Yamaha MCS2, all you need to add a breath controller to your setup!

The title is a bit deceiving, as the Yamaha MCS2 is so much more than just a breath controller to MIDI converter...

In fact, it is named Yamaha MCS2 because it is a MIDI Control Station!

Yamaha MCS2 MIDI Control Station!

Along with a breath controller input, you also get:
1 pitch and modulation wheels;
2 assignable sliders;
3 assignable buttons;
8 program change buttons;
2 inputs for foot switches (sustain pedals);
2 inputs for foot controllers (expression pedals);
2 MIDI Inputs that are merged (MIDI In 2 only accepts Channel Messages);
1 MIDI Output!

Yamaha MCS2 back, with 4 inputs for pedals, 2 inputs and 1 output for MIDI

Compared to current units, you can clearly see the aim of this unit is considerably different.
Rather than letting you program a synth, with lots of knobs and buttons to control the different parameters, this unit aims at giving you more expressivity to your playing.

Breath controller input on the left side of the Yamaha MCS2

In my case, it is an amazing machine as it lets me use my Yamaha BC3 with my MIDI equipment (and made it much easier for me to get rid of my old Yamaha KX76 as well)!
It also lets me play the Clavia Nord Modular G1 with pitch and mod wheels without needing an extra keyboard (the Yamaha MCS2 isn't such a small unit, but definitely takes less space than another keyboard...).

Another possible use for this unit is to add all these controls to an older stage piano with MIDI, so that it can be a great controller to your MIDI gear!

Yamaha BC3 breath controller, perfect to partner the Yamaha MCS2

The only problem these units have is that they are not that common and hence sometimes they can show up for crazy prices, as seems to happen with the Yamaha BCs as well...

But if you wait, you might be able to find one for a very reasonable amount.

If you do, I can totally recommend you to add these two units to your MIDI setup, as they really can add quite some expressivity to your MIDI setup!

Yamaha BC3, with two connectors with different sizes to make sure you can breath in comfortably!