Synaesthesia Deep Dive: ESI M8U eX

[@rthreebookingberlin]

I purchased it today in Berlin and the box included the rackmount! i think they might be able to send it to you as it looks great mounted

[@BlisterHiker]

2:52 - best part! 🙂👍

[@EchoKraft]

Awesome video. Are you still using the interface and do you still recommend it ? I was thinking of buying one.

[@adriancscott]

07:40: I like things that function, Yamaha DX7, my Alpha Juno’s, not pretty, but… Boom!!! Amongst many others…

[@alainszyller615]

I am unable to use one MIDI in connected to everything else as MIDI out. I use the device in connection with my DAW since I want to record what I play. I understand there are things to learn but so far, the MIDI daisy chaining worked much better than the M8U eX, Maybe I will have to sell it and try something that works better. Actually, I understand it's my fault. I should have read the entire user's guide before buying it. In standalone mode ... these modes are fixed of the MIDI I/O’s and cannot be changed or configured free. In standalone mode there is not auto detection of the MIDI input or output because only the 3 modes are available, these are fixed! Here is the confusion, My understanding was that I would get something pretty much similar to MRCC MIDI Router Control Center ​But What ESI M8UeX does is basically Midiplus MIDI8x8 MIDI Interface $113.89 + an independant 3 inlets USB HUB Onvian 3 Port USB Hub High Speed Splitter Plug and Play Bus Powered, Black $8.99 + a way to connect it to your computer but this decreases the functionality of it

[@Rsdillon17]

Thanks for the video. My m4u will be here in a couple days.

[@NiElsir]

Wow - this is exactly what I have been looking for. Have you used this with a DAW setup to send clock to the unit / do you know if this would work? Had a look at the manual with mentions this as "Applications" so hopeful this would work.

[@RodneyOrpheus]

If you mean sending MIDI Clock from a DAW to other MIDI devices, yes, I have tested this and it works perfectly.

[@NiElsir]

@@RodneyOrpheus Hi Rodney, thanks for the reply. I actually grabbed the smaller module recently and have been very happy with it. Great unit!

[@alainszyller615]

thank you for this great video I just got 2 days ago the ESI M8U eX 16-Port. I have a few questions / issues: 1/ It seems that the USB hub doesn't connect with the regular 5 PIN MIDI I have one device: Roli Seaboard 49 Gen.1 that only connects via USB-MIDI, no 5PIN connection on it Not sure but I expected the USB hub to be a MIDI connection but I wonder now if it's not only a power connection, which would be disappointing 2/ On my computer, the 3 USB/MIDI connections available and the #1 5PIN port are not visible 3/ if I want to use it with my computer DAW, do i necessarily need to unplug the AC/DC connection ?

[@Randallkoller]

ESI is an underrated company, They were making some audio interfaces for a while that sounded better than anything on the market at the time, The MaxIO XD was nothing short of stunning! Then they suddenly stopped manufacturing them! Likely for lack of marketing awareness, they could have taken over a huge sector of the market!

[@tpinel07]

Hi. Does it work wiith Sysex? Is it compatible with MacOs 14 Sonoma? Thank you?

[@Molluszk]

Hi Rodney, I have a lot of gear. (synths, drum boxes etc..) I need all to connected to a THRU box because of the midi clock, latency... So I need a THRU box mainly. The M8U is work as a thru box right? But I also need to connect one of my synth (Elektron Syntakt) to an AKAI Midimix. For that I would need a USB midi host box as well. Since I can not connect them together. I want the Midimix to control the Syntakt. So my other question is that can I also do this with the M8U? Waiting for your answer . Thx a lot! David

[@bobclark5360]

So did I get the clunker? The thing turns on but all my devices will not work in Abelton Live..wow! Stand alone seems ok..but is very limiting with paired ports and not the sweet idea of plug n play I was hoping for.

[@mfbeatz]

So via ableton, you cant control multiple hardware synth samplers etc?

[@antoniocalimero1173]

I have a midi keybord and 8 modules.. is it possible to choose the modules?

