MIDI boxes

Sugizo · Post by **Sugizo** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:22 pm

Hi folks,

Further to my last post, I'm exploring more MIDI related issues.

I wanted to know if anybody has any experience with MIDI boxes/splitters etc.

My actual sound card has one MIDI IN input, and I I'd like to play my VSTis with two different keyboards (Tr and KARMA), so I thought this midi merger box

http://www.musicstore.com/es_ES/ESP/Mid ... 005507-000

could do the job. Just wanted to know if these adapters are reliable.

Cheers

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:54 pm

You'll be wasting your money if you buy a midi merge box, since you don't need it to hook both keyboards to control the VSTs. The TR has USB-midi, so all you need is a standard USB cable and the Korg USB-midi driver software, which leaves the MIDI ports on the computer available for another keyboard of your choice.

Sugizo · Post by **Sugizo** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 1:32 pm

You are the man!

I had completely forgotten about the USB port, I installed the drivers ages ago. I'll try it out tonight when I get back from work.

In any case I'm still interested in knowing first hand whether MIDI boxes are reliable things.

Cheers!

ggm1960 · Post by **ggm1960** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:23 am

Sugizo wrote:
In any case I'm still interested in knowing first hand whether MIDI boxes are reliable things.

Cheers!

I've always used MOTU Midi Timepieces. The MTP AV USB is the best because of the USB connectivity and works equally well on Mac or PC. With 8 ins/outs most folks can hook up everything they have. With the free ClockWorks software you can merge, split, combine or whatever. You can typically get one from eBay for around $200.

I have an older MTP II which only works with older serial port Macs. The predecessor to the AV models, they had a wealth of features that could only be accessed with the OS9 version of ClockWorks. The software was a little quirky but once you got these things configured the way you wanted it, it would work stand-alone and was solid as a rock. You'll want to avoid these units now unless you do have an old Mac laying around.

I have two of the MTP AV USB models. These work great in the modern midi studio and generally do anything most people need. With all the midi gear I have, I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything without them.