Akai Professional ME80P

MIDI Patchbay 8 inputs - 10 outputs in 1U, with 2 inputs mergables is to say, combined with each other. Only the input - output and physical patchable mergeables, not all 16 channels within the MIDI stream - in fact, I'm not sure that there is a MIDI patchbay able to patch these égallement MIDI channels.

With 128 memory locations for routing configurations and filter MIDI events (notes, program changes, data pichband, pressure rating, control, proprietary systems, etc).

CAUTION: This is not a MIDI interface.

UTILIZATION

I have a home studio with right now eight different synths Cathegory - including an arranger keyboard, 2 and 4 racks Grooveboxes currently wired. Since we are limited in terms of amps in an apartment for rent (bein yes, we're not going to install a specialized group of power will leave knowing that sooner or later), avoid the most possible connections like MIDI OUT => IN => THRU => IN => THRU => IN => etc.. that requires turning a complete set of synths instead of just those that I need. For the MIDI THROUGH Malhère are not electrically powered by the electric impultions caused by the transmission of the MIDI data received on the MIDI IN, as seems to be on mergers boxes, thrueboxes and all other MIDI Midi Solutions firm.

This is why the only solution unless you connect - disconnect - reconnect the wiring MIDI which can damage the cables and connectors in the long run is to use a MIDI patchbay able to duplicate one or more inputs to one or more outputs merger and several inputs to one or more outlets - because the computer and other sequencers also be connected to it.

So I bought this Akai ME80p. This is the only one I know (end September 2007) which had a depth of more than 25 cm. The other 8 x 8 1 U rack that I know have a depth of barely a 10 - cm of 15zaine: as I have no flight case rack or cabinet (that horribly expensive), I have to put rack from the bottom in shallower bottom up and as I have a portable DAT (Tascam DA-P1) to place on the rack, I must have a minimum of one 20taine cm deep and the device is at the top of the tower. I must absolutely avoid too small appliances depth where possible.

Well, for simple functions, that is to say, set the MIDI channel routing is a breeze to use. But against to more sophisticated functions, such as MERGE function for example, while there, without instructions, it's hard drive ... Indeed, Akai has the tendency to complicate things that could have been simple. Instead the unit will automatically merge when selecting multiple entries on one or more outputs, must be a procedure (the procedure has been described by me in the section Tips) and therefore to make a detour the same operation. But against it is able to duplicate the signal from a MIDI input on all MIDI outputs easily and simply: we can use it as thrubox, that's something ^ ^

The Akai has only two MIDI inputs mergeables only: the subsistence minimum, it helps just to be able to use it with a sequencer (software or hardware). We would have liked to have at least 4 inputs mergeables, see the 8, so that I do not have to plug in OUT => IN => THRU => IN => THRU => IN => etc.. computers, keyboards, sequencers and / or other MIDI instruments émmetteurs data, that's just what I wanted to avoid by buying this Akai. But now I have to buy at least one mergerbox style Midi Solutions Quadra Merge to circumvent the difficulty. It's true, I can avoid doing so for MIDI data reception apparatus as racks, for example by using it as thrubox, that's something, but if I had known, I am thrubox just bought a rack, such as the MIDI Solutions T8 example, in place of the Akai.

It also has a front jack entitled BANK UP / DOWN: It is possible to change bank user through a foot pedal ^ ^

OVERALL OPINION

A patchbay can be practical in many cases utlile malhrereusement but not in all cases.

Pros:
<ul>

8 inputs and 10 outputs MIDI, rare for a 1U rack

MERGE function for two MIDI inputs

128 user memory locations, rare!

MIDI event filter included

Setting routing electronically

</ul>
Cons:
<ul>

2 MIDI inputs mergeables alone is not enough

Without instructions, difficult to exploit the beast at full capacity.

Procedure merge horribly complicated, they could not be easier.

</ul>
There are not many competitors Malhère for Cathegory of MIDI patchbay 1U rack. The closest of them is the Roland A-880 (8 MIDI inputs with 2 outputs MIDI mergeables and 8). I doubt there will be many new models that emerge as the fashion now is to synths and so that all - or at least up to things - happening in the computer ...

I do not reselect this model because it can only merger that two MIDI inputs. Besides, I&#39;m get a Motu MIDI Timepiece II, which the merger is 8 inputs - among others. But I will keep this Akai anyway as it can on the splitter output 10: I&#39;m not sure that 8 out of TimePiece me enough.