MIDI 16 Channel Activate/Mute Switches

  

This unit provides the ability to send the single-channel MIDI output of a keyboard controller into a sort of "MIDI channel mixer/ muter" , where you have the ability (while on stage) to quickly change which channels (1-16) are duplicating the MIDI input signal. The unit also has a Panic switch to switch ALL notes off.

 

Purpose:

The unit has a row of 16 channel-activate/mute buttons. So for example, if you had 8 of the buttons selected, you would be transmitting notes on 8 channels. This is very handy for creating multi-instrument layer stacks of differing combinations on the fly while playing a MIDI sampler/synthesiser, which you can set up with a separate instrument on each of the 16 channels

 

 

 

	MIDI 16 ACTIVATE/MUTE SWITCHES ITEM#: MIDI16ACTMUTESWS PRICE:  €35.00

The MIDI 16 Channel Activate/Mute Switches unit utilizes:

• A Miduino kit including a suitable pre-programmed Atmega168,
• A 2.1mm power socket, and associated LED, 
• Select MIDI channel via toggle switches,
• A MIDI 5-pin DIN input socket,
• A MIDI 5-pin DIN output socket,
• 17 off 0.1" pin-terminal switch inputs, 
• The circuit schematic is available,

 

 

The MIDI16 Channel Activate/Mute Switches also requires:

• A 9v battery or equivalent DC power source,
• 16 Toggle/SPST switches,
• 1 Momentary Push-button switch (Panic switch)

 

 

Assembly:

The assembly is straightforward and well documented. This design does not include a USB chip, it is designed to use a FTDI USB 232-TTL cable to program the microcontroller.  However since the cable plugs directly into the Miduino, you can use one cable for multiple projects.

   

MIDI Wiring:

The MIDI IN and OUT connectors use  5-Pin 180 degree DIN sockets. Note that the MIDI IN/OUT wiring is polarised and the correct pins should be used.

 

MIDI Specification: 

When a MIDI 'Note-On' command is received, then MIDI 'Note-On' commands on the MIDI Channels corresponding to the MIDI Channel switches, which are activated (ON), are transmitted.

 

When a MIDI 'Note-Off' command is received, then  MIDI 'Note-off' commands on ALL MIDI channels, are transmitted. This prevents notes continuing to play if a switch is switched Off after receiving a 'Note-On' command, but before receiving the corresponding 'Note-Off' command.

 

Also, the outputs will switch off if  a  MIDI 'Note-On' with a velocity of 00  is received. The unit also works in MIDI Running Status mode.

 

Panic Switch:

If the MIDI module  has MIDI note-on commands producing 'stuck' notes which drone on and on, then this switch will produce a series of 'All Notes Off' commands or individual 'Note Off' commands when the Panic switch is pressed, and switches all the notes off.

 

Because some older MIDI machines do not respond to the 'All Notes Off' command there are 2 modes of operation.

 

When the momentary action switch  is operated the MIDI panic unit first produces the 'All Notes Off' MIDI command on all 16 MIDI channels. These commands take approximately 16 mS.

 

Secondly the unit produces a 'Note Off'  MIDI command on all notes (0-127) and on all 16 MIDI channels. These commands take approximately 2048 mS to transmit.

 

 

 

 

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