MIDI Patchbay question

  • Thread starter Thread starter KtJ
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KtJ

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Howdy!

I assumed that what I want would be so basic that I'd have no trouble finding it, but I've spent several days searching and have yet to find anything that looks right.

(I'm not much for lingo or tech talk so that may be part of the problem.)

What I'm looking for is a simple MIDI patchbay. I've got 5 or so devices (a couple of keyboards, a drum machine, a Tascam 788 digital recorder, and a Roland MC-300 sequencer) that I'm constantly plugging the MIDIs in and out from. Sometimes I want to send things one way, sometimes the other; sometimes I want certain devices left out of the loop. I thought it would make things much easier -- and save a lot of wear on the MIDI jacks -- if I had a simple patchbay, where everything plugged into the back and stayed there.

I've found some (M-Audio, MOTU) that are way more expensive than I was imagining, at least partially because they do way more than I need. All the patchbays I can find now seem to be made for using with computers -- they're all "PC and Mac compatible" and they're powered through USB cords. Since I don't use a computer, all that stuff is useless to me, and maybe unusable to boot. Like the MOTU 5x5 that says it has "compatibility with all Macintosh and Windows software" -- can it even be used without a computer?

Can anyone recommend a place to find a good, simple old-school MIDI patchbay that just patches and nothing else? Or plans or a kit to build one?

I thank you in advance,
--Karl
 
Ebay is usually covered with cheap, non-computerized mid patchbays as they've become a bit obsolete. The nice thing about the usb typae patchbays is the software routing options some of them offer. Most of them can also be configured as stand alone boxes though, meaning you don't have to use a computer for them to work. Motu (mark of the Unicorn) and Midiman are probably the first places I would try for any information you'd need. Check their FAQ's and support sites.
 
I don't know what your budget is, but you might try one of these:

Edirol UM-880 8X8 MIDI patchbay:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/search/detail/base_id/59390/src=00631

Edirol UM-880 5X5 MIDI patchbay:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/705353/c_lv=1/

I've been using the UM-880 for about two years now without a computer, just as a standalone MIDI patchbay, and it has been great...extremely easy to use and no quirks...just push the button for the MIDI source, and push the button for the MIDI destination. You can probably find them cheaper if you take some time and really look.
 
There's also the eMagic AMT8. Although it's got a USB and serial ports for connecting to PCs and Macs, it can also function as a standalong MIDI patchbay.
 
noisewreck said:
There's also the eMagic AMT8. Although it's got a USB and serial ports for connecting to PCs and Macs, it can also function as a standalong MIDI patchbay.
Click to expand...
I just picked up one of these for $165. New. Works great, complements my MOTU MTP AV very nicely.
 
Ensoniq also made one called the KMX-8 which was a 8X8 midi patchbay. Pretty simple and nice (I sold mine recently) and it had 17 patch memories that were selectable via program change. It did not have merge though.

Cheap,
I got mine used for $60 on ebay
 
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