What is a Smart MIDI port?
The second-hand market for synths, modules and drum machines is constantly growing, with many pre-USB (MIDI-only) units still around, so putting a system together that is easy to control in a home studio can be a daunting task. Having a MIDI interface with 5-pin MIDI plugs that automatically sense whether they are being used to send or receive MIDI data is quite unique.
The MIDI interfaces from ESI show what plug & play really means – a simple USB connection to your PC or Mac and you can start right away.
Each of the ports on their MIDI devices, the M4U eX and M8U eX, as well as the MIDIMATE eX, can be used as either a MIDI input or as a MIDI output, replacing not only traditional MIDI interfaces, but also providing multiple configurations and expansions. For instance, you can use all 5-pin MIDI plugs as ‘ins’ for controller merging, or all as ‘outs’ for a complex control system for multiple synths. And the best feature? This is all handled automatically, simply based on your connection to other MIDI inputs or MIDI outputs.
Imagine being able to set up a system with 2 merged MIDI inputs and 14 outputs, or 14 inputs and 2 outputs – it’s possible with the M8U eX.
Amber i-Series
The newly released Amber i2 and i4 audio interfaces also allow you to connect your MIDI devices seamlessly and use the 2 ports, labelled as ‘AUTODETECT MIDI’, as either MIDI inputs or outputs.
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