TRS 3.5mm MIDI cables ... are they all the same ... just TRS cables ?

[pfschim]

Didn't quite know where to put this question, so here it went

I'm working on setting up a new pedal board with an Anagram and a midi footswitch (MVave Chocolate plus). I want to use the TRS MIDI to connect the Chocolate to the Anagram. I need a specific length TRS cable and wanted to know if its just a regular TRS cable, or is there some specific wiring for MIDI ?

Also, as long as I'm asking about cables, I plan to power the pedalboard with a USB-C power bank and am looking for a very short (3 - 4") USB-C cabe with angled end/jacks. Anyone know where I could get such a thing. I've looked a bit on the interwebs but am not finding such an animal .

thanks!

 

[Wasnex]

I think @agedhorse is probably the best person to answer this.

 

[cousinelmer]

There are two conventions for pinouts for TRS MIDI cables -- type A and type B. The Anagram manual shows it is a type A. I've found conflicting claims about the MVave. It it is also type A then a conventional TRS cable will work. If it is type B then you'll need a "crossover" cable or adapter.

 

[pfschim]

thanks. I went ahead and wired up the pedalboard with the cable I had ... Cable Creations 3.5mm TRS. I know it works, I just had to do a little modification to the pedalboard to deal with the additional cable length. I also ordered a shorter angled USB-B PD cable for the battery connection. Should have it on Sat.

here's the new board. Still adjusting to it and have not abandoned my OG board (Cali76 => VT => Noble)

 

[MrWizard334]

Only if the Mets win yeah

 

[BrianVengeance]

For MIDI, the cable is just a wire - bigger gotchas are correctly using type A or B and ensuring that it doesn't exceed 15m or have a dodgy connection. The latter two are easy to fix, the former most is typically operator error - so long as your controller supports 3.5mm Type A and you have a decent cable, you're good to go.

 

[pfschim]

For MIDI, the cable is just a wire - bigger gotchas are correctly using type A or B and ensuring that it doesn't exceed 15m or have a dodgy connection. The latter two are easy to fix, the former most is typically operator error - so long as your controller supports 3.5mm Type A and you have a decent cable, you're good to go.

thanks. I went ahead and just used a 3.5mm TRS cable from Cable Creations that I had around here and it works fine between the MVave Chocolate MIDI controller and the Anagram MIDI in.

 

[logdrum]

Didn't quite know where to put this question, so here it went

I'm working on setting up a new pedal board with an Anagram and a midi footswitch (MVave Chocolate plus). I want to use the TRS MIDI to connect the Chocolate to the Anagram. I need a specific length TRS cable and wanted to know if its just a regular TRS cable, or is there some specific wiring for MIDI ?

Also, as long as I'm asking about cables, I plan to power the pedalboard with a USB-C power bank and am looking for a very short (3 - 4") USB-C cabe with angled end/jacks. Anyone know where I could get such a thing. I've looked a bit on the interwebs but am not finding such an animal .

thanks!

3.5 mm MIDI is just a TRS. Only 3 pins are used on a 5 Pin MIDI for Audio b

ut 5 Pin MIDI is also used for lights and I think they use all pins but those ones are rated and wired to carry power

So yeah if you have a 3.5 MIDI connecting to another 3.5 mm just use a 3.5 TRS. I do it all the time. But note that some do not follow the standard where the current source is the ring and the tip is the current sin. (data) So if you connecting Arturia / Chase to a Korg, ( uses standard ) you need to flip the wires, tip and ring.

 

[pfschim]

3.5 mm MIDI is just a TRS. Only 3 pins are used on a 5 Pin MIDI for Audio but 5 Pin

MIDI is also used for lights and I think they use all pins but those ones are rated and wired to carry power

So yeah if you have a 3.5 MIDI connecting to another 3.5 mm just use a 3.5 TRS. I do it all the time

yeah, I was just not sure about it. I had the one cable, but it was too long (18") and I really wanted just 12".
all good, worked out fine!

 

[logdrum]

yeah, I was just not sure about it. I had the one cable, but it was too long (18") and I really wanted just 12".
all good, worked out fine!

I did edit it in case you have an Arturia or Chas bliss pedal that you want to connect to something else. I had encountered this already once with a Chase Bliss and a Micro Freak

 

[logdrum]

Just read this regarding the TRS MIDI Standard wiring -- I mistyped again

A simplified guide to MIDI over TRS minijacks – minimidi.world

It probably is a non issue 99% of the time but if it is you will have to flip the ring and tip on one of the jacks

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Yes B style actually uses 5 wires/pins, A style only uses 3.
It's for providing power as well as midi, so if you need that, that's the way to go.

 

[Ferniff]

Yes B style actually uses 5 wires/pins, A style only uses 3.
It's for providing power as well as midi, so if you need that, that's the way to go.

Type A and B can both be 3 wires. The difference is what's wired to the Tip/Ring making a Type A incompatible with things that need a Type B and vice versa. The link in the comment above yours has a great diagram towards the bottom showing the clear difference between Type A and B

 

[Ferniff]