windowsmusic computerphillipreesepc visit our online shopaudio plugin
Phil Rees Music Tech
musicmidi accessoriessoft synth
Essential MIDI accessories MIDI home
MIDI products
MIDI service
MIDI sales

Select a selector

With our ideal of functional simplicity, Philip Rees are at the forefront in the design of easy-to-use MIDI switching boxes.

You can avoid plugging and unplugging MIDI cables with these simple switch boxes. The popular 5S is a rotary selector with 5 positions plus an 'off' position. The bigger 9S is similar, but with 9 positions plus 'off'. The little 2S offers two ways plus an 'off' position. The novel 3B is a 3-into-2 changeover unit.

Philip Rees two-way MIDI switch2S MIDI Selector

2S photo2S diagramLow-cost accessory

The high quality three position slide switch in the 2S has three positions - marked 'A'. 'O' and 'B'. In position 'A' the centre socket is connected to the left hand one. The centre position ('o') is the off position, in which none of the sockets is linked. Position 'B' links the centre and right hand sockets.

The case of the 2S MIDI Selector is very compact at 58mm x 69mm x 23mm – the same as our V3.

The 2S can be used as a source or destination selector.


Phillip Rees midi commutator5S MIDI Selector

5S photoSimple MIDI routing switch

5S diagramThe useful 5S is simply a passive rotary selector switch in a box. Like all our MIDI Selectors, it requires no external power, so you don't have to bother with batteries or mains leads and supplies.

There are five DIN sockets for the 'rim' connection, and one for the 'hub' connections. The rotary selector switch has six positions - which can link the 'hub' to any one of the 'rim' connectors, or the special off position.


Works in either direction

5S as a source selectorThe 5S can be used as a source selector - that is with five inputs and one output. For example, you may use it on the input of your sequencer or music computer, to choose which of your keyboards, drum machines or other controllers is linked through - without the hassle of plugging and unplugging the cables.


5S as a destination selectorLess commonly, the bidirectional 5S can be used as a destination selector. You could select one of up to five different slave devices from a simple rotary switch next to your keyboard.


Robust enclosure

The 5S is housed in a sturdy 109mm x 109mm x 40mm black box. The five 'rim' connections are on one side, the 'hub' socket is on the opposite side and the control knob is mounted on the front. Space is provided on the hardy polyester front panel to name the ‘hub’ connections; a permanent ‘overhead projector’ pen is a suitable marker.

Philip Reece M.I.D.I. source chooser9S MIDI Selector

9S photoBig MIDI switch box

9S diagramThe 9S is like an extended version of the 5S, so it needs neither batteries nor mains supply.

There are nine DIN sockets for the 'rim' connections, and one for the 'hub'. The rotary 'route select' switch has ten positions - which can link the 'hub' to any one of the 'rim' connectors, or the off position.


The robust ABS enclosure is 109mm x 109mm x 40mm. There are spaces on the hardy polyester panel label where you can write the ‘hub’ connection names.

Philip Rees MIDI chain swap switch bypass3B MIDI Selector

3B photoNovel MIDI junction box

The 3B is housed in a robust ABS enclosure, whose dimensions are 109mm x 109mm x 40mm. White spaces are provided on the front panel, where you can name each of the MIDI ports.

The 3B has five MIDI ports. The three on the left hand side are called '1', '2' and '3' and you will normally use them as inputs to the selector. The two ports on the right hand side are marked 'A' and 'B' and normally act as outputs from the selector.


3B switch position diagram

You turn the ROUTE SELECT knob fully clockwise to set the switch to position x. In this position, port 1 is linked to A, port 2 is linked to B, and no link is made to port 3.

When you turn the knob to the centre detent position (y) port 1 is still linked to A, but port 3 is linked or B, and port 2 is disconnected.

Finally, you turn the knob fully anticlockwise to select position z, which links ports 2 to A and 3 to B, leaving port 1 unconnected.

Example applications of the 3B

An example 3B applicationIn the example on the left, switch position x would link the keyboard to the MIDI-in of the computer. The computer MIDI-out would go to the input of the sound module. You may use this when running a sequencer program on the computer.

Position y offers you two-way communications between the computer and sound module. You may use this arrangement for patch editing or dumps.

Finally position z offers the keyboard direct access to the sound module. This would be useful for an ordinary performance - even with the computer switched off!

Another 3B example applicationThe diagram on the right shows one of the many ways in which the 3B can be used in conjunction with MIDI-thru connections to provide chain re-routing.

With the selector switch in the x position, the keyboard controls the sampler, and the sequencer controls the sound module. This could be used for live playing along with a recorded sequence.

With the switch in the y position, the keyboard controls both the sample and (via the thru on the sampler) the sound module. This would be used for live playing.

With the switch in the z position, the sequencer controls both the sampler and (again via the thru on the sampler) the sound module. This allows for sequence replay.

get pdf readerYou may need to download the Acrobat Reader free from the Adobe site in order to view or print .pdf documents.
acrobat .pdfThe information on this selector page is also available as an Acrobat .pdf file - size: 805K bytes.

MIDI! to Phil Rees Music Tech home page

to Phil Rees Music Computers division index page
to Phil Rees MIDI division index page