Availability
Where can I purchase the BomeBox?
We sell the BomeBox from our web shop and ship to almost the entire world.
We continuously grow our distributor network, the BomeBox is also available in more and more local stores and online shops.
For USA and Canada orders, click here for US retailers and online shops.
MIDI
Can I connect a USB-MIDI device and a 5-pin DIN MIDI device and they work together?
Yes, that’s standard functionality. By default, all ports are forwarded to all other MIDI ports. But in the web config, you can define fine grained MIDI Routing.
Can I use one MIDI controller to control 5 other devices?
Yes, the web config allows unlimited routing, duplicating and merging of MIDI ports. And in conjunction with MIDI Translator Pro, the BomeBox will do all the filtering, mapping, translation, and processing you can dream of.
Can I have more MIDI DIN ports?
Yes, just use a USB to MIDI adapter. We recommend high quality MIDI adapters from e.g. ESI, Roland, or Yamaha because we have seen MIDI data loss with cheap MIDI adapters. Use multi-port adapters or a USB hub to get even more MIDI DIN ports.
Does the BomeBox support MIDI System Exclusive?
Yes, the BomeBox supports any valid MIDI message. For mapping e.g. control change message to Sys Ex (or vice versa), use a MIDI Translator Pro project (see below).
Can I use the BomeBox to map channels or controller response?
Yes. For such processing functionality, use a MIDI Translator Pro project (see below).
Does the BomeBox supply MIDI phantom power for MIDI powered devices?
Yes. The BomeBox implements the latest version of the official MIDI specification and uses 5V for the DIN ports.
USB
Does the BomeBox power USB devices?
Yes, the BomeBox provides up to 1A (5V) at the USB Type A port (see below for power options).
Can I attach multiple USB-MIDI devices?
Yes, the BomeBox supports powered and passive USB hubs.
How many USB-MIDI devices can I connect via USB hubs?
Up to firmware 1.4.2, you can connect up to 8 devices (where each device can provide multiple MIDI ports).
Since firmware version 1.5, you can connect up to 30 USB-MIDI devices. Also here, each device may provide multiple MIDI ports. For example, you could attach twenty 4×4 MIDI DIN interfaces, giving you additional 80 MIDI IN ports and 80 MIDI OUT ports.
Does the BomeBox expose MIDI ports on a computer when attached using the Micro-USB connector?
No. The Micro-USB connector is for power only. For MIDI connectivity to a computer, use Ethernet or WiFi — see section Connections below.
Can I attach USB-Audio interfaces to the BomeBox?
The BomeBox does not support USB-Audio. But if your USB-Audio interface has MIDI ports, they will be usable with the BomeBox.
Which types of USB devices can I attach?
The BomeBox supports the following types of USB devices:
- USB-MIDI for more control surfaces, controllers, MIDI-DIN ports, synths, mixers, foot controllers, etc.
- Serial Ports: for use in MIDI Translator Pro projects in the BomeBox: translate serial data to MIDI
- QWERTY Keyboards (HID): translator keystrokes to MIDI
- USB Thumb Drives: for extending storage space for MIDI Translator Pro projects
MIDI Processing (with MIDI Translator Pro)
Which kind of MIDI Processing is available?
The BomeBox comes with very powerful capabilities for MIDI mapping, translation, filtering, routing, math calculations on values, conditional logic (if this then that), layers. Organize your translators in presets, apply your translators to specific MIDI devices or note ranges, and much much more. Note that the editor Bome MIDI Translator Pro is sold separately.
How do I create MIDI Processing Rules?
MIDI Processing in the BomeBox is handled via MIDI Translator Pro (see below). You create and test your processing rules on a computer (Windows or macOS) and then upload the translation project file into the BomeBox. There, the translations run standalone.
How many Processing Rules can I use in the BomeBox?
The BomeBox has approx. 8MB built-in memory for your MIDI processing / MIDI Translator Pro projects. Since firmware v1.4, you can upload as many project files as you like. Additionally, you can use a USB thumb drive for virtually unlimited project space.
The internal memory is already good for approx. 500,000 translations.
MIDI Translator Pro in the BomeBox
How does MIDI Translator Pro work in the BomeBox?
