On Sat, Jan 25, 2014 at 6:14 PM, Chris Caudle <chris@chriscaudle.org> wrote:

Slightly off topic of linux audio, but I need some MIDI advice and this is
the only list I currently monitor with electonic musicians.

I have a few hardware synths that I would like to begin using with my
computer music setup. The last time I had them all set up I did not have
a computer included in the system, so I had somewhat simpler connection
needs.

[ ... ]

speaking personally, i am holding on to my "vintage" Ensoniq KMX-16 16x16 physical MIDI patch bay. I also own a "computer"-based MIDI patch bay at a studio but I forget its name - functionally it is the same basic idea, but happens to have a more sophisticated (programmable) configuration. It dates to the early 2000's, and is German. The Ensoniq works great.