I’m just getting my feet wet with hardware only production, and have been jamming with a friend. I’m a little flummoxed by getting all our stuff to sync.
I have another synth I’ve been sequencing from the Digitakt that only has a MIDI IN, but when we practice, I need the Digitakt’s MIDI OUT port to send transport/clock to my buddy’s rig.
I misread the details on the Digitakt MIDI Thru - thought I’d be able use that but can’t - so now I’m guessing I need to buy some sort of MIDI splitter, and see if we can make sure none of my friend’s gear responds to the channels I’m using, right?
Any suggestions for reliable hardware to bridge this stuff?
+1 for the MRCC - I’ve been through a variety of MIDI boxes over the years and while many of them work for a particular task, the MRCC by far has the most features and flexibility. It’s working great for my rig. If you want something simpler, Kenton boxes are great, too - very straight forward.
Wow thanks so much everyone. I figured this was such a noobie question I’d get either no answer or a bunch of snotty ones asking if I’d searched the forum. I really appreciate the suggestions.
Daisy-Chaining:
If you have only a few synths to synchronize, daisy-chaining with midi-through might be sufficient. But as longer the chain becomes timing delays can become an issue. Additionally each of the synths must be switched on to keep the chain active, even if only the last in the chain is in use.
MIDI-Splitter or MIDI-Through-Box:
It’s a “one in → many out” distribution of identical copies of the input. It’s good for many connected synths, time lag should be the same for all and there is no need to switch on a chain (okay, if nothing is daisy-chained).
MIDI-Patchbay (like the MRCCs):
Great to run a complete studio or a complex setup by one piece of gear providing MIDI-Splitting, MIDI-Merging, MIDI-Transformation, MIDI-Filtering, and many other useful functions in one box.
Connections are made matrix like to split into groups, to merge other groups. We just plug in the MIDI in/out and define, what’s going to be done with MIDI coming and going in various directions.
I have the MRCC since it exisits and it’s great. Just to have it mentioned … the MRCC can be operated stand alone and the operation is very logical and easy.
I use a 1 in 4 out MIDI thru box. I got it as a kit off of Ebay.
It was pretty easy to build compared to most things I build like Eurorack modules and 500 series EQs etc.
Of course I have way more than 4 things to MIDI up.
So this really gives me 4 branches of the same MIDI clock syncing all my stuff.
I then set up 4 daisy chains using IN and THRU ports.
You have to use your head doing this. Some things don’t have THRU ports, so you have to turn on ‘echo MIDI in to out’ or similar. Also have to pay attention to logical flow. Grouping stuff onto chains that make sense. Otherwise you find yourself turning on a bunch of gear you arent using just to get clock sync to everything.
There are also a bunch of bigger MIDI thru boxes out there. I think Erica makes a 1x11 or something along those lines.
I have a couple of Quadra’s and they’re great at doing what they do; never a problem. I’ve always wanted a more fancy solution, but I pair up the Quadra’s with midi-pals if need to do more than just have additional midi thrus.
Wish I could take you up on it. I did live in London for a year but it was a long time ago! I saw a staggering amount of music and loved every second of it.
+1 RK-006.
i use RK-006, and since it can be USB host and supports USB hubs – i’m routing via USB everything that can be routed via USB.
because MIDI specification is 40 years old, and it defines bandwidth of DIN MIDI ports – and that’s still just 31500 baud.
USB MIDI is not ideal too – but at least it’s well suitable for lots of CC/NRPN automation.