The BomeBox contains a runtime of MIDI Translator Pro. So you will use the MIDI Translator Pro software on a PC or Mac to create your project file(s), and then use the web config to upload the project. The BomeBox stores up to 8MB of project files (or more using a USB thumb drive), and the web config makes it easy to select the project you want to run. Note: Bome MIDI Translator Pro is not included with the BomeBox, see the next questions, too.
Does the BomeBox keep the uploaded MT Pro Project Files when powered off?
Yes, and that’s very important! There’s up to 8MB available for your project files, and when you power cycle the BomeBox, it just continues where it was when powering off and starts the last loaded MIDI Translator Pro project.
Which features of MIDI Translator Pro are available in the BomeBox?
It supports all features not related to a desktop computer: MIDI in/out, unlimited MIDI ports, MIDI routes, MIDI aliases, Rules, timers, enable/disable presets. It does support incoming keystrokes via attached QWERTY keyboards, but not keystroke emulation. Also not supported are desktop related translations like AppleScript, mouse emulation, application focus.
Does the BomeBox include a license of MIDI Translator Pro?
The BomeBox is priced very competitively, so it does not include a MIDI Translator Pro license. The BomeBox has a lot of functionality available in the web config, so for many use cases, the advanced mapping capabilities of MIDI Translator Pro are not even needed. And if you’ve downloaded or received a Bome MIDI Translator Pro project file, you can run it in the BomeBox without owning a license of MT Pro.
Do I need a license of MIDI Translator Pro for running a project on the box?
No, unless you want to edit it or create one from scratch. If you got a MIDI Translator Pro project file, for example from your technician or downloaded on the Internet, you can upload it to the BomeBox and it will run even without a license of MIDI Translator Pro. You only need a Bome MIDI Translator Pro license if you want to create or modify project files. Project files created with the Trial version cannot be uploaded to the BomeBox.
Does the BomeBox support Keystroke-to-MIDI translation?
Yes: attach a USB-QWERTY keyboard to the BomeBox and use it to trigger MIDI messages. This is supported since firmware v1.3.1. There is a generic translation project included with the BomeBox which maps every key on an ASCII keyboard to a MIDI note. But you can also create your own mappings using Bome MIDI Translator Pro.
Note that in most cases, you will need to attach the QWERTY keyboard(s) to a USB hub.
Can you translate game pads / joysticks to MIDI using the BomeBox?
This is planned for a future firmware update along with Mouse to MIDI translation.
Does the BomeBox support MIDI-to-Keystroke translation?
Not directly. The Micro-USB port is used for power only. However, you can achieve this this by using the Bome Network tool (see next section), and running MIDI Translator Pro on the computer for emulating the keystrokes.
Another way is to use the BomeBox’ Serial Port support: some devices can recognize a serial as keystroke input.
Powering the BomeBox
What are the options for powering the BomeBox?
The simplest powering option is using a standard Micro-USB plug, using pretty much any cell phone charger. Since 04/2019, we ship the BomeBox with a high-quality USB cable with an angled micro-USB plug to make this powering option as robust as possible.
Note, however, that cell phone chargers have very different quality. The BomeBox is not picky and works with pretty much all. But when you connect USB devices and power them via the BomeBox, you may run into problems. In that case, we suggest a) a better USB power supply (like the excellent Raspberry Pi power supplies), or b) a powered USB hub, or c) Power-over-Ethernet (see below).
Using a powered USB hub has several advantages: you can connect multiple USB devices to the BomeBox, they’re all given enough power, and you can also use one of the hub ports for powering the BomeBox itself. Be aware of hub ports marked as charging ports: sometimes they work best for powering the BomeBox, sometimes they don’t work at all. In those cases, try another port on the hub.
What is Power over Ethernet (PoE)?
Power over Ethernet is a standard to use the Ethernet cable not only for Ethernet network data, but also for power. It runs on 48V, so it provides extremely stable power for the BomeBox and for powering attached USB devices.
For PoE, a simple injector is enough (which costs as little as $20): you can use it standalone by connecting an Ethernet/Cat5 cable from the injector’s OUT port to the BomeBox’ PoE In port. To not loose a network port, you can connect an Ethernet cable to the injector’s INPUT port, which is passed through to the OUT port.
Alternatively, there are PoE network switches with 4 or more Ethernet ports, which provide PoE power to some or all of its ports.
Why are the network ports labeled PoE In and PoE Out?
