Muro Box (music box) connects with Other Devices via MIDI Input Slot

14. Muro Box (Music Box) Connects with Other Devices via MIDI Input Slot

The entire Muro Box series (excluding the N20 Lite) adopts a USB-Type C MIDI Input interface, supporting the connection of three types of devices for reading MIDI files/signals and playing them on the Muro Box:
(1) USB flash drive (only available for N20 Standard)
(2) Laptop/Desktop computer (compatible with N20 Standard /N40 Sublime /N40 Standard)
(3) MIDI keyboard (compatible with N20 Standard/ N40 Sublime/ N40 Standard)

*We will provide a USB-Type C adapter (as shown in the image below) with your shipment for your convenience in using this device.

In addition to the above three external devices, Muro Box also supports Bluetooth transmission of MIDI files. For more detailed usage instructions, please select the appropriate section from the menu below according to your needs:

Upload MIDI files from a USB Flash Drive to the Muro Box-N20Standard (Music Box)

(MIDI input via a USB flash drive is currently NOT supported on the N40 models. Only the N20 Standard has supported MIDI input via a USB flash drive.)

(1) Power On
Insert the power cable, and upon successful startup, it will produce a musical sound: do, mi, sol, si, do.
Upload MIDI files of your melodies into a USB flash drive.
(Note: The maximum number of melodies for reading via a USB flash drive is 100.)

(2)Insert a USB flash drive (with the adapter) into the slot for MIDI input on the back side of the Muro Box. Wait for the Muro Box to scan files to get ready for playing the melodies.

(3)Muro Box will automatically play a short default melody to notify you that the melodies inside the USB flash drive are ready to play on the Muro Box. If you do not hear this short default melody in 30 seconds, please remove the USB flash drive and then insert it again.

(4)Press the control knob on the backside of the Muro Box, and it will start playing melodies. Turn right to play the next melody; turn left to play the previous melody. When the melody is playing, pressing the control knob again will stop the playing mode and become sleep mode.

Note 1: The melodies need to be within the 20-note music range of Muro Box (N20: C3-A5, on a diatonic scale /N40: F2-C6 (excluding F#2, G#2, A#2, B#2)). Any note beyond this music range will not be played. Muro Box will only read a single track of the MIDI file.

Note 2: If your USB flash drive contains a lot of non-MIDI files, it may take longer to complete scanning the files to get the Muro Box ready to play the MIDI files.

Connect Muro Box (Music Box) with a Laptop/PC

(1) Power On
Insert the power cable, and upon successful startup, it will produce a musical sound: do, mi, sol, si, do.

(2)Connect Music Box to Computer
Choose one of the following methods to connect according to your cable:

Using a USB-C cable (no need to press the power switch)| For N20 Standard / N40 Sublime / N40 Standard
Insert both ends of the cable into the computer and the MIDI IN port of the music box (as shown by the white line in the right diagram). Upon successful connection, the music box will emit the default sound: sol, fa, mi, do.

Using a Din 5 MIDI cable (press the switch) | For N40

After plugging in the MIDI cable to both the computer and the music box (in the socket marked with a red check), please press the MIDI switch (button marked with a blue check). Upon successful connection, the music box will emit the sound: mi, do.

If you notice that the large black gear has stopped rotating, please reconnect your computer and Muro Box-N40.

(3) Open the Computer Composition Software (Demonstration using Logic Pro and Ableton Live, other software that support MIDI Output also works).

The following demonstration applies to both N20 Standard and N40. The operating steps are the same; only the tonal range differs.
N20: C3-A5, on a diatonic scale
N40: F2-C6 on a chromatic scale (excluding F#2, G#2, A#2, B#2)).
“C3 = Middle C (261.6Hz)”
The melodies need to be within the 20-note / 40-note music range of Muro Box. Any note beyond this music range will not be played.
Muro Box will only read a single track of the MIDI file.
Playing Speed Limitations: Under a BPM of 120, the minimum unit for continuous single notes is an eighth note (four notes per second). The maximum simultaneous voices: up to 10 notes can be played simultaneously.

Using Logic Pro for Demonstrating the Steps (Other Software that Support MIDI Output Also Works):

(1)Add a new track and select “External MIDI.”

(2)Choose MIDI Destination as “Muro Box/All” or the first track.

Using Ableton Live for Demonstrating the Steps (Other Software that Support MIDI Output Also Works):

(1)Add a new MIDI track.

(2)In the “MIDI To” section of the track, select “Muro Box” as the output.

Note: If there is no sound, please go to the toolbar, select “Preferences,” then navigate to “Link MIDI.” Check if the
“Output” is turned on.

Alternatively, try the following steps separately:
*Replug the cables.
*Restart the composition software.
*Check if the keyboard or instrument being played is tuned to the corresponding range of the Muro Box.

Connect Muro Box (Music Box) with a MIDI Keyboard

(1) Power On
Insert the power cable, and upon successful startup, it will produce a musical sound: do, mi, sol, si, do.

(2) Connect the MIDI controller to the music box using a cable (MIDI IN port).
Upon successful connection, the music box will emit the sound: sol, fa, mi, do.

(3)Play within the specified range, and the music box will produce corresponding sounds, allowing for live performances.

The Muro Box will not save the MIDI data played on the MIDI keyboard. If you wish to save the melodies you have played on a MIDI keyboard and upload them to your Muro Box, you will need to use professional music editing software to export the MIDI files and then upload them via the USB flash drive or our Muro Box app.

Connect Muro Box (Music Box) with Computer and MIDI keyboard via Bluetooth

We want to thank our customer Shawn (the founder of Lullatone) who helped us make the following user-friendly tutorial video to demonstrate how to send MIDI message to Muro Box via Bluetooth (BLE). He also showed some techniques in this demo video to test the responses of Muro Box for our users. Let’s explore sending your songs to the music box (Muro Box), playing with a keyboard, and adding midi effects for really interesting new ways of making melodies!