Overview of Midi interfaces - vintage, old and new 

Fantastic - I'm so glad this was helpful for you Nathanael.

Thank you so much for checking out the video Alan. Yes, there's still value in the old interfaces and patch bays. MIDI2 will be a big step up in capability. We'll then have to see how a) the manufacturers pick it up and b) the music making public. I suspect we'll see some exciting innovations from boutique manufacturers... :)

Thank you Renato

That sounds like some impressive live-gig-action! What equipment did you have hooked up to make use of all that control? Sequencer - set up?

@@DigitalRackGear Yep, hooked up a few Korg M1's and Roland U-110 to a DOS-based sequencer on a PC to simulate a poor man's orchestra for low-budget stage musicals. 😂 16-note polyphony each.

Outstanding effort! Classic stuff.

Great idea. This expands a system's midi capabilities significantly - just the way I use it.

Thank you for checking out my video - I really appreciate it. Great to know the history is retained and love for these innovative companies is still alive and well ;)

I'm guessing you have an over-heating issue with your VoodooLab foot controller. It could be as simple as a weak solder point. If it's still under warranty I'd suggest returning to the place of purchase and ask for a repair under warranty. I don't think a midi box such as those featured in this video will help. These would support a longer cable run or splitting of the midi signal, however it won't support a midi signal that's not there... which looks to be happening in your case. I hope you find a solution. All the best.

Absolutely - what this chap said

Yes, it should work, however you are at the mercy of what-ever routing has been programmed in. I'd imagine you can work out where the midi messages are being routed from (inputs) and to (outputs) pretty quickly though - so yes , Go for it :)

We can have a look at that in a future episode - a fair question. As I mentioned in the answer below, strictly speaking you don't need a computer however to configure the unit, you need a computer. What ever settings are in the unit - which could indeed work for you - are what you are stuck with.

You can in fact change the routing (on most mtp models, i have not tried them all). DL a manual. Its a bit tedious compared to modern gear, but quite good compared to other early 90s stuff.

Hi Renato - thank you for checking out the video and what a great question. Checking I understand the question: theoretically we're talking a difference between carrying the MIDI information (along with audio) over Firewire (via the timepiece) , OR MIDI alone via USB via the alternative midi interface. Either way the Timepiece is connected to the Computer via a different piece of hardware and a midi cable to that hardware. So if I've got that right - there are a few considerations: 1* If you need all the midi connections from your USB MID interface , plus the MOTU timepiece interface - I'd consider using that (a) to keep all MIDI leads consolidated and (b) so your always attaching to the one piece of equipment for MIDI, in your DAW) - UNLESS you are running out of midi channels. If that's the case, you're definitely at an advantage using the Fireface - because you can send all 16 channels via that separate interface, plus the 16 channels via the USB interface. 2* Do the Fireface and the MIDI interface work well together within you DAW? If so and we don't have any conflict issues, access to your MIDI instruments should work either way. I'd test the response time - nothing too scientific but check that you are able to a) trigger notes on synths (send and receive and record back into your DAW) and b) send and receive SYS-Ex by both hardware interfaces. The one that works/performs best is a serious contender. Then there's ... 3* How heavy are you using Audio over your Firewire Interface. RME have rock solid drivers and depending on how heavily you are using it , it may perform flawlessly - however my experience with Firewire has not been quite as smooth. So I'd consider the USB for that reason. I hope I understood the question well and was able to give at least some food for thought. Please let me know how you go.

The MOTU MTPAV sends midi clock to ALL PORTS at the same time (Global and IGNORES the port setting). The solution is to ONLY send Midiclock to ONE of your synths. IF you select more than one destination in the software for midiclock , your tempo will double, triple etc.

Hi Dudu, I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble. Make sure Ableton is passing signal through the MTP-AV - eg: triggering sounds. Then make sure you have no filters happening on any midi events. Check that your keyboard's midi set-up is set to receive MIDI clock. Without knowing more about your set-up that's the best I can do for now. I hope this helps you resolve the situation.

Hello there, I don't hook the Studio 128x direct to the computer. I use it as a secondary interface expanding off the MIO10. To connect midi keyboards and midi modules the 128x does not need an additional driver. You can simply connect all your keyboards and modules via midi cables to the 128x. You will only need a driver (or an additional interface) in order to connect the 128x to a computer. I have tracked down this driver link .. perhaps that will assist. www.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=121455

Hi there and I'm sorry for the slow reply. Yes, you've got it right, you can use any of the ins and outs (front or back) to connect to your Scarlet's MIDI ins and outs.. and effectively you are then using the MOTU as a midi patch-bay, which eliminates the need to daisy-chain MIDI through devices. This is exactly how I use mine.

I'm sorry - I've never used the pedal inputs on my MOTU. If you've tried this, please do let us know how you went.

Hi there. Currently my control room is packed up - in March I'll have it set up again and will check the computer to see if I have the drivers - I think I would have them somewhere. What internet archive are you referring to - can you provide a link?

That's a very good question. I'd say it would depend on the (midi message) filtering done by the unit in question. I don't have a machine that outputs that standard at the moment, so I can't try it for myself. Sorry I can't shed more light on that for now.