PoE In is for getting power into the BomeBox: use any PoE source for that. The PoE Out port works as a PoE source for a daisy chained BomeBox. By daisy chaining, you can, for example, connect all the BomeBoxes on a stage setup with just one cable connection for providing power and Ethernet MIDI connections.
MIDI Connections
Can I connect the BomeBox to a computer?
One of our goals for creating the BomeBox was to get rid of the computer… However, you can use the Bome Network tool (Windows and macOS) for creating MIDI connections to and from a BomeBox via Ethernet or WiFi. See also the following questions.
Can I connect to the BomeBox from iPad, iPhone, Android,…?
The built-in WiFi makes it very easy to connect to the BomeBox from a smart phone or tablet. This is very useful for accessing the web config. In future, we’ll provide the Bome Network tool as an app for mobile devices. Note that currently, the BomeBox does not implement RTP-MIDI (as used by macOS and iOS). See also next question.
Can I access all MIDI devices connected to the BomeBox from a computer?
Yes, this is available since firmware version 1.5 and Bome Network version 1.4: Remote Direct MIDI.
Why doesn’t the BomeBox support RTP-MIDI (as used on macOS and iOS)?
When we needed a networked MIDI protocol years ago, RTP-MIDI did not fulfill our requirements of performance and ease of use. So we developed an own protocol which is very easy to set up, has built-in security, and has very low latency. But we’re considering to add RTP-MIDI support in future with a firmware update.
Does the BomeBox support OSC?
In terms of OSC, the BomeBox currently just works as a router. So, for example, you can connect an iPad running an OSC app to the BomeBox via WiFi, then the BomeBox routes the OSC messages to and from any connected computer or device which the iPad app is configured to talk with.
However, but we may add OSC-to-MIDI in a future firmware update.
How does the BomeBox connect to Allen & Heath Mixers?
Allen & Heath mixers of the dLive, Qu, GLD, and SQ series can be connected via Ethernet (other series like iLive may work, too, but only by manually connecting by IP address). The BomeBox detects any connected mixers and will let you use them in the internal MIDI router. So you can use MIDI devices connected to the USB or DIN ports to talk to the Allen & Heath mixers — without a computer.
Can I connect to devices with a Serial Port?
Yes, just attach one (or more) USB-to-Serial adapter to the BomeBox, and use a MIDI Translator Pro project to set up the translation from/to MIDI. The web config allows assigning the correct serial ports to the ones defined in the project.
Web Config
How can I configure the BomeBox?
The BomeBox is configured via the Web Config, accessible from a browser via Ethernet or WiFi. This works similar to how you configure an Internet router. Click here for a few web config screenshots.
Can I access the Web Config from a computer?
Yes, just open the browser and enter the IP address of the BomeBox. When connected via WiFi, the IP address is 192.168.153.1. When using the Bome Network tool, it displays a menu entry for directly opening a browser with the corresponding BomeBox web config page.
Can I access the Web Config from a smartphone or tablet?
Yes, and that’s our recommended way: use Ethernet for Network MIDI (if needed), and WiFi for web config from a tablet. Simply connect to the BomeBox WiFi (by default SSID “BomeBox”), open your mobile browser like Safari or Chrome, where you will be greeted by a BomeBox status page. If you don’t get routed to the web config, enter the IP address 192.168.153.1.
What can I configure in the Web Config?
Functions:
- MIDI Ports: view available ports, assign MIDI Aliases
- MIDI Routes: view/edit/create MIDI Routes, save and load Route Sets
- Network MIDI: connect to another BomeBox, approve incoming connection request
- MIDI Translator: view/upload/select project files, restart or close project
- MIDI 2.0: MIDI-CI Proxy Setup
- Serial Ports: manage serial ports plugged into USB (which can be mapped to/from MIDI using a MIDI Translator Pro project)
- Allen & Heath: connect to Allen & Heath dLive, Qu, GLD, SQ, and other professional mixers
Settings:
- General: name, password
- Ethernet: DHCP client (default), DHCP server, fixed IP address
- WiFi: HotSpot (default), Client, Access Point
- Backup/Updates: create and apply backups, reset to factory defaults, install a firmware update
Wireless / WiFi
Can I connect multiple devices to the BomeBox via WiFi?
Yes, by default, the BomeBox works like a wireless WiFi router.
Can I connect the BomeBox via WiFi to an existing WiFi router?
