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MIDI I/O

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  • February 6, 2013 at 6:23 am #36246
    Goomo
    Participant

    All I know is that these MIDI IN/OUT connections are older… There was a time (long ago) there wasen´t any USB-standard. In that time MIDI-Keyboards and Synth´s were connected via these MIDI IN/OUT.

    I think, with the S4 its possible to root the MIDI-signal thru those ports… So you don´t have to root it via USB… But in this case you need those MIDI-I/O-Ports in your soundcard…

    February 6, 2013 at 9:53 am #36259
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI

    February 6, 2013 at 11:56 am #36269
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Since the Saffire 6 does midi over USB, you should be able to use the midi in/midi out ports (they are 5-port DIN type connectors by the way) to connect something to the midi in on the saffire, provided the other gear you want to hook up has DIN connectors, which in the case of the F1/X1 they don’t.

    DIN midi connections allow you to daisy chain. This is one MAJOR difference to Midi over USB. Most devices will have at least midi in, midi out and more often than not midi thru. So you can go from one machine to the next to the next.

    The drawback to Midi over USB is that each USB device needs it own connection to the PC and usually it’s own driver.
    The number of available ports need not be a big problem, a powered USB-hub should get you and easy 3-7 extra ports without a problem.

    So, keep your macbook, buy a 20 euro high quality POWERED (important, or your stuff probably won’t function properly) USB-HUB and hook the sound card to one of your MBs USB port and the rest of your stuff to the USB hub and you should be good to go.

    Greetinx,
    C.

    February 6, 2013 at 3:31 pm #36283
    nem0nic
    Participant

    MIDI is a protocol. Think of it as a way for devices to talk to eachother. The physical port used to transfer MIDI data isn’t really important. In fact, MIDI can move over just about any transport you can think of (USB, Firewire, wired and wireless networks, etc).

    Those “strange looking” ports are 5 pin DIN ports. This was the first way that MIDI data was transferred between devices, but it’s still VERY COMMONLY USED – especially when devices need to communicate with other devices without a computer in the middle. An example of that is when you connect a MIDI keyboard controller (like an Axiom Pro) to a synth module (like a Nord Rack), or connecting 2 (or more) synths together.

    As someone brought up before, to solve your particular problem you need to buy a nice USB hub. What you’re looking for is a USB 2.0 multi-TT powered hub. Multi-TT means that each USB device connected to your hub will have it’s own transaction controller chip that it doesn’t have to share with other devices. This eliminates problems – especially when high bandwidth devices (like soundcards, drives, or MIDI controllers with a lot of LED feedback) are connected.

    Multi-TT hubs used to be expensive, but you can get them now on Amazon for between $20-$30. Here is an example…

    http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited-7-Port-Desktop-USB1870/dp/B001DWLHBU/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1360164500&sr=1-12&

    February 6, 2013 at 7:47 pm #36300
    niu02kevin
    Participant

    Thank Gents! I appreciate all the info. Wiki gave me a nice history of MIDI. WTF is a euro? JK, I’m a Yank.

    February 6, 2013 at 7:52 pm #36302
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    It’s like a dollar, only worth a bit more :-p

    February 6, 2013 at 8:55 pm #36303
    HerrGoreMann
    Member

    Chuck van Eekelen, post: 36458, member: 2756 wrote: It’s like a dollar, only worth a bit more :-p

    LOL.

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