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Welcome

Our MIDI SysEx programmers primarily target vintage synthesizers, supporting MIDI SysEx (1984-1999), although we add programmers for more modern synths as requested. Once designed, prioritizing programmer development is based on the number of pre-orders.

Generation Comparison

Gen5 (introduced 2021)

The fifth (and final) generation primarily involves manufacturing tweaks (surface mount parts, optimized board sizes for 10 pin cables), although LED dimming was also added.

• Board size: 3.4" and 6.8"
• Supported MIDI Channels: 1-16
• MIDI ports: IN/OUT/THRU
• Power: micro USB

Gen4 (introduced 2019)

The fourth generation reduced internal wiring and added more MIDI flexibility. The MIDI channel switch was moved to the back of the case and the power switch was removed. A USB interface was added for both power and firmware updates (the switch on the back below MIDI channel select enables USB updates or MIDI IN merging). The slightly larger boards allowed front panel layouts to be refined, improving parameter grouping. This is the first generation available for international shipment.

• Board size: 8.5"
• Supported MIDI Channels: 1-16
• MIDI ports: IN/OUT/THRU
• Power: micro USB

Gen3 (phased out)

The third generation added more MIDI flexibility, cut the internal wiring in half, and greatly increased control placement flexibility by yet again increasing the board size. Half way through the generation a dedicated power switch was added and a fully enclosed rack mountable case was introduced. Two board styles were introduced, balancing boards requiring more switches with boards requiring more poteniometers (knobs and sliders).

• Board size: 8"
• Supported MIDI Channels: 1-16
• MIDI ports: IN/OUT/THRU
• Power: 9V DC

Gen2 (only DIY PCBs available)

The second generation cut the internal wiring in half. The initial production series programmers use a standard PCB with synth specific control placements, streamlining development and assembly. When possible, parameters with a 6 bit (64 value) range or higher are assigned to 45mm or 60mm sliders or knobs, while parameters with a 5 bit (32 value) range or less are assigned to 20mm or 30mm sliders. Due to the optimized layout, the production series is more compact than the gen1 equivalent, reducing programmer size and cost, while increasing reliability, due to cable elimination.

• Board size: 4"
• Supported MIDI Channels: 1
• MIDI ports: OUT
• Power: 9V DC

Gen1 (only DIY PCBs available)

The first generation was not optimized for manufacturing, requiring a complicated assembly process with lots of wiring (wiring is the weakest link in the system for reliability). The modular approach was introduced for early development, so various configurations of knobs and sliders can be customized for each programmer. While that provides some layout flexibility, it rarely optimizes the slider length or location. These panels are only available for DIY projects where we provide the hardware and you develop the Arduino based software.

• Board size: ~2"
• Supported MIDI Channels: 1
• MIDI ports: OUT
• Power: 9V DC

Historical Perspective

In the early days of synthesizers, analog circuitry lent itself to dedicated physical controls (knobs, switches) for each parameter (pitch, volume, modulation, etc). But all of the dedicated circuitry was expensive and imprecise. As microcontrollers became practical (in the late 1970s), synthesizer manufacturers began migrating to digital control, offering precise control over pitch and other parameters and memory recall not available from fully analog predecessors. Microprocessor software allowed a layer of abstraction between the user interface (UI) and the control circuitry. It also allowed for more features, like matrix modulation, to be packed into synths. The separation between the UI and control circuitry allowed manufacturers freedom to optimize the UI for cost, by not including as many mechanical parts. The simplicity of the dedicated function UI was now transformed into a complex maze of submenus, with most parameters adjusted by a single slider. While the new UI philosophy was functional, it lost the ability to be a performance tool and required much more dedication to go beyond the preset sounds, provided by the manufacturer. However, that was a necessary trade-off for the majority of consumers, since most were more concerned with the quality of the "piano" reproduction (and other emulated instruments) and the ease of selecting presets, than the programming interface.

Fast forwarding to the present, romplers are available with superb instrument emulations and UIs have improved in many cases. Musicians are more diverse, acknowledging that synthesizers of the past still have a very useful place in music and are no longer considered obsolete. Now that synthesizers are well established instruments, rather than novelties, performance control and programming are much more critical to unlocking the full potential of any synthesizer. Luckily, thanks to MIDI System Exclusive (SysEx), musicians do not have to be hobbled by the UI implemented by the manufacturer.

Current Solutions

MIDI SysEx programmers are not a new concept. We have used software editors for a long time to program our synthesizer collection (and highly recommend MidiQuest). However, while software programmers eliminate menu diving, they do not allow for a tactile human interface (except via generic controller) and require the additional complexity of a host (computer). Generic controllers (knob boxes) address the tactile issue, but lack the ease-of-use of a dedicated programmer. Plus, many can only handle MIDI CC (Continuous Control) messages, not SysEx required by most synths for more comprehensive control.

Dedicated programmers offer the simplicity and instant access, which allows muscians to dive into a synth spontaneously. Minor quibbles with some existing programmers include cramped panels and the lack of support of some synths. The cramped panels are the result of cost control and the form factor (being able to fit on top of a synth). Dedicated programmers tend to target early MIDI synths (analog/digital hybrids), since they are most similar to their knob laden analog counterparts, enjoying a rebirth. Plus, later digital synth parameter explosion (matrix modulation, FM) would make programmers larger and expensive. However, even digital synths deserve the full access provided by a dedicated programmer.

To address the cramped panel issue, we use full size knobs and sliders, configured in a modular format, which allows for layout flexibility, customization, and simplifies targetting many synths. The Eurorack format was adopted, since it is already accepted by the industry and we eventually plan on expanding polysynth control to the Eurorack community. The modular format also simplifies inclusion in our line of multiple manual keyboard controllers.