The CME H4MIDI WC is a MIDI interface that's not just equipped with two MIDI inputs and outputs, but also includes a USB port, allowing controllers such as USB-MIDI keyboards to be connected to other musicmaking hardware without the need for a computer. A neat array of eleven LEDs provides feedback on the MIDI data being sent and received, while the device's 32-bit processor ensures outstanding transmission speed. For flexible routing, CME have integrated four customisable presets, which can be selected directly with MIDI commands. The presets can be also be edited and adjusted using the proprietary HxMIDI Tools app, and MIDI commands can be split, routed and mapped, too. With a host of advanced features for seamless hardware integration in demanding setups – and its practical, lightweight construction – the CME H4MIDI WC more than fulfils its brief: To meet the needs of musicians working on complex, modern productions.
For clear and tidy integration into any setup, all the connections on the CME H4MIDI WC are located on the same side: The main event here are the 5-pin MIDI inputs and outputs, a pair of each, and each with a dedicated green LED that flashes to indicate MIDI data transmission. The device's USB socket can be used to connect USB hubs with up to eight further ports, enabling controllers or USB-MIDI keyboards to be used directly with devices like synths and drum machines. On the right, there's a button for cycling through the presets in sequence, and the UxMIDI Tools app can also be configure this button to send Notes Off commands on all channels, clearing stuck notes from external hardware. On the left, there's a button to activate the CME WIDI Core module, for transmitting MIDI data wirelessly via Bluetooth.
The CME H4MIDI WC is aimed primarily at music producers and electronic artists, as well as guitarists who need a compact, easy-to-manage device for sending and receiving MIDI data. Thanks to its powerful processor, it delivers reliable, jitter-free transmission with virtually zero latency. The USB port allows for versatile expansion of the setup without the need for an additional computer. If a producer plans on filtering individual MIDI data from the stream, or remapping or routing it in any number of creative ways, the CME H4MIDI WC can be connected to a computer via USB and configured using the UxMIDI Tools app. Supported operating systems include macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux and ChromeOS.
The Chinese manufacturer CME produces MIDI controllers and is committed to making music production an unforgettable experience for musicians. To this end, the company has brought WiFi-capable MIDI interfaces, which it calls "WIDI" devices for short, to the market. The company's portfolio also includes wireless MIDI and wireless MIDI-over-Bluetooth interfaces, as well as MIDI-to-USB adapters and wireless keyboards that use these technologies at ultra-low latencies. To ensure that the products are suitable for everyday road and stage use, CME also produces customised accessories, such as waterproof carrying cases, for its devices.
The free HxMIDI Tools software suite for macOS and Windows can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website (requiring macOS X or Windows 7 in 64-bit). In the app's MIDI Router Settings, the signal flow of MIDI commands can be configured, while the MIDI Mapper can be used to customise the rules that determine how the CME H4MIDI WC converts input into output. In the MIDI Filter Settings, specific MIDI commands can be filtered out of the data stream so they do not reach the hardware currently in use: This feature has primarily been designed to prevent older devices in particular from responding incorrectly. The software also manages firmware updates to keep the device up to date.