This is a device I have wanted for a while now.  What does it do?  It takes a select number of readily available MIDI fader controllers and translates them into OSC fader controllers for Eos.  I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I’d love to share with you my impressions.  As always- I wouldn’t call this a review because I would have to test everything the unit can do rather than what I did- tested it thoroughly for my intended purposes.  Full disclosure- this unit was provided to me for the cost of materials and shipping instead of the full list price.  I don’t believe this has guided my conclusions at all, but you should know about it.  And lastly- I actually requested that this device be invented, and I’m delighted they did. 

As you may know, I work in film production in New Mexico (and other regions to a lesser extent).  Working in film has made me prize more than ever things that are powerful, compact and light.  Dragging around a fader wing with me in the desert isn’t ideal.  Dust destroys faders very efficiently, it’s kind of heavy, and they are too big for how I use them.  A while ago, I started using a nomad rig for smaller productions, and that featured a Nanokontrol2 MIDI fader that got translated by Shiftfaders (a free software translator).  It’s great and works exactly as intended.  However, you can’t use this same solution straight into a console.  That’s why I asked the folks at JOSC to invent this.

The JOSC MIDI Bridge is very small, light, and is housed in solid metal.  It can be powered by DC wall wort or by POE.  (The only thing I noticed that isn’t yet perfect about this device is there is a weird issue where the unit will refuse to be powered by POE+ and above. I’m told this problem is resolved with an adjustment to the PCB board and won’t be a problem from now on.)  It supports (currently) five MIDI devices out of the box:

• Akai APC Mini
• Behringer BCF 2000
• Behringer Universal Control Surface
• Behringer X-touch Compact
• Korg Nanokontrol 2

Configuration is done by a web portal.  You sign into the device through a web browser using the default IP address. 

Once in, you’ll want to go to Choose Device Type to tell the Bridge what MIDI device you are using.  Then press Confirm. 

Next you’ll go to Change Network Settings to specify the IP address of your console as well as Subnet mask and Port numbers.  Press Confirm.

The Change Device Settings has some great options here.  You can choose from many pre-built osc messages to trigger macros, trigger cues, etc.  It’s pretty extensive and well thought out. 

I really like how they made good use of both the faders and the encoders on the Nanokontrol 2.  The faders are defaulted to the first page of faders, but you can Next/Last through all pages of faders.  The encoders are defaulted to the second page of faders and can also Next/Last through pages.  My current working method is to leave the encoders on page 2 and have nothing but inhibitors on that page.  Very useful to me for my current work flow.

One thing I wish was easier is keeping track of what fader page you are on.  I’m obsessive, so counting things comes pretty naturally to me!  But it would be reassuring if it was possible to notify the user which fader page (or pages) the device is on.  Unfortunately, Eos doesn’t allow the changing of fader pages in the visual interface through OSC, so the answer is not yet obvious.

In conclusion- for $200, this thing solves a very irritating problem in an elegant way.  I love the device and what it allows me to do.  If you have any sort of need similar to mine- or if you simply can’t afford to buy a fader wing- this is the device to get.  I love that this allows me to use a $50-80 Nanokontrol seamlessly with Eos.  If the Nano gets rained on or too much dust in it and no longer works, I’m out a heck of a lot less money that if the same thing happens to my fader wing.  

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Mark LaPierre is a programmer in film and television based out of Albuquerque.  He grew up in live entertainment and has been a designer/programmer for musicals, concert dance, live music, circus and corporate.  Mark is a proud member of IATSE and an ETC Eos trainer.  If you enjoy his content, please consider commenting on his posts on the website to appease the Algorithm.