USB MIDI: Everything you need to know
Added 2019-03-12 15:32:25 +0000 UTCHi!
You'd think that new technology meant better... but while MIDI over USB is faster, bi-directional and offers a lot more routing flexibility compared to plain old 5 PIN MIDI cables, it brings along one big flaw (sorry... feature...) of USB - the fact that one side needs to be a host and another a device. With that, one of the most beautiful features of MIDI was thrown out the window with USB MIDI: One USB device just cannot speak directly with another USB device :/
Since most of today's USB MIDI enabled instruments and controllers are set up as a USB device, it means they unfortunately just cannot be hooked up directly as easily as you can with a regular 5 PIN MIDI cable.
I made this video after seeing a lot of confusion and bad advice in forums as to how you hook up a USB MIDI controller to a synth.
I also included a few other tips, including how to know which direction to insert a USB plug in advance... and how to use a Bluetooth MIDI adapter from Yamaha to go completely wireless.
I know for some of you this may be basic, but hopefully this helps make this topic and various options clear, not to mention spares you having to try three times like I used to before inserting a USB cable properly...
All my best,
Ziv (now inserting USB plugs on the first try on YouTube as "Loopop")