[@musictecedu]

Does the 16 ports give 16 discrete channels PER port? Meaning 256 MIDI channels in all. There’s nothing mentioned about this in all the reviews, so does it means that all the ports only send 16 midi channels in all? I’m looking for an interface that gives more than 16 channels like the MOTU interfaces which unfortunately is no longer in stock. 😢

[@7Spronge]

I am looking for a decent midi interface , and scrolling through them, the color was what got my attention, saw the specs, the price ... no brainer.

[@alonsorayan2195]

A tip : watch movies on flixzone. I've been using them for watching loads of movies during the lockdown.

[@kyngronin2442]

@Alonso Rayan Definitely, I've been watching on flixzone for since november myself :)

[@AnalogFlava]

Im. sure you must have considered the motu midi express 128? But is the ESI still worth it one year later?

[@RodneyOrpheus]

I personally would never use anything made by MOTU, I don't trust their drivers, I've have had too many bad experiences with them. I'm still using my ESI a year later and it's still doing great.

[@colinsnape]

You know, the first thought I had when you held up the user guide was 'what a waste of resources'. I then laughed when you said how great it was to get a paper copy, then found the plastic packaging so annoying. Save the planet folks! Anyway, thanks for the informative vid.

[@JacobSkriver]

It looks great with some nice features. But when I look around at my own synth collection most of them also have MIDI via USB so basicly my setup is a 13 port USB-interface where most of synths are plugged directly into. Do you still run MIDI DIN from all your equipment?

[@Warp_Head]

Midi DIN clock is still vastly superior to USB midi. I've had latency nightmares with a lot of midi over USB.

[@JacobSkriver]

@@Warp_Head True, USB midi can be a nightmare at least on Windows.

[@BearLew]

Hi Jacob, may i know what is the 13 port usb interface you using?

[@JacobSkriver]

@@BearLew apologies, I meant 10 port. The brand is Inline, big sturdy metal casing. I believe I got it off Amazon

[@joepepsico342]

Is this rack mountable?

[@RodneyOrpheus]

No, unfortunately. It's just SLIGHTLY too wide because of the curved sides.

[@magicmulder]

@@RodneyOrpheus It would fit in a 19” but there’s no way to mount rack ears.

[@jamesbannon2328]

Apparently ESI are making future models rack mountable and they will be releasing a rack mounting adapter kit for existing customers.

[@7Spronge]

@@jamesbannon2328 Got mine yesterday and yes , it comes with rack ears now. Didn't try them yet, but I have my doubts, thet have to be attached with double sided tape.

[@jamesbannon2328]

@@7Spronge oh, not sure how I feel about double sided tape. I bought the iConnectivity mioXL and I’ll just sell the M8U eX.

[@Progress303]

The plastics protects them from humidity and water damage.... you never know what's gonna happen to the box after it leaves the factory.

[@THEREALDATALORD]

USB 2 has more stability in my experience.

[@a-fox]

The ESU M8U ex is junk unless all you want is a way to control your midi devices with your computer. As far as MIDI to MIDI connections forget it. For a while it powered up when using without USB but now it does not. This is a good example of how new tech is lacking when it comes to understanding older tech. Update.... it now won't power on with usb.... bigger piece of junk than I previously thought.

[@patrickmazeau289]

I have a disappointing experience with this device as well. I have 5 MIDI synths, and a Windows laptop running Reaper for recording. I usually have to do multiple power off/on (USB unplug, power unplug) to have my laptop properly recognize and configure MIDI IN/OUT on the MU8EX. And many problems with MIDI clock. I would never take this on stage, it's not reliable. I contacted ESI support, they never answered me.

[@juneaftn]

When M8U eX is powered by its power adaptor and connected to the desktop computer via a USB port, and the computer power is off, the electornic current backfeeds from M8U eX into the desktop computer. This can be very dangerous and may damage your computers and peripherals. I reported to ESI and they confirmed it.

[@FerboseSounds]

@@juneaftn Have you confirmed the power backfeeding issue yourself on this device? I contacted ESI and they deny that there should be any power backfeeding to the host. If this is the case, the unit might be defective.