ESI MIDIMATE eX - 32-Channel MIDI Interface in 1 USB cable for $35?

Sequencer1

Anyone ever try this on iOS/iPadOS?

32 MIDI channels! Not just 16. No inline-hump.
Seems like a good companion to an MPC or Octatrack and an iPad with a headphone jack, especially if you don't want to spend the $$$ on an audio/MIDI interface, hubs, cables, etc.

FAQ says it's class-compliant and will work with iPhone or iPad.

I wonder if the Apple USB 2.0 CCK will work, or if it requires a powered hub and/or the Apple USB 3 Camera adapter with Apple charger.

https://www.esi-audio.com/products/midimateex/

CracklePot

It should work fine, but no guarantees.
I have a 20 year old Turtle Beach version of one of these.
It works with the CCK-3 without a power supply attached.
It even works with my old iPad 2 with the old 30-pin connection and a USB converter.

I am wondering if this really has 32 channels. They might mean 16 in + 16 out, which is standard.

klownshed

@CracklePot said:
I am wondering if this really has 32 channels. They might mean 16 in + 16 out, which is standard.

I think it is up to 32 channels.

Each port can be used as either an in or out port.

So if you connect both to MIDI Ins, you get 32 output channels.

CracklePot

@klownshed said:

@CracklePot said:
I am wondering if this really has 32 channels. They might mean 16 in + 16 out, which is standard.

I think it is up to 32 channels.

Each port can be used as either an in or out port.

So if you connect both to MIDI Ins, you get 32 output channels.

Oh, that’s pretty cool that you can switch the port types.

auxmux

@CracklePot said:

@klownshed said:

@CracklePot said:
I am wondering if this really has 32 channels. They might mean 16 in + 16 out, which is standard.

I think it is up to 32 channels.

Each port can be used as either an in or out port.

So if you connect both to MIDI Ins, you get 32 output channels.

Oh, that’s pretty cool that you can switch the port types.

@CracklePot said:

@klownshed said:

@CracklePot said:
I am wondering if this really has 32 channels. They might mean 16 in + 16 out, which is standard.

I think it is up to 32 channels.

Each port can be used as either an in or out port.

So if you connect both to MIDI Ins, you get 32 output channels.

Oh, that’s pretty cool that you can switch the port types.

That makes sense, I was confused now that works. 😆 Pretty cool.

Sequencer1

Thanks @CracklePot @klownshed @auxmux
The smallest bus-powered USB Midi interface I've used successfully with iOS was the Midiman 2x2, but a later iOS update killed that. So I'm a bit weary, but I could use it with my laptop if it doesn't work.

I like that it doesn't have that inline-lump like the 1x1 iConnectivity or Roland interfaces.

Hopefully the MPC/Force gets MIDI-over-USB at some point.

mrufino1

That looks very cool, do you know if it’s new or has that been around a while? I remember esi from the early days of sound cards.

Sergiu

PerfectCircuit has them

Sequencer1

Looks like it replaced the MIDIMATE II, which replaced the MIDIMATE, which replaced the MIDI Mate with the inline-hump.

Newest MIDIMATE eX:
To get 32 channels of either MIDI IN or OUT, you just plug them into the appropriate MIDI jacks.
Would be great with an MPC Live's 2x MIDI OUT ports.

anickt

If you have 32 MIDI channels going out of your iPad (for instance) you’d have the capability of controlling 32 devices. That’s quite a few devices. Who has that many? Maybe if you’re controlling lighting. You’d need at least 2 thru boxes and (up to) 32 MIDI cables since daisy-chaining through ports on a device is not always reliable nor available. Plus you wouldn’t have MIDI in. You’d need an app on the iPad to provide ports to each group of MIDI channels. You’d have MIDI channels 1 - 16 times 2 don’t forget, not MIDI channels 1 - 32. Just some things to think about. 😉

Sequencer1

That's true.

But how about an MPC Live/X as sequencer, sequencing multi-timbral iOS synths like BM3, LayR, bs-16i, SquareSynth 2, Synclavier, etc?
Or a mix of synths, samplers, and FXm in AUM/apeMatrix/AB3 (if your iPad can handle it).

Or the MPC (or any other hardware sequencer with multiple MIDI OUTs) sequencing 32 VST/VSTis on a laptop.

anickt

@Sequencer1 said:
That's true.

But how about an MPC Live/X as sequencer, sequencing multi-timbral iOS synths like BM3, LayR, bs-16i, SquareSynth 2, Synclavier, etc?
Or a mix of synths, samplers, and FXm in AUM/apeMatrix/AB3 (if your iPad can handle it).

Or the MPC (or any other hardware sequencer with multiple MIDI OUTs) sequencing 32 VST/VSTis on a laptop.

Please don’t make my head explode! 🤯

klownshed

@anickt said:
If you have 32 MIDI channels going out of your iPad (for instance) you’d have the capability of controlling 32 devices. That’s quite a few devices. Who has that many? Maybe if you’re controlling lighting. You’d need at least 2 thru boxes and (up to) 32 MIDI cables since daisy-chaining through ports on a device is not always reliable nor available. Plus you wouldn’t have MIDI in. You’d need an app on the iPad to provide ports to each group of MIDI channels. You’d have MIDI channels 1 - 16 times 2 don’t forget, not MIDI channels 1 - 32. Just some things to think about. 😉

Or two multi timbral ROMplers. :-)

CracklePot

@klownshed said:

@anickt said:
If you have 32 MIDI channels going out of your iPad (for instance) you’d have the capability of controlling 32 devices. That’s quite a few devices. Who has that many? Maybe if you’re controlling lighting. You’d need at least 2 thru boxes and (up to) 32 MIDI cables since daisy-chaining through ports on a device is not always reliable nor available. Plus you wouldn’t have MIDI in. You’d need an app on the iPad to provide ports to each group of MIDI channels. You’d have MIDI channels 1 - 16 times 2 don’t forget, not MIDI channels 1 - 32. Just some things to think about. 😉

Or two multi timbral ROMplers. :-)

Maybe useful for MPE?