MIDI USB to 5-pin DIN

[panicaftermath]

Hi. How would I go about connecting a USB keyboard controller to a 5 pin MIDI input?

In particular, I'd be trying to get an Arturia MiniLab to talk to the MIDI in on a SSL 2+.

Can this be done easily and reliably and inexpensively? Any downsides to it?

[zeekat]

Are rest of USB ports busted on your computer?

[RobertP]

what he said ^^^

+ https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=usb+to+...l_33dv6dsnhu_e

[panicaftermath]

No. Just wondering if I can use the MIDI din in connector on the SSL2+ with my USB controller.

It's not just a wiring and connector difference between a USB midi cable and a din one, is it?

[zeekat]

I never tried, but maybe you could plug in your USB controller into the computer (via USB, obv) then patch the MIDI out on SSL2+ to its MIDI in and configure in Reaper accordingly. The go and collect the reward for most pointless setup this week

USB is a general purpose modern high speed data connection and MIDI is like 1983 32kbit completely different data connection - USB based controllers are still MIDI controllers, just with MIDI encapsulated inside USB traffic via relevant digital magick.

[panicaftermath]

Originally Posted by zeekat

USB is a general purpose modern high speed data connection and MIDI is like 1983 32kbit completely different data connection - USB based controllers are still MIDI controllers, just with MIDI encapsulated inside USB traffic via relevant digital magick.

Well that is kind of curious. SSL and other audio interfaces that also provide MIDI connections seem to do it with 5-pin din connectors, which seems out of step somehow.

But there is much about how audio interfaces work that I don't quite get, especially how they keep audio and and MIDI in sync with each other and within the same latency window (if that even makes any sense.)

Are there reasons to avoid having a combined audio and midi interface? Any advantages?

[zeekat]

Yeah, because all pre-USB gear transmits MIDI via DIN cable. Those 5 pin sockets on interfaces will be there until the last Yamaha DX7 turns into dust.

[ivansc]

Pleased to say that I managed to revive my Emu XBoard 61 when its USB out died on me & filed to respond to my attempts to repair it. Happily it works just fime with a regular 5pin DIN MIDI cable into the MID I/O of my RME interface. So no real issues here assuming you CAN hook it up using a USB to DIN cable.

[ivansc]

Update: Today I was browsing Gumtree & saw an EMU xBoard 61 exactly the same as my wounded one offered for £25.
Got home with it & realised none of the driver software I have in my archives work.
Any suggestions as to where I could find a version of the Xboard drivers that works in Win10,. or a way to bodge the old ones up so they work?

I should shut up.

Got the emu home plugged it in and... it worked perfectly! Big smile on my face as I can now use it to tweak my knobs and fiddle with my faders....