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MRCC - MIDI Router Control Center

Categories: Commercial Hardware Products

Submitted by:Conductive Labs

24 May 2023

Elevator Pitch

MRCC - MIDI Router Control Center

A super deluxe re-invention of the classic MIDI Router is "a game changer" for modern MIDI studios. Featuring one button routing for each physical input and output, and thoughtful design for usability, everything can be easily configured without a PC.

Product Description

MRCC - MIDI Router Control Center

MRCC features one button routing for each physical input and output for super fast MIDI routing changes. With RGB LEDs, and a color OLED graphical display with dedicated navigation controls, everything can be easily setup without a PC.

Unlike devices with front and rear facing connectors, MRCC’s vertical ports create the smallest desktop footprint, saving space for more synths!
When rack mounted, all controls and connectors are front facing, no more fumbling with a flashlight behind the rack. Expert industrial design creates an intuitive experience, with each MIDI port aligned with its RGB indicator and routing button so you see immediately what cable is being routed.

Massive MIDI I/O: 11 inputs and 17 outputs, including 5 PIN DINs, 3.5MM MIDI TRS jacks in both A and B flavors, 4 USB host ports, and a USB MIDI class compliant client (PC, Mac, tablet, etc.) connection with 12 MIDI ports.

With automatic merging, MIDI master clock with CV clock out, filtering and MIDI effects, and MIDI message monitoring. Our customers say they were waiting all of their life for this!

Expand and extend your outputs up to 50′ away with the MRCC Remote 7. Need even more? Connect 2 MRCC’s together with a single cable for remote routing up to 32′ (10m) apart.

How It's Innovative

As we've come full circle, enjoying a new golden age of hardware synthesizers, the "DAWless jamming" studio has gained in popularity. That is, using hardware instruments and banishing the computer from the creative process.

MRCC was created to make MIDI routing simple and fast, without having to use a computer. The usability and convenience offered by MRCC are a game changer in the modern MIDI studio.

The MRCC has several innovative features when compared to other modern MIDI routers:

1. Most modern MIDI routers use a PC application, or a small display with tedious navigation to configure parameters and routing. The MRCC takes what was great about old school MIDI switchers that used switches for selecting what inputs go to which outputs, and adds the convenience of one button per port routing with a modern high-speed microcontroller for a high performance, fully featured MIDI router device with super fast and simple routing. In practice, select an input button, it lights green, select outputs, they light blue. That’s it, you are routed! Select a different input, and if any outputs are selected that were already routed, MIDI is automatically merged. The old MIDI switchers did not have the performance to accomplish this feat, and no other modern MIDI router offers this convenience.

2. User interface design; we are fortunate to have a friend, Nick Oakley, who is a world class, award winning industrial designer. The result of his design contribution is not just a great looking device, but thoughtful design for usability. Each port is vertically aligned and graphically connected to its RGB LED and routing button. The user can immediately identify the cable, attached to the routing button without having to look on the back and match port numbers like on typical pizza box rack mount designs. USB Host ports and USB MIDI virtual ports are also easily routable by button. The vertical ports allow for the smallest desktop form factor. The RGB LEDs are color coded for function. For example, Inputs are lighted green, Outputs are lighted blue, when routing clock the LEDs light red (and blink in time), remote routed ports light yellow, etc.

3. Expansion options are another innovative feature, utilizing an Ethernet cable to carry a high speed data protocol for connecting 2 MRCCs >10 meters apart. A “remote routing” button for routing from local MIDI inputs to remote MRCC outputs. The Remote 7 is an accessory which adds another 5 MIDI outputs up to 50 feet away with a single Ethernet cable. This lets the user get ports to where they need them in the studio without lots of long MIDI cables, or having to move the MRCC out of reach. And four USB Host ports let users connect USB only (class compliant) MIDI controllers that would normally require a PC.

4. There are so many unique and innovative ideas in the feature set available on the color OLED display, it would take a while to explain them all, but in short; a full routing matrix view shows all routes, activity, which ports have MIDI clock, and which have clock filtered. MIDI filters can be engaged by toggling an icon and are grouped by function, such as Clock, Start/Stop/Continue, CCs, etc. Modifiers provide a host of MIDI transformations such as changing CC value and scale, keyboard splits and layers, note velocity scaling, MIDI channel mapping, arpeggiators, and note mapping and transposition for creative experiments.

5. Unique tools are provided to facilitate MIDI troubleshooting; see what MIDI messages are being received, including channel and clock per route. Since most people don't bother to label the channel on their devices, this is an indispensable time saver. In addition, there's a mini-MIDI message monitor, and tools for playing notes sequentially through the channels or ports to help you find your synths. The most common customer response has been “I’ve been waiting all my life for this!”, and “Why did it take so many years for someone to make this!”. Well, because its not easy, its not cheap, but its what we wanted in our own studios!

See MIDI Innovation In Action

Most Inspiring Use Cases

Regular people who love synthesizers are pining over the MRCC. Its not as exciting as a synth, until you get one in your studio and see how it improves your day to day experience. Many customers have written to us to share their enthusiasm. Link to a customer video below.

Expansion Plans

Coming soon (currently in manufacture), and demoing at NAMM 2022: The "MRCC XpandR 4x1" accessory. Need even more MRCC DIN inputs? Add 4 MIDI DIN inputs and one DIN output (and shared 3.5MM TRS jacks) connected by USB to an MRCC USB host port.

Up to four of the MRCC XpandR 4x1 can be connected to a single MRCC. The XpandR can also be used as a 4 in x 1 out PC MIDI interface. Or, use it stand-alone as a USB powered 4 in to 1 out MIDI merger.

Like the MRCC and Remote 7, the XpandR comes in a robust anodized, brushed aluminum enclosure with hand silk-screened graphics. Yet to be announced, launching at NAMM 2022: The "MRCC µ88" MIDI Router and PC Interface. The perfect MIDI Router for synth jams! 4x MIDI DIN (and shared 3.5MM TRS) inputs 4x MIDI DIN (and shared 3.5MM TRS) outputs 4x USB MIDI virtual inputs and outputs. Each routable physical port has a dedicated routing button for quick on the fly routing changes. Plus, dedicated buttons for patch storage and recall, port filters, MIDI panic and MIDI monitoring.

Availability for both MRCC XpandR 4x1 and MRCC µ88 estimated by end of June 2022.

Commercialization

We started development of MRCC in late 2019, and MRCC was funded on Kickstarter and Indiegogo in 2020-2021. Commercial availability began in February of 2022. Since then, several music equipment retailers have begun stocking MRCC, including SchneidersLaden, Thomann, Perfect Circuit, Patchweks, Juno Records, and Signal Sounds.