.

I thought about selling it, but now I actually have enough MIDI devices to justify the need for it. Needing a computer kind of sucks, but our band uses my aged iBook G3 for recording anyway. Soon we're going to use it for basic sample playback as well.

EdisonRex · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:08 am Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:47 am Post subject:

It seems like I´ll have to go for the MOTU Midi Express or the MOTU Midi Express XT. Seemingly these are the only options. I´ll reckon I´ll have to get it from Turnkey. These cost 3 times more in Norway than in the UK. Shocked

Only problem is that they are often out.. last time I had someone walk into Turnkey in order to buy one for me they were out and there were at least 3 weeks waiting time. Crying or Very sad

BobTheDog · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:19 am Post subject:

Have you tried /www.thomann.de

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:31 am Post subject:

Yup, nice price.. I´ll check if they can handle delivery to Norway. They list the items with swedish sales tax included.. hmm.. this looks promising..
But if I go Thomann then I won´t have an excuse for visiting new and old friends in the London area. Shocked

Or??

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:40 am Post subject:

OT:
But I´m also trying to decide on a decent midi keys controller thingie..
I can never get enough of them and now I´m out of two.. long story.. I need to stock up. I want at least one with decent aftertouch. I like both the springy plasticky sloppy light vintage synth keyboards as well as well weighted hammer action. Shocked

Actually, I need both types.. and I also need at least one with 88 keys.

Is the CME UF80 OK? The CME forum is mainly full of customer complaints of the "you silly bastards" kind. Shocked

And that M-Audio 88 keys + lotsa controllers and shit is getting lotsa nasty user comments all over the web as well. Shocked

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

I got the Kurzweil SP2X. I´m also considering looking for an old Kurzweil MidiBoard. That one has polyphonic aftertouch. I reckon it would mix well with the Arturia CS80 softclone.

I also got a Motu Express USB thingie. I might have to get another one later.

SineSurfer · Joined: Jan 19, 2007 Posts: 45 Location: Mexico

Hi there!, a possible solution for the lack of 8x8 MIDI interfaces:

anyone had tried using two M-audio Midisport 4x4 on the same computer?

I have one of those, and will need to add some more ports soon... that would be the easiest way to do it, but don't know anyone with one of those to test both connected Crying or Very sad

CJ Miller · Joined: Jan 07, 2007 Posts: 368 Location: 127.0.0.1

I use mostly an Opcode Studio4 and Emagic AMT8. Also I have made a few single port interfaces from scratch - no PIC required. Studio4 is solid but doesn't offer any extra features. AMT8 gets points for RS232, RS422 and USB operation. Apple indeed have been updating the Emagic MIDI drivers! People balk because they are not offered online as a separate downoload, but they are installed with Logic. Of course, I doubt that Apple will support them forever, but they have so far.

My dream MIDI is the Opcode Studio5lx, 15x15 with patch bay capabilities. I intend to score a MOTU parallel interface because there is ALSA support in Linux, but I haven't tried so I don't know how good it may be.

One project for later in the year is a combination simple MIDI interface with a monitor and active multiple outputs. This is for all-around troubleshooting and dealing with equipment with simple MIDI facilities such as no "thru" jacks, or one-port machines like my Ataris. I'm looking here for monitor ideas:
http://www.ucapps.de/midimon.html