Equipment File #17: Nexus MIDI switcher

Nexus MIDI switcher

This was purchased in the big Studio upgrade in June of 1993. As stated in a previous post, the biggest change in the Studio at that time was the implementation of MIDI. The Studio now had several pieces of equipment that was MIDI capable: a synthesizer, a drum machine, an effects unit, a sequencer, a sound module, and eventually the Studio computer itself. So it became clear that with all of those MIDI inputs and outputs something was needed to control and manage it all.

And that is where this little gem came in. It allowed up to three MIDI inputs (or triggers) to control up to eight different outputs. So with the flick of a switch, the synthesizer could go from controlling the sound module to triggering sounds from the drum machine. And just as easily, the sound module could be triggered by either the synthesizer or the drum machine with the flick of a switch.

So this unit provided the flexibility needed for the MIDI set-up the Studio used for many years. But the switcher was recently retired since the only MIDI now in use by the Studio is the synthesizer acting as a trigger for all instrument and drum sounds in the computer. And that is accomplished by the use of one MIDI cable.