USB MIDI INTERFACE vs MIDI USB HOST - What is the difference? A Beginner Friendly Overview 

Here's a few suggestions for midi usb hosts and midi interfaces. Affiliate links support the channel at no cost to you. USB MIDI HOSTS Kenton: thmn.to/thoprod/325513?offid=1&affid=623 Midi Tech: thmn.to/thoprod/425319?offid=1&affid=623 USB MIDI INTERFACE iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!) EU: thmn.to/thoprod/476770?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/xxAy1 MIDI THRU BOXES (these SPLIT the midi and are for connecting multiple synths to one sequencer) EU: thmn.to/thoprod/220156?offid=1&affid=623 US: imp.i114863.net/LvenY

Thanks for clarifying things. Often the hardest thing to figure out is how to connect all the gear together; and how to make it work both in a DAW environment AND as stand alone

brilliant video,... I've been trying for ages using different cables/splitters with powered USB hubs trying to use one of those interface cables to power and at the same time transmit midi data from my micro usb powered keyboard to my din devices. Your video has explained the difference to me and now know I need a Midi Host. Thanks sooo much for making this video, you're a life saver. Why don't manufacturers make this more obvious or even do little videos explaining this to people who know very little about midi and the devices they might need.

@BoBeats Great video. Nice to have someone clarifying. We often talk about these types of things as we have multiple USB-A MIDI host ports on our current interfaces. We have many devices which are both as mentioned in your video. Thanks for linking some of our products in your description as well.

Finally I found one of these MIDI Host for a reasonable price, thanks!!! Just ordered from Serda. Hopefully I will be able to play my Volcas with the tiny Akai LPK25 and no computer involved. Excelsior!

"Sound card" ("Sound Blaster"): Most 'puters already have them. Audio/music folks will buy audio interfaces _with_ midi 5-pin nowadays. (the only way to do it....back then) so as to use that kool vintage synth/drum thing.... "Host" usually implies a client to interact with. From Google: In computing, a host is a computer or other device that can connect to a network and communicate with other hosts. A host can run both client and server programs and can serve multiple users and devices. A client or server, on the other hand, can refer to either a computer or a computer program that runs on a host.

Thank you so much! I bought a Garbage Roland RD-88 that has no Din midi in. I think this will save the day! Cheers

Thank you so much for clarifying this. It's solving the problem I had in my set up. All other videos were more new school USB to computer but I needed to power an Akai MPD 218 drum pad usb controller to trigger an Old school Ensoniq Mirage Midi keyboard (I use this for gritty 8bit drums) I didn't know how to power my controller but now I do !

You should mention that a USB MIDI Host will only work if the USB Device is USB MIDI Class Compliant. If the USB device needs proprietary drivers your HOST device is useless. This includes the USB interface on the Novation Ultrtanova and the M-Audio Venom and a whole bunch of older Yamaha and even older Casio keyboards, Honestly I think modern manufacturers skimping on DIN MIDI ports is a huge step backward in the industry. For the sake of saving 5 or 10 bucks on parts and labor they are crippling the product when it comes to interfacing with vintage equipment and backward compatibility.

Yes! You explain the question that’s been vexing me for a long time! Thanks so much!

Just found this. Thanks for the links. The MIO 10 looks awesome and I'm very tempted to get one as I now have 6 midi instruments and am looking at having a dedicated studio computer.

Makes sense to me. Like I said I'm the last video, it would be perfect for OP-1 users.

I needed to see this 2 months ago. I've been wracking my head on how to get my Jamstik+ to hook up to my analogue synths since the device does not have a 5 pin MIDI. Bumped into a MIDI host while browsing Amazon and ordered it, but if I would have seen this it would have saved me days of research, especially considering I didn't know what a MIDI host was.

Thank. You. So. Much. I am trying to figure out how to connect an AKAI LPK25 to an AKAI MPX8, this is the info I needed.

