Connecting multiple MIDI devices [SORTED, Thanks]

What is everyone doing nowadays?
 
Prior to W10 I used a couple of MIDISPORT boxes. W10 no longer supports those.
 
I'm currently chaining my JP-8000, OB-12 and Nova but I'm no longer happy with that (various reasons).
 
Connected to this is a thread I have just posted in the Hardware section, regarding Kenton MIDI Utility Boxes.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Kenton-Thru-5-and-Merge-4-MIDI-Utility-Boxes-m3599105.aspx
 
If anyone has any experience with those boxes then could you please reply to that topic.
 
If anyone has any other solutions of connecting their MIDI gear together, without chaining, please reply here.
 
cheers
 
andy

I use a ver basic Tapco 4 in and 4 out Midi box that's bus powered with no driver necessary. It's no longer available but here's something similar.

https://reverb.com/au/ite...gent-mate-midi-box-4x4

mudgel
I use a ver basic Tapco 4 in and 4 out Midi box that's bus powered with no driver necessary. It's no longer available but here's something similar.

https://reverb.com/au/ite...gent-mate-midi-box-4x4

Thanks Mike,
 
I'm in the UK. When I did a search on Google for the MIDIBOX 4x4 I failed to find one available in the UK. But thanks for your input.
 
cheers
 
andy

tlw
I use a Motu Micro Lite which gives me 5 MIDI ports, the 2 ports on my RME UFX and some stuff connected by its built-in USB connection.

Hi Tim,
 
Thanks for mentioning the Micro Lite.
 
I had spotted this, but was put off when, on some websites, Thomann for instance (https://www.thomann.de/gb/motu_micro_lite.htm) only mentions Windows ME, 2000 and XP, which I found a bit bizarre, to be honest. Even Sweetwater only mentions Vista, 7 & 8. And at this point I'm thinking, oh no... not another device unsupported on 10...
 
But I have since visited the MOTU website, which I should have done in the first place really. MOTU confirms that it is supported by W10.
 
Just got to weigh up the pros and cons now and a bit more research may be required.
 
I like the idea of just one box and therefore the Micro Lite. Only potential downside may be the lack of USB ports on my laptop and there is no mention of whether it is compatible with USB3. I guess there should be no reason why it isn't but I need to check.
 
My laptop only has one USB 2 port and I reserve that for connecting my Q-C or O-C. We are always told that we should use USB 2 ports for our sound devices, and, although I have connected my devices to a USB 3 port, I only tried that to see if it worked and I always use the USB 2 port.
 
The other nice thing about the Micro Lite is it doesn't need a power supply as it draws its power from the USB port.
 
If I went down the Kenton route I would need both the Thru and Merge boxes, plus two power supplies. And they cost a bit more too. But I wouldn't have to bother about what OS I am running as they do not connect to the computer at all.
 
It's a bank holiday weekend here in the UK so I've got another full day to look further into this.
 
cheers, and thanks again,
 
andy

synkrotron
What is everyone doing nowadays?
 
Prior to W10 I used a couple of MIDISPORT boxes. W10 no longer supports those.

I have a legacy M-Audio MIDISPORT 4x4 that I have not hooked up since jumping to Win 10.
 
I just looked here and they list MIDISPORT Windows Driver v6.1.3 dated 5-10-2013 apply to these operating systems:
Windows 7 (32-Bit)
Windows 7 (32-Bit) SP1
Windows 7 (64-Bit)
Windows 7 (64-Bit) SP1
Windows 8 (32-Bit)
Windows 8 (64-Bit)
Windows 8.1 (32-bit)
Windows 8.1 (64-bit)
Windows 10 (32-bit)
Windows 10 (64-bit)
http://www.m-audio.com/support/drivers-search
 
Have you tried this?
http://www.m-audio.com/support/download/drivers/midisport-windows-driver-v6.1.3
 
So if it doesn't work anymore, thanks for the heads up!

synkrotron
 
Thanks Scott, yes, I do remember Kenton from back then. I think I remember them more for fitting MIDI to older synths, which they still do, according to their website.

I'd forgotten they did that.

synkrotron
 
Thanks again Scott.
 
You didn't provide a model number for the item in the picture, but I did a search for a Yamaha Bluetooth MIDI device and it came back with the MD-BT01.
 
Nice idea that, I must admit. Not sure how reliable it would be... I've never used any Bluetooth stuff.
 
However, according to the Yamaha website this device is only supported by apple stuff.
 
Cheers
 
andy

 
Well, if you are willing to wait two months, I can confirm, I ordered one yesterday from Gear4Music for 35 quid. I'm back in the UK at the end of June to pick it up.
 
Admittedly I have taken a gamble on it working, but I am under the impression that widnows, and now cakewalk have changed changed the situation recently. It's a bluetooth, I don't have to install drivers for a blue tooth to be recognised, so just requires windows to set up a protocol (is that the right word?), which I believe they have, with Cakewalk  recent development into bluetooth.
 
I'm not really trying to talk you into it, just responding. Maybe someone can confirm. At 35 quid, if it works it could both alleviate you thru situation and remove an evil cable.

abacab
 
So if it doesn't work anymore, thanks for the heads up!

Hiya John,
 
Well, I'll never know...
 
Reason being, last year I threw them in the bin. Literally. I was tidying up the room that would eventually become my studio and I was so fed up seeing hardware like that, including my PCR-300, unable to work because companies were only bothered about developing W10 drivers for new stuff.
 
A bit crazy, I know... Not as if those little boxes were taking up much room. Feel a prat now, if those drivers do indeed work.
 
Ah well... Such is life haha!
 
cheers
 
andy
 
 

Kamikaze
 
I'm not really trying to talk you into it, just responding. Maybe someone can confirm. At 35 quid, if it works it could both alleviate you thru situation and remove an evil cable.

Sure, Scott, thanks, I appreciate your input here.
 
Doubt if I'll wait that long but, please, let me know how you get on with that.
 
cheers
 
andy

karhide
I have the midisport 4x4 and it works well on my Windows 10 laptop.  

Thanks, that's nice to know...
 
My MIDISPORTS are currently on some local landfill site.
 
I have now made up my mind and ordered a MOTU Micro Lite and, fingers crossed, it should be with me before the weekend.
 
Thanks to everyone's input here, I appreciate it
 
 
cheers
 
andy