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synth path | midi path | MIDI-DIN-FSK sync | sysx
Connecting devices without creating a MIDI feedback loop
Black lines
The signals that the units create by themselves (notes, CC numbers, SysX data) go to the MIDI OUT port of every unit, so these signals can go collectively to the PC. Since there is chaining possibility for MIDI IN signals, but not for MIDI OUT signals, and also a PC does not have 8 MIDI IN ports, the MIDI OUT signals have to be collected in a MIDI MERGE box, and then sent to the PC.
Blue lines
The sound modules of the synths are chained using MIDI IN and MIDI THRU.
The MIDI OUT signal is unaware of the IN and THRU port signals. They are not merged.
The MIDI signal dies when the last MIDI THRU in the chain is not connected to another unit, so there will not be an accidental roundtrip and no MIDI feedback.
To create a MIDI loopback and have your synthesizers choke and possibly crash on the data overload, you only have to connect the last MIDI THRU to the MIDI IN of the PC.