Just what I needed! Been looking for something like this - I may be getting a Roland Aerophone, which has no MIDI ports, only MIDI-over-USB

Even though I knew all of this, Bo your videos are absolutely great. Thanks

Thank you, your information helped me to set 2 keyboards together.

Hi Bo, first of all I was sorry to learn from your Community page in your channel that your health has not been great of late, so I wish you a very speedy recovery, if you haven't already fully recovered. Thank you for this instructive video. It did clarify certain things for me. However, I'm a very basic user of digital/midi music equipment and so was wondering if I could ask a rather simple question. I have an old digital piano (Yamaha Pf85) which I use as a master keyboard and use another old sound module (Roland Sound Canvas) as my sound source, neither of them with USB connections of course. As I don't have a proper interface with midi connections, I recently got a little black box (don't even know what it's called) with midi In, Out and Thru, as well as a USB slot to connect my devices to the computer, using Reaper as my DAW. I eventually somehow managed to hook these up so I could send signals to the DAW and hear the different sounds on playback, by connecting the Out of the keyboard to the In of the interface, then the In of the sound module to the Thru on the interface. It worked for a while but now I can't get the DAW to send signals out to the sound module. I think my settings on the DAW in terms of midi channels are correct; other than that I have no idea what's gone wrong. What would be a pretty fool-proof setup for this sort of situation? Shall I invest in a proper midi interface or get an audit interface with at least one midi In and Out? I currently use a Focusrite 2i2 which doesn't have any midi connections. So sorry for the long question.

*if you need a PC in between physical units for MIDI, a DAW is not needed! All you need is a free software called "LOOPMIDI".*

I'd recommend you look at JACK, which is very light-weight and will direct all your signals to how you configure it to.

I've been doing what your mentioning using a DAW or midi routing program. Been after a big controller with DIN however I'm now considering the ones without the DIN and one of these. Also +1 on the IKEA supply been using one for years lol

Can I take an iConnectivity mio4 USB MIDI Interface and plug my korg minilogue into the host and hook up e other synths to the back (like the novation circuit, electribe 2, and elektron digitakt) without hooking up any pc's and use the korg minilogue to tempo sync the others hooked up to the back?

Thank you, your video was the missing link to understand how to connect my effect pedal (with USB) witj my MIDI controller pedal :-)

Jahaaaa. Ok now I get it. Thank you, this was very informative. Definitely getting one of these little things for myself now. Tack!

Thanks for this great video. What about that device? DOREMiDi HUB-8 MIDI 6x6 MIDI Interface Host X2 USB3.1 MIDI Hub Box 96 Channels It seems to have a lot of connectivity available

Hi Bo, they way you describe the process of "send the midi to the computer and the DAW, telling the midi to send to a specific channel," makes it sound like it's a sluggish process. Does using the midi interface/computer to receive and send midi introduce more latency than using a thru box to send midi to the computer and an external synth. It would completely save my mental health if someone could answer this for me.

Do you recommend mixi boxes to set up hardware or mixer or audio interface? I am so stuck. I watch your videos. They help a lot. Maybe you want to be guide to me. By the way i will record thru ableton. If you answer i will be glad. Love from Turkey!

If you have a Beatstep pro you can use it as a hub too.

hi BOBEATS GREAT VIDEO !!!!!! BIG THANKS BUT I HAVE QUESTION FOR U I HAVE THE VST instrument KEYSCAPE ON MY BIG SUR MAC COMPUTER AND I JUST PUT IT IN GARAGE BAND BUT I WANT TO USE THE SOUNDS FROM KEYSCAPE on MY KAWAI 920 DIGITAL PIANO AND ALSO I WANT TO USE THE SOUNDS OF MY KEYSCAPE ON MY MPK 61 AKAI midi controller keybroad ,HOW DO I THAT ,THE KAWAI 920 has 5 midi pin in and out and also my mpk61 HAS 5 pin midi in AND OUT ALSO SHOULD I GET THE ROLAND UM ONE MIDI TO USB CABLE OR DO I NEED A MIDI HOST TO USB THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND ADVICE ALL THE BEST MIKE

Thanks for clearing things ! I knew it was something like that but thought it was too good to be real ! :P

My plan is to buy midi buddy or similar solution to make arpegios and midi sequences for my old yamaha pss580. And I guess it may be another interesting dawless midi related topic to cover.

