PUC Adds WiFi To Your Vintage MIDI Gear

Zivix-Puc

Today at Disrupt, Zivix launched the PUC – a new device that adds wireless connectivity to any MIDI device – even your vintage synths.

midi-in-wifi-outThe PUC is aย wireless CoreMIDI interface that connects any MIDI hardware device to CoreMIDI-compatible apps. The development of the PUC is being funded as a ‘crowdfunded’ IndieGoGo project.

“We’re excited to introduce a peripheral that connects legacy MIDI gear to present day mobile technology, providing accessibility to the exploding number of MIDI apps,” said Zivix Vice President, Chad Koehler.

Here’s an overview of the PUC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQiq0i0eGVM

Features:

  • Wirelessly connects to iOS devices, connecting your controller using a 5-pin DIN cable
  • Pocket-sized rugged design allows for easy portability
  • Micro USB port can power the PUC while in use, or two AA batteries can power PUC
  • 1 MIDI port: software switchable IN/OUT

The PUC will be available to supporters of the project starting at $69. See the project site for more info.

24 thoughts on “PUC Adds WiFi To Your Vintage MIDI Gear

  1. To be honest.. All those midi wires are part of the synthesizer experience, I know it can get messy when you have hardware synths and a midi patchbay running but it helps to understand midi routings and channels. Can you people imagine a wireless modular hardware synthesizer in the future or something like that? Hell no.

    1. Hellz yeah! ๐Ÿ™‚ It’s my fondest wish to have a patch cable magically disappear after I’ve connected it, and only reappear when I want it to ๐Ÿ™‚ In fact, I keep waiting for someone to start selling really thin, transparent patch cables for modulars. It doesn’t take that much copper, regardless of what Monster Co. would have you believe… I hate heavy, dangling cables, exerting sideways pressure on the delicate jacks, getting all over the place, obstructing the keyboard. I’m really interested in the Hinton SwitchMix, can’t afford it yet, but someday.

      Re: this wireless midi puck. Awesome idea, hope the latency is not too bad, second the call for a multiport version, one in, two outs, say. Great name!

    2. You need a wired keyboard to figure out routing? Are you being serious? Do you even know what a modular synth is?

      Please do the music world a favor and sell your equipment.

  2. Yeesh, As if packet scheduling over USB wasn’t bad enough. Any jitter specs on this thing? I’ve had reasonably ok results running Core MIDI over LAN but any semblance of proper timing goes straight to hell whenever I’ve tried that over WiFi.

  3. It is amusing to see the word legacy used, as though those of us with hardware are in the past and hanging onto old machines. Midi ports are a standard on hardware synths and new hardware synths are being designed and manufactured now as much as they ever where.
    The legacy issue is the wheel being reinvented. A midi lead coast me maybe 3 quid, I think I will stick to the ‘old way’.

    1. I’m glad they put a legacy USB power input on it, and are using legacy wireless digital signals to power it. The legacy petroleum based housing has a nice retro feel to it. And it looks like an plain old finger-press button on the top for a UI, nice touch- that really takes me back.

  4. I’m interested on how it compares with m-audio midAir. I’m also still waiting for one that uses the midi through USB (my MIDI keyboard connects via USB! ๐Ÿ™ so far I’ve only seen bad reviews of wireless USB).

  5. i hate wires and hope this gets done.

    nice idea for the video…passing the puc n all. and the argument of ios music making not being portable when you take into account all the accessories sometimes needed is quite right.

    1. As I understand it, it is midi in OR out … Why not both? Because it’s complicated apparently!

      Everyone has the right idea with throwing this away, totally useless and an open door to spending time resolving issues with wifi and not really enjoying yourself if you ask me, what’s wrong with a midi breakout box and cables? They work, have done for years and will continue to do so with far better performance and reliability.

      Learn to love your cables, they are your friends!

  6. i will be getting one! this eliminates a potential fire hazard that is becomming my studio… if they make one for $90 or $100 that has maybe 3 outs and 1 in with a 1 button switch for the different outs i would be very interested.

    i would really like to use my computers sequencers to communicate to an “out” on the puck so that i can have that run while i tweak my synths, that would make recording my midi gear a snap! I really only need one “in” for a controller. maybe even just to control a module or something.

  7. I’m looking forward to see real world reviews on this. I’m using a MiDAir for my AX-7 with okay results as long as I’m less than 10 feet away from the receiver…

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