You configure the AL-88c's in copperlan manager on your computer (which also gives you VMIDI ports you can route to Physical MIDI ports. I'm using two Alyseum AL-88c Copperlan MIDI interfaces. (Random recent example is the JDXI that uses up 4 unchangeable midi channel assignments) Similarly when you start to clean up your midi transmission you start to get better results e.g cleaning out all those random NRPNs or aftertouch messages that float around tightens things up considerably.

While you may start out not wanting to do complex routings, its nice to have something that provides options for workarounds when you have some stubborn gear added to the mix. 2 minute CR2023 battery change, no fancy power adaptors, can store 8 user routings. Can do all the complex merging and filtering you need, but also easy to set up as a basic box. Their main selling point is that almost all features are available from the front panel controls and even though there's a bit of menu diving its all logical. Almost no way to tell from the outside whether they contain the upgraded chips and will connect to anything beyond a 90's generation computer, so I've simply assumed they don't, and use a seperate midi-usb cable if I ever need that. Big caveat being that they don't necessarily interface with your DAW. MOTU seems to have issues keeping up with OS changes, so while current models may have computer connectivity, I don't know if that will remain true, so potentially becomes fairly limited. Have used the older models, serving the basic purpose of a through box via presets. Needs a power adapter.īuyer Beware! At least one of the Akais will only merge to 2 of the out ports so they're not as 'programmable' as they like to advertise - was a deal breaker for my application so mine ended up in the cupboard, I know some people swear by them, so possibly the 80 doesn't have this limitation (?). Would have been nice to have an 'all outs' routing too. In some ways more of an assignable thru box then. Its based on ports rather than channels so can't do any kind of filtering ie you can end up multiplying a lot of redundant midi messages. I've mostly used it to direct a master keyboard to other less accessible keyboards on a stand, so not sure how well it would handle actual merging from multiple sequencers for example. Nice for basic routing with intuitive no-menu front panel controls. Anyway, which one of the above do you guys recommend and why? Thanks! I didn't include the Edirol UM-880 because it's too expensive. MOTU MIDI Timepiece AV - (The only one that interfaces with the DAW. Perhaps more than I need, but I've liked my Ultralite!) MOTU MIDI Express 128 ($200 new and interfaces with DAW. JL Cooper Nexus 3 (I see these often from $40-$250 and cheaper ones often missing the AC power unit for some reason) Digital Music Corp MX-8 (I see these often for about $100) Yamaha MJC8 (usually go for about $100) Roland A880 (usually $150-200, have heard good things about these) Akai ME80P (haven't seen one of these on eBay in a while) Akai ME30P (see these often on eBay for $120-150) Kawai MAV-8 (a bit hard to come by - usually $150 used on eBay) The most important thing is I need something easy and hassle-free to work with since I will not be doing very complex routings, and MIDI mapping is my least favorite aspect of music production (I truly hate it). I need at least 6 MIDI OUTs and at least 3 MIDI INs (4 is even better). So I don't need another interface to connect to my computer - although if it's able to, that's fine too (I'm on a Mac, btw). I already have a MOTU Ultralite mk3 with 1 MIDI I/O port which i can use to send and receive MIDI for my DAW to whatever MIDI patchbay I end up with. I need a MIDI patchbay to connect my hardware synths and computer to.

Kmx 8x8 midi patchbay