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Topic: Midi A/B Switch Box doable? |
Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 Jan 2017 10:41 am |
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Jack, Blake, Ken et al with experience in this area. Is there any reason one can't build and use an A/B box to switch between 2 midi controller devices with midi OUT only ports by wiring female 5 pin din jacks and an HD 3 position on, off, on toggle switch?
I've spent a lot of time researching this online and most of the info indicates it's not practical. I have a case I can use, I'm quite sure I can locate the proper components and wire them all together, but not if it's not going to work.
I know most midi devices output 5V on one pin. I don't know how they will behave if 2 devices are wired to a switch.
I want to use this in my rigs where I might be playing steel or guitar through a mono G2M guitar controller, or a basic midi keyboard controller into the same Alesis midi sound module and switch between the controllers if/as required without having to disconnect/re-connect the midi cable.
Ea. controller has only a midi OUT port and neither has an on/off switch.
I know there are 2 into 1 midi merger devices available, but I don't see how that would work for selecting one or the other controller. The ones I see, like the Midi Solutions brand, don't include a switching function.
I guess I'm showing my ignorance here as I know only some basic things concerning midi, so I'd like input from those of you who are more knowledgeable with navigating and routing and the electrical/mechanical aspects. Some of you eat this stuff for breakfast and I'd appreciate your help if you feel up to it.
Here's a crude drawing of the A/B device concept.
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 2 Jan 2017 2:28 pm
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My thinking is you could do it with a DPDT switch. The grounds (earth) could stay connected to each other.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Glenn Demichele
From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2017 2:53 pm
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MIDI is optically isolated, so you don't even need to connect the ground wires. A simple DPDT switch is all you need, like this:
_________________
Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc... |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 Jan 2017 3:11 pm
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| Terrific diagrams Glenn. Thanks so much. JO. |
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Tom Mossburg
From:
AZ,
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Posted 2 Jan 2017 11:05 pm Midi Merge
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I used to have a small device called a midi merger that did just what you are looking to do. Probably still have it somewhere. You can probably find one pretty cheap if you do a search. Sweetwater has new one for $69. If you go this way make sure you get a merger not a thru box.
_________________
MSA Studio Pro U-12 x 2, Telonics |
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J.D.White
From:
Lafayette, Louisiana
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 3 Jan 2017 3:32 pm
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| Thanks JD. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 3 Jan 2017 4:02 pm
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Well, I been searching online for about a month now Jeff. Never saw that or any other AB switching box for midi. Thanks for the link, I may go there although I don't eBay.
Anyhow, I've got midi sockets, wiring and jacks to make cables on order for pretty cheap. Already have the box and switch so I should be good. |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 3 Jan 2017 6:11 pm
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| Jerry Overstreet wrote: |
Well, I been searching online for about a month now Jeff. Never saw that or any other AB switching box for midi. Thanks for the link, I may go there although I don't eBay.
Anyhow, I've got midi sockets, wiring and jacks to make cables on order for pretty cheap. Already have the box and switch so I should be good. |
It's funny because a few years back (probably about 15!) I used a little box - I think it was the one in the attached picture although I think mine had a mini selecter switch - which was tiny, very cheap and one of a great many that were available. It seems there is less demand for them now. maybe because a lot of people are hooking MIDI up via USB instead of the "old fashioned" MIDI cables.
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 3 Jan 2017 6:28 pm
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Yeah, read a bunch of his stuff. Lots of articles and diy pages.
I first started out looking for a simple midi "Y" cable and discovered about the only place you could find them was in China or the UK. Nothing in the states and all the info indicated not a good idea as the messages would collide. That's when I began searching for an AB Box.
Yes, everything drives one to USB utility which is mostly useless to me in this situation as I don't want to use a PC with this stuff right now. I'm usually about 20 yrs. behind technology! |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 10 Jan 2017 1:36 pm
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Thanks for your help everybody. The diagrams are great and I was able to wire the box pretty straightforwardly. There's still clean-up etc. to do and I may want to put it in a different box later on. But it will serve for now.
I also made 2 midi cables which turned out to be a real challenge and PITA. The pins are so tiny and I don't have enough hands, ["helping hands" gadget just a little help.] Won't be building any more of those.
The A/B function works just fine, but I found out in testing early on, that you don't want to switch controllers while one is still sounding or you end up with stuck notes and a power down and reset. Lesson learned. 
Edit: The box worked fine but was a pita to set up. I had a little computer stand etc. but all the hook-ups were on the back and underneath the other gear.
I decided to just move the components into the engine turned panel that was already existing in a rack with the input jack and the G2M guitar midi interface. Much better this way with the midi connections on the front.
Still some things to hook up at the rear panels, but this arrangements simplifies things a bit and eliminates a couple pieces of gear. Always welcome when carrying a pedal steel rig, guitars and keyboards. 
Last edited by Jerry Overstreet on 20 Apr 2018 10:12 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Glenn Demichele
From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
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Posted 10 Jan 2017 9:27 pm
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Check out "active sensing". You turn this on on both your controller and synths. The controller sends a special ping periodically, and if the synths stop hearing it, they turn off all notes. It's designed to prevent stuck notes if a cable gets unplugged, and will fix your switch issue.
_________________
Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc... |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 10 Jan 2017 9:37 pm
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| I will certainly look into that. Everything seems to be OK long as I don't switch while the synth is receiving messages. I'm learning as I go. Thanks for all your help Glenn. |
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