Can I use the host as an interface and route from my keyboard to my computer to have a midi file?

Got it sir

You didn't mention the high-performance FPT throughput feature in the Roland Midi interface. I'm not saying it actually works or that latency problems occur because of the cable connection between the audio interface and the P.C. I don't know but it appears the Roland corp does which might make it more than just a connection solution. Below is a description I copied from Sweetwater. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMOneMk2--roland-um-one-mk2 Roland UM-ONE mk2 USB MIDI Interface: Featuring high-performance FPT throughput, Roland's UM-ONE mk2 USB MIDI interface is just what you need to keep your line MIDI rig running flawlessly onstage. That's because the UM-ONE mk2 processes MIDI in a super-streamlined manner, eliminating dreaded MIDI lag and allowing your gear to operate with the lowest possible latency. And whether you use a Mac or a Windows PC, you're going to appreciate how easy this simple USB-powered 1-port MIDI interface is to use.

Thank you for the info. I have a problem for you. I would like to be able to have my TC Helicon (midi din in only) harmonies follow the chording on my Korg EK-50 that only has usb midi. My DoReMe midi host is not working.

Ya, I'm trying to build a case that includes a small keyboard for my Behringer Pro-1 ... I thought I could just use any USB controller. I guess that's not the case. I need a full on other synth to go midi in. Well that doesn't make much sense when I'm trying to build a synth + keyboard into a walnut housing. My options on size of the keyboard are only really giving me those little USB only keyboards. This will help out a lot, but a little disappointed since I probably wont be able to hide it inside the housing I'm building, and it's now TWO things to pug in. Oh well. Wont be as clean as I had wanted it.

I have a problem when trying to sync the midi clock signal coming from my boss loop station to my roland sp 404 mk2 when using an external usb midi host. It works fine without it but I want to use it to be able to control my effects using an external midi controller (novation launch control xl). I can control the effects now but the midi clock signal is no longer coming through the usb midi host, is there a setting or something that needs to be changed?I saw there is a setting called midi through, usb through or something? Has there something to do with that? Would appreciate for your help!

hi Bo, maybe you can help me....I want to buy the Plinky Synth (has just a USB-Midi connection), but before I would like to know, if its possible to connect the Synth via USB MIDI host to my Digitakt?

My VoodooLab Ground Control Pro Foot Controller stops responding, sending MIDI messages after 5 minutes of use, i don't know why this happens every time ! Do you think this MIDI Box could solve this problem of MIDI messages errors, weak signals and latency ?

What is the MIDI Host device that you show in this video? And what can you say about its latency?

So clear, thanks! One question: could i control a semi modular with MIDI I/O from my Yamaha p-45 via one of these?

Could you give me a help? I have that Drums from guitar hero and it only has a MIDI IN and i am not getting it to work with that midi to usb This Midi Host would make it possible for me to use it in my DAW?

I'm thinking about getting the Arturia Microfreak as a first hardware synth and later on the Korg Volca Keys and NTS1. I have a Arturia Minilab MK2 and it seems I'll need to get a USB host like the Midiplus Midi Host to be able to connect the Minilab with the synths. Am I correct, will the Midiplus Midi Host do the job so that I can use the Minilab as the keyboard while getting the sounds and effects from the sunths?

Hi! If I send information with different midi channels to the midi IN of the box, will all of those messages go out through the midi OUT + the messages sent through the USB HOST input?

I've Apogee Duet 2 Interface.. that doesn’t have 5 DIN MIDI - I do have Novation Impulse as MIDI Keyboard. I want to Sync Moog Mother 32 with Logic Pro X. Is there any way to this? I tried MIDI Out from Novation Impulse & MIDI in to Moog Mother 32. It's getting me the Keyboard Control. But How Do I Sync Tempo in Logic Pro X? Please help! Thank you!

thanks! this was very useful!

