An Expansive World

MIDI Thru

As we are aware, the ST became known for MIDI due to its integrated MIDI in and MIDI out ports. However what if I want to add more MIDI instruments? Well, there is the MIDI Thru route, however although it can be cost effective, it is not always a fool proof solution, as daisy chaining numerous instruments off of each other from one MIDI out 'source' has the ability to introduce latency issues. It can also be restrictive, as it will not give you extra MIDI channels. That said, there are some intelligent MIDI Thru box solutions.

MIDI Expanders

However what else is there? Well, all of those beautiful MIDI expanders which provide those independent multiple MIDI outs, and in turn add more MIDI channels! There are those MIDI expanders which a lot of us who are familiar with Atari and MIDI will be aware of. Those for use with Steinberg Pro-24, such as the Steinberg SMP 24 (also for Cubase from ROM version 1.6 onwards), and those exclusive to Cubase, such as the MIDEX / MIDEX+, the Steinberg SMP II, and those from C-Lab and Emagic, the ExPort, Unitor C / N and 2, and the Log 3, which all selectively can be used with Creator, Notator, Logic and also Cubase for example, but you need to appreciate which. However there were many more MIDI expanders than those arguable more familiar culprits, such as Hybrid Arts' offering, the MIDIPlexer, the Emagic NSL (see Log 3 link), the Steinberg Atari MIDI-3, and those from lesser known companies.

Image courtesy of Music Technology magazine via Muzines

The Others

Some of those MIDI expanders available for the Atari TOS range of computers connected via the serial / modem port like the ExPort. Now the modem port isn't the fastest for utilising the MIDI protocol, which is why these expanders are usually restricted to one MIDI out. That said there are some which provide more MIDI out ports, however in reality these devices are really one MIDI out port split into three, like the ExPort.

UKMA ModemMIDI

One of these MIDI expanders which often connected to the modem port was ModemMIDI from the UKMA (UK MIDI Association) and its founder Vic Lennard, along with John Hollis of Hollis Research. It provides one extra MIDI out, and thereby an extra 16 MIDI channels which can be utilised by Cubase and the ExPort's MROS (EXPORT.DRV) driver, operating from Port B. However ModemMIDI is not exclusive to Cubase, it can be used by Hollis Research Trackman, Gajits Sequencer One Plus and Breakthru Plus, Steinberg Cubeat, Passport Master Tracks Pro, Roni Music's Sweet 16, On Stage from Hands On and The Digital Muse Virtuoso for example. Not forgetting compatibility with both Creator and Notator (from v1.3), and also Logic (from v1.7) via Port B.

Hands On 16Plus

Another modem based MIDI expander from Hands On in the UK, was the 16Plus (aka 16+). Understandably it is often mistaken for ModemMIDI, but as you would anticipate, it is compatible with the same software as ModemMIDI, but came with its own Cubase driver providing the one extra MIDI out via the modem port.

Cimple Solutions ExtraPort

Another UK based company, Cimple Solutions with their ExtraPorts modem MIDI expander, providing 3 MIDI outs. Essentially this is an ExPort, and is therefore one MIDI out, split into 3 ports, B1, C2 and D3. Creator, Notator and Logic users can use it in exactly the same way as the ExPort, likewise Cubase users can use the ExPort Cubase driver.

Intrinsic Technology Plus48

Also from the UK, the Plus48 from Intrinsic Technology and Peter Buick. Again it connects to the modem providing 3 MIDI out ports. Again, perfectly suitable to those sequencers which can accommodate MIDI over the modem port. For Cubase it comes with its own MROS driver, and uniquely it is mode switchable between Plus48 mode utilising the 3 MIDI out ports, 16Plus mode for a single MIDI out port, and a pass through mode.

Noboxe 48

The Noboxe 48, once available from Padworld in the UK, a website from Peter Buick. There may be some lineage between Plus48 and the Noboxe 48, given Peter Buick is associated with both Padworld and Intrinsic Technology. Certainly the Noboxe 48 connects to the modem port, again providing 3 MIDI out ports. It was available in kit form, and similarly compatible with those sequencers which can accommodate MIDI over the modem port.

MIDI-3

The MIDI-3 from Mario Becroft of New Zealand came quite late on during the ST's heyday. Like those aforementioned units explored, it again connects to the modem port, and provides one MIDI out, split into 3 MIDI out ports. Yes, it also is compatible with those sequencers previously mentioned which are capable of working with MIDI over modem.

Hacked off with MIDIXtra and MIDI48!

Aside from commercially available MIDI expanders, there were also DIY offerings, or hacks as they are sometimes referred. There was the MIDIXtra, offering one MIDI out via the modem port, and like the other 3 MIDI out devices above, there was the MIDI48.

MIDIXtra, this particular version was supplied with Breakthru 2 Plus

MIDI Expander 3

From Italy, a DIY effort called the MIDI Expander 3 (ME3), which as the naming suggests again offers 3 MIDI out ports via the modem port, but which is powered by the joystick port.

Image courtesy of Concord Studio

Oh come on, Falc off!

These modem MIDI Expanders are all very well, but they are not compatible with my Falcon, like the ExPort, so what's the deal!? For the Falcon there were a few options aside from the offerings from Emagic like the Log 3 and Unitor 2, or Steinberg with the SMP 24, SMP II, Steinberg Atari MIDI-3, and the MIDEX / MIDEX+, which however requires to be altered to work with the Falcon.

SoundPool MO4

From Germany's SoundPool there was the shiny green MO4. Compatible with ST, TT and Falcon, it offers Cubase users 4 extra completely independent MIDI outs via the printer port and its own MROS driver. I recall rumours of an 8 MIDI out version of the MO4, of course named the MO8, but this was never commercially released.

Friend-Chip MM1 / Geerdes StarPort

Speaking of 8 MIDI outs, the allusive MM1 from Germany's Friend-Chip offered just that, 8 independent MIDI outs via the printer port and its own MROS driver for Cubase. Compatible with ST, TT and Falcon, you can cascade up to four MM1's together to give you even more MIDI outs via its printer through port. However you'll be lucky, finding one of these is hard enough!

The StarPort from Geerdes was essentially an MM1, but marketed towards Geerdes' own MIDI sequencers.

LANd Ahoy!

The Atari Falcon has a nice little party trick where it can utilise MIDI over LAN, like the Mega STE and TT. Shiver me timbers! Cubase and MROS can take advantage of this with its LANPORT.DRV driver and suitable hardware. These LAN based MIDI expanders are not bespoke to Atari, but for any platform which can utilise MIDI over LAN. For the time, this would have been predominantly the Mac platform.

MIDIMan MacMan

One of the more well known manufactures of these LAN based MIDI expanders was MIDIMan, who produced the MacMan series. As the name suggests, were intended for the Mac machines of the time. However the Atari Falcon for example, can only utilise 1 MIDI in and 1 MIDI out, but useful for adding more independent ports under Cubase.

Image of one of the MIDIMan devices, the MIDIMan MacMan

Steinberg Micro MIDI

Another example, again intended for the Mac, is the Micro MIDI from Steinberg. Again this can connect to the Mega STE's, TT's or Falcon's LAN port, and provides 1 MIDI in and 1 MIDI out for Cubase.

I am sure there are other MIDI expanders across the board, from different parts of the world which were hacked or released specifically for Atari TOS based machines, as well as those not bespoke which serve to provide additional MIDI ports for our MIDI workhorses.