Studiomaster MIDI Analyzer MA36

via this auction

"Studiomaster MIDI Analyzer MA36 Tester Synthesizer

Very rare product, the first and only standalone MIDI tester.

For more information, visit [link]"


Some bits for the archives:
"This device, which fitted in the palm of your hand, allowed you to ascertain what signals were coming in on each line, and also what signals were expected by the device at the other end of the cable... If you have a large or complex MIDI system, it can be quite tricky remembering what's going where, and why.

So Studiomaster have given us the MA36 MIDI Analyser - the musician's answer to the Break-out Box... The box itself measures 125mm x 71mm x 29mm so nobody will have any difficulty finding a home for it in their setup. It will run on batteries or a 9V adaptor.

There are only two MIDI ports on the MA36 - In and Thru - and you connect the box by placing it in-line with your setup. Suitable configurations might be: Master keyboard - computer - MA36 - MIDI Thru box - expanders; or MIDI keyboard - MA36 - expander; and so on.

The MA36 doesn't have to be switched on to allow MIDI signals to pass through, which means you can leave it permanently in-line without flattening your batteries.

You can, of course, just connect the MIDI Out of your keyboard to the In of the MA36 for direct analysis of the output of that one device.

There are no instructions with the MA36, which is a bit lazy on Studiomaster's part, but quite honestly, you don't need any.

There are 36 LEDs on the top panel (plus a power-on LED) which give you (surprise surprise) 36 different pieces of MIDI information.

These are; MIDI channel (1-16), Note On. Note Off, All Notes Off, Poly Pressure, Control Change, Program Change, Channel Pressure, Pitch Wheel, SysEx, Song Position, Song Select, Tune Request, End Exclusive, Timing Clock, Start, Continue, and Stop.

The first eight of these are keyboard-orientated, the following nine are for use with other MIDI gear such as sequencers.

Finally, to complete the 36 functions there are indicators for Active Sensing, System Reset, and MIDI Error.

Internal construction is very sturdy - simply because there's only one chip in the whole thing.

This is a proprietary 64-pin chip made for Studiomaster by Mitsubishi.

Apart from the LEDs there are 17 other components, including the connectors."