ALM mmMidi mkII (2025–)

Four tiny HP that solve the oldest headache in modular: getting your laptop to talk to your rack without a nest of cables and a PhD in MIDI implementation charts.

Overview

Plug a USB-C cable in from your phone, tap a note in a MIDI app, and your VCO tracks. No configuration, no menu diving. That's the mmMidi mkII doing its job as translator between the digital world and your analog chaos. It doesn't make sound. It doesn't sequence. But without it, half your rack might as well be mute. You don't notice this module until it's gone, like clean power or a decent ground connection.

ALM didn't reinvent the wheel here. The original mmMidi was already lean and functional, but the mkII swaps the old USB-B port for USB-C, so it works with the modern tablets, smartphones and laptops that ditched legacy ports years ago. A modular synth in 2025 might be clocked by an iPad running a sequencer, or triggered by a MIDI file on a phone during a live set. The mkII supports class-compliant USB MIDI, so it works with iOS, Android and desktop systems without drivers or workarounds. If you're still using a DIN MIDI keyboard or an old DAW interface, it has a 5-pin DIN input too, with an included adapter to convert standard MIDI cables to the module's TRS-style connector.

What it does, it does precisely: two full MIDI channels converted to 1V/oct CV, gate, and velocity for each voice. That's enough to run two monosynths in unison, or a lead and a bass line from the same DAW track. Clock in via MIDI, and it puts out a 24 pulses per quarter note (PPQN) clock signal and a run/stop trigger. That's essentially DIN Sync in modern clothing, so you can lock Pamela's PRO Workout, a vintage Roland drum machine, or any clock-hungry module to your host tempo. There's no quantizer onboard, no arpeggiator, no MIDI learn modes. It just translates, fast and cleanly, with latency under 400 microseconds. Some MIDI-CV boxes take 30 seconds to boot and need firmware updates just to recognize channel 3. This one doesn't.

Specifications

Manufacturer	ALM Busy Circuits
Production Years	2025–
Original Price	£170 GBP
Power	+12V @ 50mA, -12V @ 0mA
Size	4HP
Depth	38mm
MIDI Inputs	DIN MIDI (TRS), USB-C
CV Outputs	Dual 1V/Oct (Channel A and B)
Gate Outputs	Dual gate (Channel A and B)
Velocity Outputs	Dual velocity CV (Channel A and B)
Clock Output	24 PPQN fixed clock
Run Output	Run/stop trigger
Expander Support	mmT (adds third channel with 8 key-mapped gates)
MIDI Response Latency	200–400 µSec
CV Resolution	12-bit, factory calibrated
CV Range	0–8V
Gate Level	+5V
Firmware Updates	USB-C drag-and-drop
Reverse Power Protection	Yes
Warranty	2 years
Country of Manufacture	England

Key Features

USB-C That Just Works

The mkII's headline upgrade isn't flashy: USB-C replaces the outdated USB-B port, and it's implemented as a class-compliant MIDI device. Plug it into an iPad running GarageBand or a Surface tablet with Ableton, and it shows up instantly. No drivers, no settings, no MIDI configuration menus. For live performers, that means no more powered USB hub or legacy adapter dongle. The USB connection carries MIDI data only. It doesn't power the module, so your phone won't drain, and your rack stays on its own power supply. You can also control your modular from a tablet on stage, or from a MIDI keyboard app on your phone during a soundcheck.

Dual-Channel Simplicity

Two MIDI channels, each with full CV, gate, and velocity outputs. No sharing, no toggling. Channel A and B run independently, so you can assign one to a bass oscillator and the other to a lead filter cutoff, or send both to different voices in a polyphonic setup. The velocity outputs are handy for patching into VCA levels or filter modulation, adding dynamics without extra modules. There's no pitch bend or modulation wheel CV out, which might disappoint some, but that's by design. If you need more, ALM offers the mmT expander, which adds a third channel with eight individual gate outputs mapped to specific keys. That suits triggering drum modules or sample players from a MIDI keyboard's lower octaves.

Rock-Solid Clock Conversion

Syncing a modular to a DAW used to require DIN Sync converters, clock dividers, and prayer. The mmMidi mkII handles it in one step: MIDI clock in, 24 PPQN clock and run signal out. The clock output is precise and jitter-free, good enough for timing-sensitive digital oscillators or FM patches. The run signal mirrors the MIDI start/stop command, so your sequencers and LFOs reset cleanly on every play command. That matters in any hybrid setup where the DAW is the master clock. Because it outputs standard voltage levels (+5V), it also works with vintage gear that expects DIN Sync.

Historical Context

The mmMidi mkII exists because the modular world changed faster than its interfaces. Eurorack exploded in popularity just as computers and mobile devices were shedding legacy ports. By the mid-2020s, USB-B was vanishing from laptops, and MIDI DIN ports were becoming rare outside dedicated audio interfaces. Meanwhile, modular users increasingly relied on DAWs, iOS apps, and MIDI controllers that spoke USB natively. The gap was real: a $3,000 rack couldn't talk to a $10 MIDI app without a tangle of adapters and a USB host module. ALM saw the bottleneck and fixed it. The mkII isn't the first MIDI-CV converter, but it's one of the first to treat USB-C as a first-class citizen rather than an afterthought. It arrived alongside a wave of similar updates from Intellijel, Doepfer, and others. Competitors often require software setup or mode switching. The mmMidi mkII doesn't.

Collectibility & Value

As of 2026, the mmMidi mkII is too new to be "vintage," but it's already essential infrastructure in modern Eurorack builds. New units sell for around £170 GBP (approximately $215 USD), with no significant markups or scarcity. Used units are just beginning to appear, trading for 20-30% less, and with a solid build and no moving parts, depreciation should be slow. Failures are rare. Documentation shows no widespread issues, and service technicians observe that the most common "problem" is users forgetting to use the included TRS-to-MIDI adapter. Firmware updates are handled via simple drag-and-drop. For buyers, the only real caution is confirming it's the mkII version: the original mmMidi lacks USB-C and won't connect to modern devices without additional hardware.