MIDI Adapters

[mpisani]

I have an old Ensoniq MR76. I currently have an audio interface with MIDI In/Out ports. If I get a new interface, is it worth getting one with MIDI ports or do MIDI to ¼" cable adapters work just as well?

 

[Slouching Raymond]

It is always worth looking for real midi ports on any device. It gives you freedom to decide how to connect.

 

[ecc83]

I have an old Ensoniq MR76. I currently have an audio interface with MIDI In/Out ports. If I get a new interface, is it worth getting one with MIDI ports or do MIDI to ¼" cable adapters work just as well?

I agree with Ray, just makes for a neater setup to have DIN ports on the interface. If you are looking at a basic 2in 2 out or 4 in 4 out I can strongly recommend the MOTU M2 or M4. Almost top end spec and very stable, low latency drivers.
Also, AFAIK there isn't a pinout standard for TRS jack MIDI?

Dave.

 

[rob aylestone]

MIDI to 1/4"? MIDI is data, 1/4" is audio? A bit confused to be honest.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

I did send a midi signal over jack connectors.
Iused my AW16G as a transport controller, then the signals went through the analogue snake to my D16XD in another room.
It worked fine.

 

[ecc83]

MIDI to 1/4"? MIDI is data, 1/4" is audio? A bit confused to be honest.

Well Rob, I have to admit that I have not seen any equipment reviews with 1/4" MIDI jacks! However, there is an increasing use of 3.5mm TRS jacks for MIDI. The usual reason is space but I suspect jacks might also be cheaper now? DIN is after all pretty obsolete!
1/4" jacks would hardly save any panel space at all.

The (ever promised, never seen!) MIDI 2.0 will most likely use USB C connectors. My personal preference would be the RJ45 connector, apart from its use in networks it is well established now for stage boxes back to digital desks and analogue audio. Both connectors and cable are cheap and the plugs will survive the ministrations of my size 11s. Try that with a DIN!

Ray, MIDI will go a long way over CAT X cable. I think the impedance of 110 Ohms is quite close to that of MIDI?

Dave.

 

[Papanate]

I have an old Ensoniq MR76. I currently have an audio interface with MIDI In/Out ports. If I get a new interface, is it worth getting one with MIDI ports or do MIDI to ¼" cable adapters work just as well?

Just get a Midi to USG Adaptor and be done with it.

 

[mpisani]

MIDI to 1/4"? MIDI is data, 1/4" is audio? A bit confused to be honest.

I thought of that as I was typing the question. I'm not sure it's MIDI to ¼". It night be MIDI to USB or something but it's some type of connector if you don't have MIDI ports. But I'll probably just look for an interface that has MIDI ports since that seems to be the consensus.

 

[rob aylestone]

That makes sense. As virtually all interfaces have MIDI sockets, it is always the simplest method.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

You don't just want to connect a midi device to a computer, but to other midi devices too.

 

[ecc83]

You don't just want to connect a midi device to a computer, but to other midi devices too.

Indeed and the VAST majority of MIDI devices, KBDs drum machines, use DINs. IIRC you can "daisy chain" about three?

Dave.

 

[Papanate]

Indeed and the VAST majority of MIDI devices, KBDs drum machines, use DINs. IIRC you can "daisy chain" about three?

I think it’s 4 when everything is perfect - before you start getting latency and other conflicts.

 

[ecc83]

Small point about MIDI keyboards? Many have a single DIN out and USB for power and realtime MIDI data. You can use USB into one computer to power the KBD and play a tune but also feed the DIN to another PC* via an interface and trigger an entirely different instrument at the same time...a bit pf poking jiggery and you can record both tracks.

You MIGHT be able to do this with just one PC? Only ever tried it years ago with two desktops. We did not get a ground loop YMMV!

Dave.