MIDI2XS Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 I have 15 devices with 5-pin MIDI sockets. Just imagine the nightmare... About 25 years ago, when I realized that my gear had a number of 5-pin MIDI connectors that weren't easily accessible, I created a MIDI patchbay. It's based on a 19" rack mount telephone patch panel having two 26-position rows of 1/4" TRS jacks. I soldered two-conductor+shield cables to the jacks at one end, and 5-pin DINs at the other. The top jack row is MIDI Outs and Thrus, the bottom Ins. None of the jacks are normalled - all Out-to-In connections have to be made with 1/4" TRS patch cords. While shield is connected to sleeve, I don't remember what tip and ring configuration I used. However, in this case it doesn't matter - I just made sure the connections were consistent. This configuration is stationary - I don't gig - and has proven to be easy to use and quite reliable. I suspect if it was based on 1/8" connectors, that would not be the case. Quote Yamaha: Motif XF6 and XS6, A3000V2, A4000, YS200 | Korg: T3EX, 05R/W | Fender Chroma Polaris | Roland U-220 | Etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markyboard Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 It's based on a 19" rack mount telephone patch panel having two 26-position rows of 1/4" TRS jacks. That's really cool MIDI2XTRS I use 2 MTP-AVs as patch bays where everything is virtually connected to everything through my DAW. I assign a unique primary midi channel to each device so that all ports can be active at the same time. I can then just switch midi transmits channel from any board to control any device external to it. I know some people are sensitive to the midi latency - doesn't pose a problem to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PianoMan51 Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Future forum question: Where can I buy MIDI headphones? None of my current phones or earbuds work with the MIDI output on my new keyboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Mike, thanks for the clarification on the motivation being more to avoid incompatibilities of existing jury-rigged (so-to-speak) solutions done independently of each other. Obviously, this was a necessary move, to pre-empt long-term problems. Quote Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfort Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Here's another article on the TRS-MIDI standard: http://cdm.link/2018/08/midi-minijack-trs/ I'd hate to see TRS MIDI on a keyboard where there ought to be plenty of space, but on a small audio interface, I'd rather see TRS MIDI then no MIDI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotiDave Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Future forum question: Where can I buy MIDI headphones? None of my current phones or earbuds work with the MIDI output on my new keyboard! how do I connect my midi out to my spacestation aka CPS SS3? Quote The baiting I do is purely for entertainment value. Please feel free to ignore it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 It's based on a 19" rack mount telephone patch panel having two 26-position rows of 1/4" TRS jacks. That's really cool MIDI2XTRS I saw what you did there... took me a couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 https://www.midi.org/articles-old/trs-specification-adopted-and-released [video:youtube] Quote Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Motif Max Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Well, it looks like the new Novation Launchkey Mini uses the mini jack only. Needs a "breakout cable" to convert to 5-pin. https://novationmusic.com/keys/launchkey-mini [video:youtube] Quote Yamaha: Motif XF8, MODX7, YS200, CVP-305, CLP-130, YPG-235, PSR-295, PSS-470 | Roland: Fantom 7, JV-1000 Kurzweil: PC3-76, PC4 (88) | Hammond: SK Pro 73 | Korg: Triton LE 76, N1R, X5DR | Emu: Proteus/1 | Casio: CT-370 | Novation: Launchkey 37 MK3 | Technics: WSA1R Former: Emu Proformance Plus & Mo'Phatt, Korg Krome 61, Roland Fantom XR & JV-1010, Yamaha MX61, Behringer CAT Assorted electric & acoustic guitars and electric basses | Roland TD-17 KVX | Alesis SamplePad Pro | Assorted organs, accordions, other instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Well, it looks like the new Novation Launchkey Mini uses the mini jack only. Needs a "breakout cable" to convert to 5-pin. might have been mentioned already, didn't look at the thread, but Yamaha's ReFace line does the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Motif Max Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Now that's something I didn't know. Haven't even seen a ReFace around here yet and they've been out for a while... Quote Yamaha: Motif XF8, MODX7, YS200, CVP-305, CLP-130, YPG-235, PSR-295, PSS-470 | Roland: Fantom 7, JV-1000 Kurzweil: PC3-76, PC4 (88) | Hammond: SK Pro 73 | Korg: Triton LE 76, N1R, X5DR | Emu: Proteus/1 | Casio: CT-370 | Novation: Launchkey 37 MK3 | Technics: WSA1R Former: Emu Proformance Plus & Mo'Phatt, Korg Krome 61, Roland Fantom XR & JV-1010, Yamaha MX61, Behringer CAT Assorted electric & acoustic guitars and electric basses | Roland TD-17 KVX | Alesis SamplePad Pro | Assorted organs, accordions, other instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Well, it looks like the new Novation Launchkey Mini uses the mini jack only. Needs a "breakout cable" to convert to 5-pin. https://novationmusic.com/keys/launchkey-mini [video:youtube] Same with the Empress Zoia, which appears in the same video. Zoia comes with two MIDI-mini jack adapters. There are several synth patches on the Zoia that are playable via MIDI or the onboard buttons. Most polysyntch patches are 4-voice polyphonic - apparently more oscillators starts to overload the Zoia's CPU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB Dave Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Going to a smaller connector would be ok, but why for the love of all that is holy would they go with a 1/8' TRS jack? You would be hard-pressed to find a less robust interconnect device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 I have an Akai sampler that uses the same 1/8' TRS, luckily they provided the adapter cables. Quote Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonnor Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 Really not a big deal for me, as I make my own snakes and cables anyway. (clink) Heavy-duty connectors are available. ~ vonnor Quote Gear: Hardware: Nord Stage3, Korg Kronos 2, Novation Summit Software: Cantabile 3, Halion Sonic 3 and assorted VST plug-ins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 I agree with others that it simply isn't a long-term reliable connector. The UNO and UNO Drum use them and they were the first products I've owned that do so. They feel very flimsy. Certainly they can re-purpose a different connector? Even a mini DIN would be better. Or make the old S video connector? Quote Keep it greazy! B3tles - Soul Jazz THEO - Prog Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Burgess Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 Has anyone ever had a moulded 5pin DIN fail...? In 30 years for me, no. I get the bi-directional thing, which is still possible with the extra unused pins. Would love IN/OUT/THRU on one connector. Why even a mini-DIN/S-Video? Pins are closer together, more failure points if one gets out of line. Maybe I'm set in my ways. I still dislike USB for live stuff. Ok for your mouse or printer at home but please no minijacks!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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