MIDI Interfaces

I'm upgrading from XP to Windows 7, and I've discovered that Roland has no more driver support for my trusty Super MPU64 4x4 MIDI interface. That means I have to throw it in the trash and look for a replacement.
 
I need a 4x4 or 5x5 interface, and there don't seem to be many of these on the market anymore. Cakewalk only goes up to a 3x3.
 
My choices seem to be MOTU Micro Express, MOTU Micro Lite, and M-Audio MIDISPORT 4x4.
 
Any other suggestions?
 
Thanks.
 
Mitch I.
 
 

I've not had much luck with the multiple port midi interfaces and Windows past XP. Luckily, most of my devices have a dedicated USB interface, and for the one device that doesn't, I have a cheap $20 USB MIDI cable. I hope you have better luck than I have.

This one is rock-solid:  Roland MPU-401
Drivers may be a problem - and you'll need to find a motherboard with an ISA bus.

Sorry about that, I couldn't resist! I don't know what has happened to MIDI interfaces. In the old days, computers were barely fast enough to keep up with MIDI (forget about audio) but the sequencer timing was solid and they could handle everything imaginable. (In fact, the MPU-401 had a *coprocessor* in it, to help with "complex" MIDI tasks that may overload the CPU with some types of sequences!)
 
I've used M-Audio MIDIsport 2x2 and 4x4 with no problems (knock on wood) but I've used them for basic MIDI message I/O and Midi-OX stuff, and some occasional small sysex dumps (Yamaha DX-7 small). Good to know about them possibly choking on big sysex.
 
I found this page with some more possibilities for you.
http://www.sweetwater.com/c679--Portable_MIDI_Interfaces
I see some MOTU devices on there. I don't have direct experience with them, but MOTU has a good reputation in general, so they may be worth a try.
 
Hope you get it sorted.

I have a Motu 8x8 and it has worked without issues.

I use 8 because I have several external Midi devices. I don't play them all at once that often.

Having 8 is more for convenience so that I don't have to plug in a device each time I'm going to access it. 

Mitch_I with all those external pieces it would seem to me you could have used an 8x8 to make your life simpler. Easier to control it all from within Sonar anyway.

My Midisport 4x4 works fine for my setup but I don't use sys-ex - just normal keys / wheels / pedals.

dcumpian


I've had excellent luck with ESI's M4U. It is 4x4 and requires NO drivers other than what comes with Windows 7.

Regards,
Dan

I have that one as well. 
Bought it years ago and still working nicely. 

Interesting that it works in Windows 7. I saw that there were no drivers, so I didn't try.
 
Anyway, I've installed the MIDISport 4x4 Anniversary Edition, and here's my report.
 
- I'm not totally convinced it's using the downloaded drivers for Windows 7 64-bit, but it's working. I did a stress test (lots of tracks with lots of fast chords), and it did fine.
 
- I configured the cables the same as with the MPU, so I naively expected Sonar X1 not to notice any difference. But as soon as I loaded an old file (or a new file with an old template), it told me that my MIDI ports were missing. I fixed this for new files by changing my main project template to use the new MIDI ports. But for old files that use my hardware synths, I have to reconfigure the MIDI ports for every track. What a hassle.
 
- The MIDI In A LED flashes constantly when my main controller (Roland JV-80) is turned on and connected. I seem to remember this issue when I first set up the JV-80 with Cakewalk and a MIDI interface in the 90s. I think it's caused by Active Sensing messages that the JV-80 sends. I don't remember how I dealt with it then. I'd be happy to get  some suggestions on this. At any rate, it seems to be just a nuisance and not something that affects functionality.
 
- I haven't done a sysx test yet. If that doesn't work, I'll report back.
 
Mitch I.

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