Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    There's also the MIDI Central (don't remember manufacturer's name)
    15 in 16 out MIDI switcher.  It does merge on two of the inputs.
    Priced at about $500.  Remembers 99 programs.  Comes in two versions,
    one with connectors on the front, the other with connectors on
    the back.  Recently reviewed in Keyboard.
    
    len.
    

    Thanks for the summary, Dan.  I've been kicking this around myself.

    For what it's worth, I just saw a posting on the USENET a few days ago
    where some guy in North Carolina got the MX8 new for a cool $169. 
    I gotta believe that something was amuck with that posting.

-b

    4 in 1 out - thats for me!! I like my MX-8, but there is all sorts of
    things that I want to do, and it just doesn't let me do it without
    spending hours of playing with it (the 18 page manual would not have
    been even that long if they had not used larger print font).

    I have used the MX-8 to change data coming in (channel bumping) and
    transposing the data also (you can program keyboard splits & send
    things to different MIDI channels), I'd rather that the output could
    simply be thrown away if you were not planning on using it for
    anything.  In my case I'm taking the output of a Yamaha SHS-10 (cheap
    MIDI out only strap on keyboard) which sends it's drums to MIDI channel
    16, and re-routing that to MIDI channel 10 (MT-32 drums are on #10),
    then transposing the notes (there are only 4 drum notes) such that they
    overlay as much as possible (actually only the Bass drum overlaps, the
    snare on the SHS-10 plays a closed hi-hat on the MT-32), then, using
    the other processor, I bump channel 15 (bass) down to MIDI channel #2
    & direct this also into the MT-32. The regular out goes to MIDI channel
    #1 (the only one that you can change channel on) & that ends up playing
    both an ESQ-1 and a CZ-101. It turns the SHS-10 into a substantial
    instrument. Other wise, I mostly only use the MX-8 to merge MIDI
    inputs. I really needed 4 in 1 out (maybe 8 in 1 out),  and thought
    that since I never needed them  all at once that I could make it work
    out. It sort of solves the problem, but I have to remember which patch
    sets up what.

							Jens

If anyone ever  comes  accross  the answer to this question, please post
     here:

Will any of these units map an incoming "hold pedal on/off" message to a
     "note on/off" message?

This will allow me to use my hold pedal as a kick drum pedal.

Thanks,
/Mitch

    
    RE .1 I read that review on MIDI Central in Keyboard and while the
    unit has some nice features, the price is WAY too high, IMO.
    
    RE .2 Brad, Please try to find out if that price ($169) the MX8
    is correct. Really sounds too good to be true,  but even at $269 it would
    be a decent deal.
    
    Mike D

    $169 was too good to be true - the USENET posting stated: 

	"MX8 ... I got mine for ... $175 in Raleigh, NC ..."

    I can't imagine there being *too* many music stores in Raleigh; seems
    to me that there are one or two decent sized ones (when I was down that
    way a few years ago I checked into it). 

    Either way, $175 is a heck of a deal - I'm not sure that anyplace else
    will match that price.  Oh - the guy that posted this also posted that
    he had "drop kicked a poodle 100 yards" after it ate his Alesis
    propaganda.  So the smoke factor might be quite high.

-b

    
    
    	I just came from buying a used (w/warranty card) 360 systems
    midi patcher from Rogue Music N.Y.C.. Got it for $180. They have
    several other types including the 360 systems midi merger for $160
    and an MX-8 for $270. Their address and phone # are at the bottom
    of note 9.4     
      I'll post a review of the 360 Systems Midi Patcher as soon as
    I get the thing home and beat the crap out of it!.
    
    						rich
    

    RE .0
    
    The 360 Systems Midi Patcher is an 8 in, 8 out patch router capable
    of memorizing 100 different setups. It ABSOLUTELY does not merge.
    I bought one used at a good price and returned it the same day when
    I found this out (the salesman said it merged and there was no manual).
    				beware.....rich
    

Quick review of the new Korg KMP-68 MIDI Patchbay:

  o 1 space rack mount.
  o 6 IN, 8 THRU (2 of each on front panel, remainder on back panel).
  o Built in power supply.
  o Front panel On/Off switch.
  o 8 rotary switches select an INput for each THRUput
        (6 position switch, ie no OFF position)
  o No processing, just a patchbay, not programmable.
  o An LED for each THRUput indicating MIDI traffic.
  o $225 at Union Music in Worcester (DECMS price is $208, thanks Dave).
    (No mail order places had this thing yet.  EU  Wurlies  was  the only
     other place I could find it, but their price was about $245 or so.)

I  needed something to bypass my computer with so  that  I  could  switch
between:

a) playing my sound modules from the controller without
   turning the computer on, and
b) playing THRU my computer with the sequencer on.

I also wanted something that I wouldn't grow out of.   I  decided  that I
didn't  want  a  "programmable"  patchbay,  even if those are in the same
price range.  I just wanted to avoid having to plug/unplug cables.

I only came across two  other  alternatives:   the Sonus (model?) 2 IN, 8
THRU tabletop unit for about $80 or so, and the Kawai MAV-8, 4 IN, 8 THRU
rack mount unit for about $120 or so.

Tabletops are out.

The Kawai  MAV-8  was  reasonable,  but  I  didn't like the "slider" type
switches, and 4 INputs could be grown out of very easily.  It did have an
OFF position for each THRUput which is nice, but didn't have any LEDs for
indicating MIDI traffic. Don't know about built-in power supply.

Later,
/Mitch

I found note 1332 (MIDI  network configurations) to be very useful while
     researching MIDI patchbays.

I also forgot  to  mention that the JLCooper MSB Plus was an alternative
     that I didn't really look into.  I just sort of decided on the Korg
     KMP68 because I like it's solid construction and switches, built in
     power supply, and especially the 4 ports on the front panel.

/Mitch

Moderator:   now  that I've written a note about a non-"processing" MIDI
     patchbay into this topic...  May I suggest opening this note to all
     MIDI patchbays - processors  or  otherwise?  It seems like the best
     place to summarize all these  things.    Perhaps you can modify the
     title of the base topic to  include the word "patchbay"?  ...just a
     suggestion...

See ya',
/Mitch