MIDI cables for pedalboards

[Benn Roe]

I've never really done anything with MIDI before, but I just got an ES-5. Between that, my Quartz Timer, Tonal Recall, Timeline, and Ditto X4, I feel like I could actually start using MIDI beneficially. The Gravitas and Spectre are also on my short list of future purchases, so I'll be able to make good use of one of the four-pedal converter boxes Chase Bliss sells. I just need to find the right cables now. With a relatively packed board, I'm going to need right-angled plugs, but because plug-orientation matters for MIDI, that's a little tricky. I'm aware of the Best-Tronics cables Disaster Area sells, which seem perfect, but they're soooooo expensive. Does anyone know of any other cheaper options? Is there anything else I should know while searching (the functional difference between 3-pin active vs. 5-pin active, for instance)?

[rfurtkamp]

Get the pin-out that matches what you're plugging it into.

Don't spend money on expensive MIDI cables.

They're literally just transmitting ones and zeroes.

There are no TOAN FAIRIES in midi.

[chrisdermo]

I have this issue too , bulky non-angled midi connectors take up serious board space......
You can get some cheap right angled midi leads but try and spot the plug orientation in the product photo before you buy. Luckily i managed to find one right angled midi (standard jack orientation like an eyeless smiley face) to right angle midi with upside down orientation (rainbow shape) for the molten midi -> whammy connection.
The switchcraft multi angle blah blah blah ones are so unbelievably expensivo!
Like rfurtkamp says there are no toan fairies in midi.

[UnicornTrap]

Don't bother with expensive MIDI cables - it is just data being transferred. Get whatever fits on your board and go with it. Right angle plugs are nice for SOME pedals/synths, but others they get in the way because of the cable coming out of the plug on its side... On a lot of my older gear, I end up using one right angle and one straight plug. Good luck!

[crochambeau]

(the functional difference between 3-pin active vs. 5-pin active, for instance)?

The standard application of MIDI uses only three of the five pins, so unless you are using something truly esoteric you need not worry about this at all, since the lowest entry point will support the standard MIDI lines.

The old archaic DIN sync needs pins unused by MIDI, and I believe some work was done by some manufacturers to increase the bit depth of some parameter stuff (standard MIDI protocol is very stepped, with 0-127 levels) but I have yet to run into something that actually needs it. I would ASSume the manufacturer would state that criteria right out of the gate.

[chrisdermo]

I believe some midi splitters (e.g. Midi Solutions stuff) use the power that comes down the unused pins right? This was the issue with those midi to minijack converters used on the Beatstep etc. I ended up buying a powered midi splitter because of this but would much rather have one that didn't need a dedicated 9v

[resincum]

if you get right angle cables, make sure the pins rest on the same side.... I got one off reverb and they're opposite, so one side of the cable is always facing up and in the way of shit

[Benn Roe]

Yeah, I know MIDI cable quality isn't going to affect tone. I just need something that will fit on a cramped board and not shit out on me, but preferably for less than the $25-30 fancy rotating right-angled ones Disaster Area sells. The pin-orientation on the one right-angled cable I was able to find on Amazon is wrong for at least some of my usages, probably all of them, and none of the local guitar shops nearby seem to have anything. I'd even pay $10/cable, but I need at least four cables and I just can't stomach (or afford) dropping $100 on that right now. I'm still doing research, but I didn't know if anyone on here had found a relatively cheap option for use with a pedalboard that they felt like sharing.

[crochambeau]

I believe some midi splitters (e.g. Midi Solutions stuff) use the power that comes down the unused pins right? This was the issue with those midi to minijack converters used on the Beatstep etc. I ended up buying a powered midi splitter because of this but would much rather have one that didn't need a dedicated 9v

I was not aware of power delivery on pins 4&5, but that would make a certain amount of sense. I really should preface any comment I have on MIDI stating that I'm still stuck in the last century with my gear set, and since my focus has shifted a little I pay no attention to what's out there now. Everything had it's own power back then.

This less than helpful moment brought to you by the Peppermint Tea Counsel.

[Invisible Man]

Never could get my Midi Solutions splitter to work right. Even when I bought their power supply brick thing to go with it...

[alexsga]

very bad experiences with Disaster Area cables

screws no longer catch once you unscrew the jacks, customer support ignores you when you ask for a solution

[ShaunNecro]

BAM.

http://www.tonefactor.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=38019



$14 a pop with free shipping.

[chrisdermo]

Nice! That cable looks flexi enough for plug orientation to not matter.

[ShaunNecro]

Nice! That cable looks flexi enough for plug orientation to not matter.

Plus you can unscrew the back and flip the cable to the other end as well.

[chrisdermo]

Nice! That cable looks flexi enough for plug orientation to not matter.

Plus you can unscrew the back and flip the cable to the other end as well.

Well that's just magic.