x5 WAY MIDI THRU BOX

x5 WAY MIDI THRU BOX

This is a great little one-day project that can be pretty useful if you control your instruments over MIDI.  Basically this box allows you to send 5 different MIDI signals over 1 output.  So you can have a PC with 5 midi tracks, send it over 1 midi output to this box where the signal is then split into 5 outs, which you can then plug in 5 synths and have them all play nicely together.  

There are better descriptions on the internet I'm sure.

I found the original schematic here on the highly liquid forums;

http://forum.highlyliquid.com/showthread.php?p=9446

I made a couple of small changes to the schematic; instead of running it from the mains I figured it was low power enough to run it from a 9v battery, so from there I added an on/off switch, and to be fully sure I didn't leave the battery on, I also added a red LED.

To get it all to fit onto one breadboard I first drew out the schematic onto some graph paper.  This was my 3rd attempt and I'm sure you could have a more efficient design, but this was good enough for me and I guess it maybe of some help to somebody else out there;

The plastic enclosure/project box came from Conrad for €3.09;

http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/520616/WeroPlast-1010-ABS-Plastic-Universal-Euro-Enclosure-Black-150-x-80-x-50-mm?ref=searchDetail

Here the on/off switch and LED can be seen;

Cable ties make everything look neater;