ammoon MIDIPLUS mini Engine Pro External USB Sound Module MIDI (Style 2)

Comes with:- User manual- GM patch list card- MIDI to jack cable (to receive midi cable data)- MicroUSB to USB (to charge device)- Device itself.To work with a popular Yamaha YPG-535 keyboard, you need to buy an old fashioned USB cable (not mini or micro, just regular male to female USB cable, like a USB1.0 cable).As you may be aware the YPG-535 does not have MIDI connectors, but it can be sent over USB.Connect the included microUSB cable to the device, and to the 'to device' connection on the keyboard. This is for charging purposes. The keyboard will keep the MidiEngine charged.Connect the second (USB1.0) cable to the device, and connect it to the keyboard's "To Host" connection.This is to transfer the midi notes to the device.Now either use a mini headphones jack, or a mini-jack to jack cable to connect your device to an amplifier, mixer or monitors.From the keyboard setting, go into settings, and find 'keyboard out'. Select 'yes'.You are now able to hear your keys through the device.You can also go further in the keyboard settings, and select 'style out' or 'song out'.This will allow you to not only play the keys, but also play back backing tracks and backing instruments through the device.The MidiEngine has more voices (64) than the YPG-535 (32). So from time to time, the keyboard may cut out on voices that the MidiEngine continues.The Yamaha does not play back the built in demos through the USB connection.Also make sure that the host clock is the keyboard. Putting host clock to the MidiEngine, will freeze host clock, and you won't be able to play back any rhythm or tempo or metronome.The soundbank on the MiniEngine is very basic. It is very comparable to a 2 to 4MB soundfont on a PC, mostly FM synthesis.The music instruments are basic, and a nice addition to layer the instruments on top of the beautifully sounding Yamaha YPG-535's Grand Piano.This is why I bought this device!To layer instruments on top of the built in sounds.It's probably the cheapest midi sound module out there.Ever since my beloved Korg midi sound module got lost, I only found very expensive replacements.I just bought this on a whim, to see how it functions.It doesn't have many good sounds in there, but can be used to somewhat enhance the standard samples on the Yamaha keyboard (by adding some elements to the original samples).I don't think it's a solution a professional would use, but it's nice to experiment with.In the future I probably will seek a more professional solution.It works well with midi controller keyboards that have no internal sounds.You could use it as a cheap sound generator.But sound quality wise, it's well below a Casio budget keyboard.My only real con, in combination with the Yamaha 535 keyboard, is that whenever I change patches or instruments on the keyboard, the module goes haywire, and changes instruments as well.This includes manually changing the primary instrument on the keyboard, the layered instrument, or the split keyboard instrument.Transpose seems to work just fine!The device plays back in mono, and the samples can't be layered. However, if your source keyboard can send multiple samples at once, they can be layered through a keyboard that can (eg: you can run drums and backing chords on top of your instrument, if your keyboard allows you to play it).I personally think some instruments aren't very well calibrated. They are just regular, generic instruments.Sometimes the device flips, and changing instruments result in error.When that happens, just change the instrument back and forth again.Sometimes the device appears to be dead.Just reset, by pressing the power button for more than 4 seconds.

It works just fine - easy to connect and use in a MIDI set up. However, the nature of the voices leaves a whole lot to desire. They are quite awful. This unit is usable for practice, if you really have no other sound module to use. However, it is complete unusable for recording or live performance - unless you want the type of distorted, unauthentic voices it produces.It is very portable and can be battery powered so if you have an equally portable keyboard and want to practice somewhere away from anything else, it will work ... but only to the level of 2 stars.

Originally nothing that I tried worked. The instructions are useless, they only point out what the MIDIEngine has labeled on the product.How to get the Sound to work?How to set it up:1) MIDI-Host-USB-Out to Yamaha-Host-USB-AB(printer cable)-In.2) MIDI headphones-out to Yamaha-AUX-in.3) The Yahama P255 has a USB on the front right panel, you can use this for charging the MIDIEngine.At first I thought it was plug and play, then nothing. Then I tried plugging in my headphone and viola, I could hear the MIDI sounds, but only with headphones on. It turned out that my 3.55mm headphone out jack to auxiliary in was coiled up too tight and causing interference. So it actually does work; after trial and error. I wish the instructions were actually instructions because I was just about to return this product back to distributor. In short this product works as desired, but you have to know what and how to set it up yourself.

