.MID file player from card/USB stick?

Discussions about anything analog, digital, MIDI, synth technology, techniques, theories and more.
Post Reply
User avatar
gmeredith
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 726
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:06 am
Band: Warning Will Robinson
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Contact:

.MID file player from card/USB stick?

Post by gmeredith » Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:16 am

Is there a simple small standalone box or device with a MIDI out port that can play a .MID file stored on an inserted memory card or USB stick? Sometimes I don't have the need to carry around my sequencer to rehearsal (like when I don't need to do any editing) and it would be great if I could run all of my sequenced songs off as .MID files and then stick them on a card and then plug this into my synth/drum machine setup and play them, running through a playlist of .MID files.

I know they make this sort of box for playing video files/mp3 etc on a TV set without a computer - I wondered if a similar box for MIDI exists. I already have an Alesis Datadisk rack unit which does exactly as described but saves files to floppy disk - I don't want to rely on floppies, plus something smaller tham a rack would be cool - even better if it has a remote, like the multimedia box described does. And battery powered would be nice.

I suppose iPhones or iPods or the like could do it - do they have any MIDI out adapter?

Cheers, Graham
Casio: FZ1, CZ101, PG380, VZ10M, SK8, SK60, RAP10, DP1 drums, DH100, CDP200, DM100
Yamaha: TX81z, TX802, SHS10, DTXv2
Roland: SH101, DR660, MS1, PM16, TR33
Others: Korg MicroKontrol, ES-1, Alesis MMT8, Emu ESi2000 & card reader, BCR2000, V-Machine

User avatar
Hybrid88
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 2251
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:26 am
Gear: V-Synth, and other stuff...
Location: Australia

Re: .MID file player from card/USB stick?

Post by Hybrid88 » Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:41 am

gmeredith wrote:...I suppose iPhones or iPods or the like could do it - do they have any MIDI out adapter?
Yeah, here's a new MIDI box just released, looks good. :)

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2011/01/ ... interface/

http://www.iConnectivity.com

User avatar
StepLogik
Expert Member
Expert Member
Posts: 1493
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:16 am
Gear: Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Vorpal Sword, Chain Mail +3, Ring of Invisibility, Staff of the Magi, Boots of Speed
Location: Boston, MA

Re: .MID file player from card/USB stick?

Post by StepLogik » Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:53 pm

Roland makes several products which will do exactly this without the need for a computer or iPad/iPhone, etc. Both of their new products from NAMM should be suitable.

VIMA JM-5: http://www.rolandus.com/products/produc ... uctId=1161
BK-7m Backing Module: http://www.rolandus.com/products/produc ... arentId=20

The Sonic Cell will also do this.

A couple of things to check for: Make sure the Playlist functionality works the way you want (no stops or gaps between files, etc). Also, make sure the proper MIDI sync support is supported. I think on the Sonic Cell the device doesn't output a MIDI clock when playing SMF which is stupid. Alternatively, if you need to slave to external MIDI clock, make sure that capability exists.

Also, lots of consumer MIDI keyboards from Casio, Yamaha, have this capability.

User avatar
gmeredith
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 726
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:06 am
Band: Warning Will Robinson
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Contact:

Re: .MID file player from card/USB stick?

Post by gmeredith » Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:35 am

Cool! I'll have to keep my eye on this - could be what I need. Thanks!
Casio: FZ1, CZ101, PG380, VZ10M, SK8, SK60, RAP10, DP1 drums, DH100, CDP200, DM100
Yamaha: TX81z, TX802, SHS10, DTXv2
Roland: SH101, DR660, MS1, PM16, TR33
Others: Korg MicroKontrol, ES-1, Alesis MMT8, Emu ESi2000 & card reader, BCR2000, V-Machine

Post Reply