Yes, simply select “WiFi Client” instead of “WiFi HotSpot” in the web config.
Can I use WiFi Ad-Hoc connection?
No, and it won’t be necessary, because the BomeBox works as a full WiFi HotSpot.
Does the BomeBox support Bluetooth?
There is no built-in Bluetooth in the BomeBox, but you can plug in a Bluetooth-MIDI dongle like WIDI-Bud for connecting Bluetooth MIDI devices to the BomeBox.
Can I extend the Wireless Range?
The BomeBox has an internal antenna which works for most use cases, but an external antenna would provide better range. The BomeBox has an internal U.FL (MHF2) antenna connector. So, if you’re not afraid of opening your BomeBox and drilling a hole in the enclosure, you can install an external antenna (like this one or one with even higher dBi) to increase the range. Make sure it uses the MHF2 (“PCI-E”) version of the U.FL connector.
Warning: you may operate outside CE/FCC regulation with an additional antenna. Use at your own risk.
Ethernet
Can I connect two BomeBoxes without a network router?
Yes, this is possible via Ethernet and WiFi. For Ethernet, simply use a standard network cable to directly connect BomeBoxes. The network ports are MDIX auto sensing and support APIPA/link local addresses. Additionally, you can enable a DHCP server in a BomeBox (Ethernet Master) and use a switch to connect even more devices. It’ll serve other devices like computers, too.
For WiFi, you can set up a BomeBox as a WiFi Client, or as a WiFi Hotspot, so you can also create connections from one BomeBox to another.
Do I need a network router for using the BomeBox in a network?
No, the BomeBox has all the functionality of a router: it features a DHCP server, so you can run all your network on your BomeBox.
However, a BomeBox will also fit well into networks with an existing router.
Why are there 2 Ethernet ports?
Apart from PoE (see below), they work like a mini network switch, so in many cases, you will not even need a network switch or router when using the BomeBox.
Another great way to connect BomeBoxes are to daisy chain them: one network cable connects to a second BomeBox, which connects a third BomeBox, and so on. In conjunction with PoE, you will not even need to attach a power adapter to the BomeBoxes.
Security
How can I prevent an intruder to access the Web Config?
The Web Config is protected by a password, which you should set up when first connecting the BomeBox. Moreover, when using WiFi, you should also set a password there to prevent unauthorized access from your neighbors or the auditorium…
Can someone connect via Network MIDI without authorization?
No, Network MIDI connections require a two-step setup: one side requests a Network MIDI connection, and the other side must approve it. For convenience, you can use the Pair button on the BomeBox to authorize an incoming Network MIDI connection request.
I forgot my password!
The BomeBox provides a way to reset the password: copy the password reset file on a USB thumb drive, plug the thumb drive in the BomeBox USB port, and then reboot the BomeBox. This will revert the password to the default (serial number) for access to the web config.
I misconfigured the BomeBox network and cannot access it anymore!
Similar in the way to reset your password, use a thumb drive with a special network reset file and reboot the BomeBox. This will reset the network to factory defaults (Ethernet client, WiFi HotSpot without password).
Robustness
Why is the BomeBox made of plastic?
Using a metal case would have been nice, and not even more expensive. But with a metal case, for the WiFi to work, we would have had to use an external antenna! So we settled on an internal antenna and a particularly robust non-flammable ABS plastic case, enforced with a metal bolt in the center for extra robustness.
Is there an option for a more robust power supply than Micro-USB?
Yes, in that case you should power the box via Ethernet. The Ethernet jack is protected against involuntarily pulling out the cable.
A standard 48V Power-over-Ethernet injector for will work fine, like this Digitus PoE Injector. Or a PoE switch with multiple ports.
You can use such PoE power sources as a power supply even if not using Ethernet.
Open Source
Is the BomeBox Open Source?
Not entirely. But the BomeBox runs an adapted version of OpenWRT, which is licensed under the GNU Public License. As required by the license, we have published our modifications to OpenWRT on github, so it is possible to create your own version of OpenWRT to run on the BomeBox, if you wish (without Bome specific functionality).
Essentials
Can I play Pong?
Yes, and we recommend it. The BomeBox ships with a Pong MIDI Translator Pro project for use with a Novation Launchpad. It is a 4-sided Pong.
Will it blend?
Absolutely.