This works great for me. I was cobbling together a home-brew solution. While I did get that working, it was a mess of jumpers and components. This does the same job at a rock-bottom price.Does it sound as good as modules costing hundreds of dollars more? Of course it doesn't. But it sounds fine, especially for the price.I'm using it with an old M-Audio keyboard. Works fine through the MIDI connection, with an external power supply for the keyboard. Even better though is hooking it up with a USB cable, in which case the MiniEngine powers the keyboard, too. Very convenient.The controls are minimal, but are all you really need. The wheel makes scrubbing through instruments fast and easy.It supported everything the keyboard can send.

Fast ship, fair price, this is a good product, an inexpensive hardware GM Midi soundbank with 128 wavetable sounds plus wavetable drum kits. Gets rid of latency on software DAWS and can turn any MIDI controller into a full 128-voice synth without need for a computer

Apparently this isn't compatible with an M-Audio KeyStudio 49 key midi controller keyboard. Tried 2 of them thinking the first one was defective but that is not the case. I tested my keyboard with my DAW and works fine and also tested with Midi OX and tested fine, however the USB functionality of this sound module can't recognize this keyboard. Another thing is the instruction manual was very sparse, After searching google for an hour I'm surprised I didn't find anyone else that experienced this issue. A huge disappointment.

Simple to set up and use. Consumes minimal space. 128 serviceable sounds. No latency. Good value for inexpensively delivering sounds to a MIDI controller without requiring a computer.

I bought this a couple months ago, and hooked it up to my MIDI controller. Works great!The soundbank is mediocre, and I don't know how to configure it to get channel 10 drum sounds. After some time of keeping it on, it does stop producing sound - many low star reviews say this. I found that just turning it off then on again resets the sound. Yes, the old joke about electronics is true!

The instruments sound reasonable.The device allows a MIDI keyboard to be connected directly to it making the keyboard a stand alone instrument. Using with a Oxygen 61 keyboard which is also powered by the devices USB input. So great as a quick and easy practice set up.The unit is powered through a separate USB socket, so all easy to set up and use.The downsideHeadphone volume a little on the low side with higher impedance headsetsNo sperate line feed output (big negative)No drum sequencer capability - which I was expecting, not even a metronome!Would have cost very little to have added, would have paid a few more £/$ for that featureA usefully device at a reasonable price, ideal if you just want to try/practice something without hooking up to a computer/DAW etc.

Handy synth with 128 sounds of varying quality. The piano and organ sounds are pretty good - some of the brass and woodwind not so much. A big advantage of the unit is that it can host and power a USB keyboard controller, such as an Arturia Keystep, even when running off the battery. You could even power or charge your phone from it if necessary.

Was looking for a inexpensive sound module to hook my M Audio key station up to and found this midi engine.The voices are far better than what i was expecting. The Grand piano is great turn up the reverb and add a sustain pedal then it sounds beautiful. I would suggest investing in some good quality speakers like the Mackie CR4BT monitor speakers, I do not recommend bob standard pc speakers or you will get crackling and distortion the speaker quality plays a big roll in how good the sound produced from this device will be.

This excellent and very compact unit is essentially a synthesizer in a paperback book sized box which makes it literally a synth in your pocket. Just add a MIDI controller keyboard or USB connection plus headphones or amplifier and it's ready to play live using any of the dozens of preset sounds and it's built in reverb and touch sensitivity. The sounds available are very varied and interesting. I particularly like the authentic sounding piano voice.

I have been putting together some equipment to replace the use of a laptop in live performances. This little box is fine for doing away with some software virtual instruments. It was never going to be as expressive or flexible as software instruments but it's fine for live. The pianos and strings are good enough with Fx added to blend in the mix and some of the other sounds are useful. It's a great size(small) it has it's own battery, you can power a keyboard from it.For the price it's a real bargain.