M-Audio MIDISPORT 8x8/s [25/52] Setting up your midi studio

When the SMPTE reader is performing "jam sync," it will continue to run

indefinitely. However, this may be aborted by pressing the "Write" button.

SMPTE "Format" Button

The "Format" button is used to select the SMPTE output format. Repeatedly

pressing this button will cycle the unit through the five SMPTE formats

displayed on the front panel LEDs. This button is inactive if the MIDISPORT

8x8/s is currently reading or writing SMPTE.

Setting Up Your MIDI Studio

Typical MIDI System Set-up:

Atypical MIDI interface system set-up (see Fig. 1) consists of a MIDISPORT

8x8/s, a host computer, your sequencing software, a tape deck, a master MIDI

keyboard, and additional MIDI sound modules and/or keyboards. This set-up is

connected as follows:

1. The MIDISPORT 8x8/s “USB” jack is connected to the USB port of a host

computer, using the supplied USB cable. The MIDISPORT can also be

connected via its “PC/Mac Host”serial connector and the computer’s serial

port. See installation sections for more information.

2. MIDISPORT 8x8/s MIDI In-8 is connected to MIDI Out of your MIDI master

keyboard.

3. MIDISPORT 8x8/s MIDI Out-8 is connected to MIDI In of your MIDI master

keyboard.

4. The tape deck Tape Out (or Sync Out) is connected to the MIDISPORT 8x8/s

SMPTE In.

5. The tape deck Tape In (or Sync In) is connected to the MIDISPORT 8x8/s

SMPTE Out.

6. A secondary MIDI keyboard (Keyboard 2) MIDI Out is connected to the

MIDISPORT 8x8/s MIDI In 1, with MIDISPORT 8x8 MIDI Out-1 connected to

Keyboard 2’s MIDI In.

7. Additional MIDI Sound Modules (Modules 1 and 2) is directly connected to

the MIDISPORT 8x8/s MIDI Out-2, MIDI Out-3, etc. MIDI In, in this case,

would only be used to transfer sysex information from the sound module to

the computer.

In this example, the MIDISPORT 8x8/s provides several functions: 1) it acts as a

multi-port MIDI interface between the host computer and the connected MIDI

keyboards and sound modules; 2) it synchronizes the host computer to the tape

recorder by converting the tape recorder ‘s SMPTE signal into MIDI Time Code

for use by the host’s MIDI sequencer application; 3) it acts as a SMPTE striper for

writing a SMPTE track to the tape recorder.