Roland A-880

In my setup I have two A880 units that distribute 6 MIDI outputs from the computer interfaces to all my gear. Also they collect the input from various keyboards and send it to the interfaces.
Mind you, this is not an interface, there is no USB input to communicate with a computer.

However, they do a very fine job in distributing various inputs to various outputs, with the possibility to merge 2 inputs to one output. Also different filtering is possible, though there are devices on the market that are more extentive in their possibilities than an A880.
Active Sensing for example, can't be filtered with the A880 patchbay, but you can filter notes and CC in order to ease the MIDI signals to certain outputs.
There are some 'panic' options, to send ALL MIDI NOTES OFF to all outputs.

The Roland A880 is a very good MIDI patchbay that is easy to operate and with a good visual feedback. You can store different routing configurations too.

(Originally written by kero-zen/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Which technical specifications motivated your choice?

Independent Midi interface (considering power supply and operation).

What do you use it for?

A hardware sequencer controls three sound generators and two synths.

What's your setup (motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive,...)?

n/a

UTILIZATION

The unit is easy to use but it's useful to read the user's manual for certain things. For simple setups just push the button of one of the inputs and the buttons of the desired outputs. It can't be easier.

OVERALL OPINION

Sturdy, well-manufactured and stable unit that does its job fairly good. No ASIO, MME or whatever drivers hassle.

This device is really efficient. Once you power it on you immediately forget about it... Everything works by itself and you don't need to do anything.

I bought it secondhand and wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

I have a very oriented "hardware" installation and therefore the number of MIDI devices to manage demand a minimum of organization.

In fact, I use it in conjunction with an Edirol UM-880 MIDI interface.
My multitimbral machines are directly connected to the UM-880 HandShake mode (bi-directional connection where the 'In' one is plugged into the 'Out' on the other and vice versa).
Port 8 of the UM-880 is connected (always HandShake) on port 8 of A-880, it is used for my monotimbrales machines (each with its separate MIDI channel).

Thus, with or without a computer turned on, playing on 2 devices (A-880 and UM-880), I can theoretically control any machine on my setup from any other.

Foot!

UTILIZATION

Very useful and easy to use!

No drivers, no software (except maybe some MIDI editors as the deceased or SoundDiver MidiQuest XL but check), a priori not updated (no change of Firmware) ...

In fact, it is not a MIDI interface in the sense commonly used, that is to say a device to connect to a computer and to use the MIDI from the computer (with software installed therein) and the outside world (keyboards, racks and so on).
It is a MIDI Patch completely autonomous, with 8 inputs, 8 outputs and to make Merge and split between its inputs and outputs.
We can therefore change the way the various devices in a MIDI setup are interconnected without having to touch any cables: everything is done from the front of A-880.
This relieves the MIDI cables, plugs affected devices and the back of musician / technician.

In short, if the A-880 is a MIDI interface, then any audio patch may be considered an audio interface.
It is up to you.

OVERALL OPINION

A-I 880 for many years.
Before being used with the UM-880, it was with an Emagic AMT-8 on the same principle.

On stage, the moment that you have several machines manage hardware, this kind of machine can very quickly become almost indispensable: a pressing 2 buttons, the keyboard controller controls another rack (or several at the same time) without chaining the devices one after the other through the "Thru" jacks, which is anyway to avoid.
In addition, the A-880 with 64 memory patches, we can easily imagine a specific MIDI routing each piece (for example) with change on the fly by simply sending a Program Change from the master keyboard.

In the studio, it can act as mega ThruBox with Merge function bonus gift (as is my case).

All the features of this product are detailed further down ...
The A880 is a kind of MIDI mixer, it allows direct MIDI signals between various instruments, keyboards, sound modules ...
I use it on stage to be able to store some wiring, it is more widely practiced in Home Studio lice do not have to disconnect and reconnect the devices in all directions for testing ...
The fact that it possesses 8In/Out interface is a great advantage! The current interfaces are certainly more modern (including USB ...) but they become very expensive when you want a lot of MIDI ... I think: D

UTILIZATION

I am searching, but there is no software "standard" to drive the A880. There's certainly there now Big Softs that control virtually all MIDI instruments, but if you buy it just for the A880 is probably a waste! The A880 is very simple and intuitive to use.
Each I / O is represented by an LED, it can then do its "path" to indicate which input on what goes out!
It is possible to multiply an input as you want (depending Thru), on the other hand is not possible to mix more than two inputs to one output (Merge feature).
One of the inputs that can Mixer (they are freely assignable) used as input control. The A880 can actually receive messages as MIDI Program Change, etc. ... the same SysEx Hexadecimal if you like! You can also filter out MIDI messages.

Frankly its use is very simple and it's so practical, it avoids the stop without unplugging the cables to change the configuration.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been a year now that I use and I do not really regret my purchase!
I think the A880 has little to envy to existing interfaces.

Ha if there's still a default ... when not a lot of MIDI devices to connect to the A880 and you see all these MIDI remaining empty ... it was very empty desire to purchase equipment to connect and have a big facility that does it well !!!!! , D

Great tool that quickly becomes indispensable for large configurations