Bome Software, a German concern out of Munich, has announced the BomeBox, a connectivity hub for connecting and mapping devices via MIDI, Ethernet, WiFi, and USB. Designed for stage and studio use, the box has all the power of the Bome MIDI Translator Pro software in a compact and solid case. For those unfamiliar with Bome’s Midi Translator Pro, the software allows you to control your computer from MIDI devices or other devices. For example: you can control your favorite software with a MIDI control surface, use MIDI turntables with arbitrary DJ software, map MIDI messages to other MIDI messages, and much more. If you perform live on stage, MIDI Translator Pro can perform acrobatics that will allow you to control your devices in entirely new ways with tons of flexibility.
Florian Bomers, CEO of Bome Software, claims “many artists using MIDI controllers will finally be able to perform on stage without a computer.” In particular, if different protocols and technologies need to interact, or many MIDI devices need to be connected, the BomeBox is the solution, for a fraction of the cost and size of a computer.
The BomeBox is configured via its web interface from a computer or smartphone. After loading a MIDI Translator project file into the box, a performer just needs to plug it in and it will run the translations immediately. It claims to deliver reliable performance and low latency while using little power; a standard cell phone charger is sufficient, and it can run for days on a USB power bank. Optionally, users can choose Power over Ethernet (PoE), reducing cabling and adding the option to supply both power and connectivity to cascaded BomeBoxes via the second Ethernet port.
The BomeBox is MIDI Manufacturers Association HD ready, so once the upcoming high definition standard from the organization is published, a firmware update will allow you to use it for transparent translations to and from the new HD protocol.
The BomeBox should be available sometime this spring. No pricing has been announced.
