Our Home Music Studio

MOTU MIDI Timepiece AV (MTP/AV)

Manufactured by Mark of the Unicorn, this rackmount device is used between MIDI devices to setup connections between the various MIDI data sources and the sound modules and synthesizers. This is the last item that I have purchased for my synth rack. It eliminates lots of cables run between units by hiding the majority of the connections in the rack itself, with the connections that would have otherwise been manually reconnected for different schemes, now being done by front panel controls on the MTP. It makes MIDI interconnectivity pleasant now, instead of being a chore.

I am using most of the MIDI ports; the Yamaha PSR-172 keyboard, the Concertmate 980 keyboard, the M-Audio MIDISport Uno USB Interface, the Yamaha EZ-AG MIDI guitar, the two Roland U-110 sound modules, and the Roland M-OC1 sound module use one MIDI-In and one MIDI-Out port each, the Akai MPD16 uses one MIDI-In port,

The MTP/AV supports 8 MIDI-In cables (of 16 MIDI channels each) and 8 MIDI-Out cables. While it does have PC and Macintosh interconnectivity, I use it strictly with the front panel controls to configure which sources go where and some other interesting channel effects. If you are looking for a MIDI router or MIDI patchbay, then you should consider this product. I was able to find a used MTP/AV at a local Daddys Junky Music store, for under $80, in near-excellent condition.

Among the interesting MIDI effects that can be accomplished with this is the ability to take various MIDI channels, such as the 6 MIDI channels from the Yamaha EZ-AG MIDI guitar and routing them to just one MIDI channel and then routing that one channel to one MIDI input on a sound module, controlling a patch such as 12-string acoustic guitar or a fretless bass (which sounds pretty cool). This same technique is also used to combine MIDI channels (because I ran out of patch cords by inter-connecting everything of audio line-level through the backside of the Behringer Ultra Patch Pro Model PX 2000) such that several staves of music are fed through the same instrument on a synth while I am arranging music. Someday, enough patch cords will magically appear here.

I have created this webpage as a method to document and share our MIDI Music Studio setup and usage, for others who might want to do something similar.

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