Black Lion Audio MIDI Eight: 8×8 MIDI Interface for Studio and Stage
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The new Black Lion Audio MIDI Eight is an 8×8 MIDI interface designed for studio and live applications. Could the MIDI Eight be the perfect hub for your MIDI setup?
Black Lion Audio MIDI Eight
If you run a large MIDI setup, you can’t do without a dedicated MIDI interface – even in the age of USB. Many older synths only have the traditional DIN connectors, and if you daisy-chain too many of them to the MIDI output of a typical audio interface, you’re bound to run into timing issues sooner or later. That’s why professional multi-port MIDI interfaces are far from dead – especially when reliability and rock-solid timing are key.
Just in time for NAMM 2026, Black Lion Audio has announced the new MIDI Eight. Featuring eight DIN inputs and outputs each, the 1U rackmount unit doesn’t look all that different from what similar devices looked like 30 years ago. However, Black Lion Audio has added a couple of well-thought-out features that make the MIDI Eight a perfect fit for modern studio and stage setups.
The interface is fully class-compliant and offers plug-and-play connectivity for macOS and Windows. It connects to your computer via USB-C. While it can run on bus power, there’s also a DC connector that allows you to power the interface using the included DC adapter, e.g. in standalone mode.
On the back, you’ll find seven 5-pin MIDI inputs and outputs. The eighth input/output pair is located on the front panel, which is great for hooking up devices on the fly without crawling behind the rack. Output 8 is mirrored on the back. Big red and green LEDs make it easy to see the incoming and outgoing MIDI data in real time and pinpoint any potential problems.
In addition, the Black Lion Audio MIDI Eight offers a built-in 5-port USB hub for connecting USB-MIDI devices such as controllers. There are three USB-A connectors on the back and two on the front side of the interface.
The MIDI Eight can also be used without a computer, which is great for live applications. There are three standalone modes:
- Pass: Each input forwards the incoming MIDI data directly to the corresponding output.
- Thru: Incoming MIDI data from input 1 is distributed to all outputs simultaneously.
- Merge: The incoming MIDI data streams from all eight inputs are merged to output 1.
While it doesn’t offer the comprehensive routing and processing capabilities of some other high-end MIDI interfaces, the Black Lion Audio looks like a versatile and easy-to-use solution for larger MIDI setups in the studio and on stage.
Price and Availability
According to Black Lion Audio, the MIDI Eight will begin to ship around mid-February with a US MAP of $349.
More Information
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