Q: "Why do some of MOTU's MIDI interfaces still offer merging - who would use that these days?"

A: While it's true that we tend to need MIDI Merging less these days than we might have a few years (decades) ago, there are still some applications where combining MIDI data streams with hardware comes in handy. Here are just a few:

• You could combine several simultaneous performances on the input of a sound module - happens all the time for gigging keyboardists!

• You could run a computer patch-editor to a synth module at the same time as playing the module from a keyboard.

• You may have to insert MIDI synchronization (MIDI clocks or Time Code) into a performance data stream.

• A MIDI merger could be used at the input to a music computer, so that a performance (for example, from a master keyboard) could be recorded by a sequencer program, while other data (such as a patch dump or transfer handshake message from the sound module) is received for filing or processing.

There are a number of reasons why MOTU continues to make MIDI interfaces that can merge MIDI data streams, these are just a few. There are other companies like M-Audio who make stand-alone mergers as well. If you're looking a merger, call Sweetwater 1-800-222-4700 and find out more!