Oldest "synth" gear I ever had, still have, is a GR-50. I got started late with these newfangled things called synths.

In my rack now I have two JL Cooper MSB Rev2 8X8 patch bays and to/from PC a generic Chinese 4x4 USB (I think I paid $40'ish - cheaper than a MIDISport 4x4 - only "hassel" is two I/O's on front and two on back - I only use two to PC, so I use the ones on back leaves front open for "new toy" checkouts)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VHL5HOA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(I see they went up ~ $10)


re: chaining: Agreed I haven't chained since "early" days when I only had 3-4 MIDI units but I went to patch bays for better routing and real-time configuration control (no plugging and unplugging) more than any real delay issues, UNTIL I added a Alesis D4, which had (has) a combined Out/Thru, that caused me headaches until I went to patch bays.

Remember even the "high priced spread" patch bays, like a MOTU, adds some delay, small but not zero!

Worst offenders for MIDI delay (talking from "in to out") are devices using COMBINED OUT/THUR because of the SW switching required(el cheapo mfg's saving a few bucks for on an extra 5-pin plug and some broad traces)

Larry

Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20