4x4 midi box for $35 great alternative for Win 7 users

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datapark wrote:I'm starting to think that paying 30 bucks for a 4x4 interface will get you nothing more than a cheap pile of shit that isn't good for much else than sending clock signals (about the only thing that isn't buggy)
Ah. Sh*t :D
This sounds so much like the single port usb-midi i got very cheap that only sends midi note messages. Everything else was buggy and didn't work. For example CC messages came out as partly midi notes :) And sysex wouldn't work at all.


Maybe getting another E-MU Proteus X2 will be a better solution. It comes with a 2x2 usb-midi interface for 39£. Works rock solid.
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I have a Midisport 8x8/S which no longer works under Vista. I didn't work with WinXP, either, at least not in USB mode. I had to use it in serial mode for years. But serial mode is no longer supported in Vista/7, so I'm currently looking for a replacement.

I've heard that Edirol interfaces were quite robust. They are supposedly discontinued, but not really. Roland eventually re-released and re-designed much of that stuff into Cakewalk's hardware line, so I'm currently contemplating buying a couple Cakewalk UM-3G's. These are 3x3 interfaces but up to three of them can be linked together and racked, effectively working as a single 9x9 interface (in theory). Plus I use Sonar so I would expect little to zero compatibility problems.
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I also am having major issues with these tomtop midiboxes. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Windows XP , no drivers needed, shows up, major timing issues. Piece of crap. I have 2 both are behaving the same way. -

They will work standalone as a merge box, I will see if there is any use for them in this application but for XP as a midi interface , no go.





datapark wrote:so... i bought this back in september and it finally arrived on friday (held up at customs for over a month, f**k you, canada post)

i've had some time to muck about with it and find its giving pretty iffy results

my host is FLStudio
At first I noticed I was getting little timing variations (slight warbling in pitch and or tempo) if i tried sending any CC info (ie : mod wheel) to any of my outboard boxes (fwiw - novation nova laptop, ea-1 and er-1)

I thought perhaps it was because I have so much hooked up to my USB ports (Novation NIO 24 and RemoteSL25)
With a 2in4out audio interface coupled with what now amounts to 6 midi in, 7 midiout and 3 virtual usb midi ports I thought perhaps the bus was simply maxed out and I was seeing the results of plugging too much shit in to your computer.
However as turning off both my NIO and Remote haven't resolved many issues, in fact, turning the NIO back on and using its out port to control the nova via CC and midi clock showed no errors on Novations side, I'm starting to think that paying 30 bucks for a 4x4 interface will get you nothing more than a cheap pile of shit that isn't good for much else than sending clock signals (about the only thing that isn't buggy)

the oddest part was that it seems to produce some odd feedback error. trying to send a short sequence of notes to my ea-1 and my nova would produce a high pitched "feedback" sound whenever the last note stopped playing, pretty much what would happen if between all your individual notes you'd hit note 127 for the f**king hell of it, and it would only stop if i double hit stop in FL (killing all sounds, midi, etc)

anyway, this is my experience with this box so far
i'm going to try trouble shooting further as its here already and i might as well

oh yeah, running win 7 home prem x64 and no, i didn't need to download any drivers ;)

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TOMTOP Update:


I just migrated to Windows 7 32 bit SP1. Under this OS the TomTop boxes are working properly. I haven't tried to push sysex through them , simply communications to my controllers and external synths but in this case, they are now working. - Scotty

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I am sure we all know that the M-AUDIO 5.10.0.5141 driver
pack works with all non-anniversery interfaces now.


Well, I see that the MIDI BOX C890 is down to about 26.00 on some ebay listings.

I for one do not understand how this thing could even work 'without a driver'
as they say in their pitch. StevieBone, Is there a driver?

Perhaps is is simply powered by the USB bus and operates as a standalone unit?

Without a driver I do not see how the ports would show up on a Windows PC to DAW's and sequencers
(As WinMM and DirectMusic MIDI ports (MPU-401)).


StevieBone, Could you look in 'device manager' and see what the ports are registered as
('Driver Details'). Thanks.

On a somewhat the same note, I am looking for a USB 2x2,4x4,x,x interface that has port
routing available. I want to route on System Exclusive messages and channel messages, e.g

--->SysEx In1
Device-- (sysEx,Channel)->Midi Box |
--->Channel In2

And
<--SysEx Out1
Device<--(sysEx,Channel)<-Midi Box |
<--Channel Out2


Any one know of a device that can do this?
Must work on Windows 7 x64

Thanks

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I have gone to a Windows 7 64 Bit system, both TomTop Midi Boxes are working. NOt confirmed for system yet but controller and note on off is fine. - Scotty

Scotty wrote:TOMTOP Update:

I just migrated to Windows 7 32 bit SP1. Under this OS the TomTop boxes are working properly. I haven't tried to push sysex through them , simply communications to my controllers and external synths but in this case, they are now working. - Scotty

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fac wrote:I have a Midisport 8x8/S which no longer works under Vista. I didn't work with WinXP, either, at least not in USB mode. I had to use it in serial mode for years. But serial mode is no longer supported in Vista/7, so I'm currently looking for a replacement.
You got a code 10 error when trying to install the drivers, correct? That's an old firmware issue- I had that happen with mine (I've had my 8x8 for 11 years now). Contact M-Audio- they'll send you a new chipset. Done.

@ the OP- the beta drivers work fine here with 64 bit W7. YMMV...

ew
A spectral heretic...

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I can't understand what's so difficult in implementing a midi port. It's a friggen serial port, nothing more. We've had those for ages, even USB-driven ones.
Hell i could build up one for 5 bucks myself.. with close to no effort at all.

That's actually what i'm going to do next on my freetime :)
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mkdr wrote:That's actually what i'm going to do next on my freetime :)
Ahem, I'd rather you concentrate on Venom'ed! :wink: :hihi:

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