Merge 4 or more midi inputs

Design Concepts
1

Hi,

i would like to build a midi merger that can merge at least 4 midi inputs together. should i just build 3 MIDImerger units and do it in two steps? or would that introduce latency? is there a smarter way to do it ? i want to build a small box to bring with me for playing live something like the (expensive) “MIDIsolutions Quadra merge”

what do you reckon ?

2

Hi,

you could build a LPC17 core module, enable MIDI IN3 and MIDI IN4, and install the new MIDIO V3, which has an inbuilt MIDI router, that can nicely be configured via display/tactile switches:

http://ucapps.de/midio128.html

This new input/output MIDIbox is very flexible and also allows to forward/route MIDI to ethernet/OSC, so you can network all of your MIDI equipment (if necessary, just build another MIDIO V3).

Have lots of fun!

Bye,

Peter

3

Thanks, that core looks awesome!! But perhaps a little overkill for what i want to do. I allready built a bunch of midi controllers using ATmega328 micros, and only want to merge MIDI (no need for usb or OSC or SDcards). So i guess what i am wondering is how much latency is introduced per merge unit (using the PIC16F88 variant). will i suffer?

oh and if i do decide to forego all my ATmega junk and start building MIDIbox stuff, where would i get the parts for this LPC17 core module?

Cheers

Daniel

Hi,

you could build a LPC17 core module, enable MIDI IN3 and MIDI IN4, and install the new MIDIO V3, which has an inbuilt MIDI router, that can nicely be configured via display/tactile switches:

http://ucapps.de/midio128.html

This new input/output MIDIbox is very flexible and also allows to forward/route MIDI to ethernet/OSC, so you can network all of your MIDI equipment (if necessary, just build another MIDIO V3).

Have lots of fun!

Bye,

Peter

4

Hi Daniel,

there is a shopping list of parts on the LPC17 page on ucapps.de - you can get the PCB and the parts from SmashTVs shop, and you can get the LPC module from many resellers (including mouser).

http://ucapps.de/mbhp_core_lpc17.html

http://www.midibox-shop.com/buy.html

Regarding latency, the LPC17 MIDIO solution will be as quick as possible (the limit is not the processor power, but the limited bandwidth of the MIDI wire protocol).

A cascade of three standard MIDI mergers should be pretty quick, too (latency most likely will be unnoticable), if you prefer that solution, but the LPC approach is much more universal - you can add things you may need later and have great MIDI routing capabilities… (including up to four MIDI OUTs) and a “free” MIDI interface (USB port included).

Bye,

Peter