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Lack of 5 pin midi
I’m so perplexed why there’s not more super cheap midi controllers with 5 pin midi out. It’s all usb which makes using it with an iOS interface like a prosonus itwo or zoom u44 a pain. Obviously there’s usb-to-midi connectors but I hate a million cables on a portable setup. Are there any super cheap midi keyboards with 5 pin? Preferably with at least 32 keys since I play piano more than synth
Comments
Most of the cheaper ones have springy mini keys, so that will screw up any piano playing.
I think the only way you will get something piano-like is spending a little more.
Arturia Keystep has 5-pin MIDI and costs $149. If you cannot afford that price, you will need to state your max acceptable price.
I think Midiplus makes quite a few inexpensive midi keyboards with Midi DIN ports. E.g., the one in link below is $99 for 61 keys. They have smaller, cheaper ones, too:
https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-61-Key-Keyboard-Controller-i61/dp/B00WU6H78A
Midiplus 49 keys with MIDI DIN for $70:
https://www.amazon.com/midiplus-AK490-MIDI-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B00VHKM72Q
That was what came to mind for me, but then it doesn’t really meet the criterion of piano over synthesizer.
I think you’re right that price range would be good to know.
I interpreted "at least 32 keys since I play piano more than synth" a little more literally than you. I read that as just wanting 32+ keys. fwiw, I'm a satisfied Keystep 37 owner.
No doubt the OP will post a clarification if there are requirements in addition to just having 32 or more keys, which would obviously indicate whether my interpretation of said OP's post was wrong.
Honestly 32 keys is fine by me but this is totally what I’m looking for. Just like cheap/midi 5 pin out and more than a couple octaves.
It’s just hard to search for. I always search “ midi controller 5 pin” and don’t seem to get anything. What search terms do you use
For instance I did search midiplus keyboards but they all came usb only
I doubt if "5 pin" is part of most entries. You might try "MIDI DIN" or "MIDI Jack" or maybe "MIDI OUT", all of which are probably more common and won't be found on items that are USB midi only.
Awesome. This helps a lot. Appreciate it
It’s definitely a good idea to go to a music store to actually touch, see, feel what they have available. They might not have the one you want but you will at least be able to narrow down features/specs you are looking for in a controller.
I purchased an older used 37 key midi controller at a thrift store for $5 a few years back, it’s 5 pin. So consider second hand shops, thrift shops, even pawn shops, just make sure it’s still working well and in halfway decent condition. Cheers
Good point. Lots of old keyboards with p bad onboard midi sounds function perfectly well as a cheap controller with a 5 pin out
All you need is a USB hub to plug the midi controller and the audio interface into. That doesn't seem like a lot of trouble to me. (Assuming here that the USB doesn't include audio, but midi only.)
You could also go Bluetooth with a 5-pin Bluetooth midi adapter. There are some cheap ones on the market and there are lots of threads here with info about the alternatives.
Great advice and thanks. I have guitar/vocals/midi going into my interface. Neither my prosonus itwo or zoom u24 have usb midi inputs. I’m trying to simplify
I am living on the road atm and it’d like an accessible setup. I’m in the process of figuring that vision out
In my perfect easy setup there would be some kind of irig keys I/O but with two audio inputs all powered by a decent backup usb battery/speaker
It would be really nice to have a simple setup w guitar/keyboard input/vocals that all had the fewest amount of connections possible. It’s a lot to ask but I think I can Frankenstein something
This.
Few years back I wanted a small controller. There were a lot of options, but turned out in the shop that most of them have crappy keyboard. Keystep and Komplete kontrol32 were the only acceptable options that time.
You don't need to plug the midi into the presonus or the zoom. You can plug either of those into a powered USB hub on the iPad, then plug the usb midi into the hub as well. They'll all feed to the iPad through the hub. Or get an adapter for the midi controller and go Bluetooth. Even less fuss.
I'm guessing that you could find a hub that can be powered by a battery bank.
To save money and space, I wouldn't be surprised if keyboard manufacturers used the smaller TRS connectors instead of DIN, like many guitar pedals do now. If so, you're only a pair of short adapter cables away from your DIN connectors.