USB MIDI Host

Question

Hi,

Does anyone know of a board and shield combination that would support USB MIDI host to MIDI DIN?

The purpose is to plug a USB musical keyboard into this device and have the device send to MIDI DIN connectors, without using a computer as the USB host.

Here's a text diagram :-)

USB Keyboard <-> USB host device <-> MIDI DIN IN and OUT

I'm looking to build this so it could be a product but it may not be possible to do it with off the shelf parts.

shabaz · Accepted Answer

Hi Dee, The off-the-shelf product is about the price it may take to build a custom one: https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Miditech-USB-MIDI-HOST/art-SYN0006178-000?campaign=GShopping/UK&ProgramUUID=HADAqJarPzAA… If you were to build a custom one, you'd need a board with USB host capability, and a typical board would be a Raspberry Pi. See here for such a project: https://stimresp.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/using-a-raspberry-pi-as-usb-midi-host/ I believe that project makes use of a USB to MIDI adaptor too (i.e. the usual thing used to connect a computer to a traditional keyboard), so that the path is: Keyboard(USBMIDI)-->RaspberryPi-->USB-to-MIDI-->MIDI device If you didn't want to use that USB-to-MIDI adapter either, then you'd need the DIN connector, and some circuitry to translate the 3.3V signals from the Pi into MIDI levels, and write some code to do the interfacing (which would have some latency). There is info here: https://www.instructables.com/id/PiMiDi-A-Raspberry-Pi-Midi-Box-or-How-I-Learned-to/ If you wanted a shield(or 'hat' in pi terminology) to plug onto the Pi, then there are a few options, generally $25 or more: https://www.osaelectronics.com/product/midi-board-for-raspberry-pi/ But I think using the options in the first two links are easiest/better.

genebren · Answer

Dee, The first part (USB Host) could be handled in this manner: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/USBHost And the second part (Midi) could be handled in this manner: https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/mega-das/arduino-midi-controller-14c40c So, it looks quite doable. If you want a bigger challenge, and you have the necessary skills, you could use any microprocessor that can support a USB Host port (and there are a lot of them) and include a midi controller circuit (there should be a lot of those out there). Another approach (one that I have used in the past) is a Vinculum chip from FTDI as the USB Host (here is a link to a ardunio like motherboard with a Vinculum chip: https://www.newark.com/ftdi/vnclo-mb1a/vinculum-ii-usb-host-slave-motherboard/dp/14T7853?st=viniculum ) Good luck, Gene

shabaz · Answer

Hi Gene, I could be showing my lack of music knowledge hehe - I *think* (not sure!) USB MIDI is a specific protocol (i.e. a music keyboard with USB connector won't issue keypresses like a typical alphanumeric keyboard) so that might not be available in an Arduino library (but not sure about that either). I've never used a music keyboard with USB connector, so I don't know though if the keyboards implement as an alphanumeric keyboard, i.e. USB HID device. My old keyboard only has the traditional MIDI DIN connectors.

beebox · Answer

Thank you shabaz and genebren for the info. I wasn't aware of some of these hardware options.

The Teensy Development Board is another option I just learned about in another forum.

By the way I don't think there is anything USB specific about MIDI over USB, so any standard USB host should be good.

USB MIDI Host

Top Replies