Not just another patchbay question!

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I'm back bitches!!!
Member Since: May 27, 2004

Anybody know of a MIDI patchbay at all. It sure would be nice to not have to go behind my Tascam to access the MIDI I/O. Thanks guys.

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Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 16, 2005 09:54 am

my Motu Midi Express XT pretty much works like a patchbay, i can use the routing software to send any midi in, to any midi out. but i don't think i've seen a real 'patch bay' for midi.

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 16, 2005 05:07 pm

Although MIDI carries an optical signal (this is the only reason why i think this wouldnt work), i've heard stories that people have used normal patchbays for MIDI patchbays as only 3 of the 5 pins in the DIN cable are actually used. It basically boils down to a TRS line?

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 16, 2005 07:02 pm

yeah i think you're right, but i'm sure threre's nothing 'optical' about midi...optic cables carry light....and it's all metal connectors with midi.

cheers!

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 16, 2005 07:17 pm

Nah, MIDI carries an optical signal to prevent ground loops. There is no direct connection between the input and the output of the MIDI ports, so therefore, no loop.

They designed it like that so it screwed up less.

The MIDI cables do carry light, and the light represents binary digits. Then the ports somehow decifer(sp?) the light (that i dont know how) and hurrah, you have data

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 16, 2005 07:21 pm

really?!!

gowsh i was totaly unaware of that.....so if i were to crimp a midi cable it'd be rendered usless?!! i've never taken care of my midi cables the way i do my optical. perhaps it's time i start..

thanks man

wyd

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 16, 2005 07:24 pm

Yea its pretty wierd aye.

no worries.

?cixelsid I mA
Member
Since: Jul 30, 2005


Aug 20, 2005 07:08 pm

I'm afraid you're not correct on optical signal and midi. It is purely electrical in nature, actually rather old technology developed in the late 70's. Midi connectors are merely DIN connectors used as "quick" connects for modular stereo systems in the 70's and early 80's. Only three of the five connectors are used for digital signal transfer. Theoretically, a regular, balanced patch bay should work, but I'm not sure how reliable the digital signal would be or how well the weakened signal would be if it were split to feed several devices. You would have to make the connections correctly to match ground to ground. Optical signals can only be transmitted through fiber cable. Unless optical couplers are used to convert the signal to electrical pulses at the source and back to optical at the receiver, which is not the case with midi.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 20, 2005 07:22 pm

Damn, I meant to chime in on this a long time ago, Soundmind is correct, MIDI is not optical signals...optical is used only in fiber-optic cable and is essentially just light if I understand it correctly, MIDI is not that.

Thanks for jumping in Soundmind, glad somebody did.

?cixelsid I mA
Member
Since: Jul 30, 2005


Aug 21, 2005 10:16 pm

No problem, I'm no genius by any means, but I try to help when I can.

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 21, 2005 10:23 pm

oh, people have taught me wrong then :)

Thanks for the correction

?cixelsid I mA
Member
Since: Jul 30, 2005


Aug 21, 2005 10:31 pm

We all get bad info from time to time, this stuff is confusing to everyone at times.

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