Where can l get 8 pin mini din converter to USB for Yamaha PSR 550

Great video! I disagree in one of your statements that more expensive "hardware based" (there must be a software) devices offer much more than DIY projects. Well, Bo, my friend. DIY Raspberry Pi based MIDI host (I call it USB host with advanced MIDI processing capabilities) beats any, and I mean any, hardware based solution, iConnectivity or whatever to the ground. How's that? Easy. There is a great little software called mididings (there are others but I use this one). Mididings is a swiss army knife of MIDI processing. Just Google for the documentation. At the end of the day, there's Raspberry Pi hidden from the awesome looking synths, and MIDI controllers, doing the job with no screen attached. Yeah, I love hardware synts, and MIDI controllers. But when it comes to MIDI processing, and MIDI hub stuff, nothing beats Linux + mididings, be it run on Raspberry Pi, or your laptop. Yes, I understand that not everyone has time, or is willing, or has knowledge to fiddle with Linux+ mididings, but that does not mean that it's not the ultimate combination when it comes to MIDI stuff. Of course, I've chosen to use Raspberry Pi for obvious reasons which are the same as the ones of the dawless jammers. I'm hybrid because of the definition of dawless (Computers are not allowed, tablets are OK, which is ridicilous). Don't get me wrong. This is friendly comment after all. Cheers!

So does anyone know if a simple midi interface, such as the one from Roland, is enough to send a signal from Traktor through that interface to sync it up with a Roland tr8 for example. Help would one much appreciated.

I want to combine a Korg ih vocal processor to a Casio CGP700 which only has a USB port, the Korg has in/out/ thru. Can I just use a USB midi interface or do I need the MIDI USB Host device. Thanks

how about the USB port behind the audiofuse? are the used to connect just USB device like for instance TR09 to Ableton?

A little confusing. So I have a Roland F-20 which is a digital piano that can be used as a controller via its USB port meant to connect to a computer but does not have 5 pin Midi ports. I want to use my legacy Alesis QSR sound module with only 5 pin Midi ports but no USB sockets. Which adapter or host would I need to use? Thanks

can smartphone work as host to connect two midi device?

Hey BoBeats, I’ve recently gotten into synthesis and electronic music in general and you’ve been a great recourse for learning all this new technical stuff. I was hoping to connect some products I just got like a Volca Keys to a KORG microKEY Air and occasionally the Microfreak to the microKEY Air. The microKEY Air has a USB MIDI cable as well as Bluetooth, would a MIDI Host be able to connect a Volca with it’s older MIDI cable and the USB of the microKEY? I’m not even sure where to begin suspecting how to connect the microKEY to the Microfreak though. Thanks for any help and if not thank you so much for your videos!

Question: can I connect a USB Hub into the USB port of the USB Host so that I can connect several (DIN-less) controllers (like a Presonus Atom, or a Kong Nanokeys 2, etc) and then use the DIN IN OUTs on the host to connect to synthesizers, etc?

Okay maybe somebody here can help me with the issue I'm having. So I bought a used NI Rig Kontrol 2 which is primarily meant to be a guitar pedal to be used in Guitar Rig, which is not possible anymore because the drivers are not supported in Win 10. But I don't care about that. All I care about it the expression pedal and I wanted to use it through MIDI to directly control some parameters in my DAW. So I connect it through USB for the power and through the Roland UM-ONE you showed in the video because I don't have an Interface with MIDI I/O. But I just can't get a MIDI signal into my DAW. Does anyone have a suggestion on what I might have forgotten?

I'm planning on buying a Yamaha p45b. This keyboard only has the USB to HOST port. Will I be able to connect it to ableton or fl studio?

I would like to have my MPC 2500 as a MIDI MASTER and my Tablet via OTG Cable as a MIDI SLAVE , so they can run in Sync at the very Moment I hit the Play Button on my MPC . Would such a little Hobbytronics Box help ?

lets say a device has usb midi host can you go device 1 usb midi to device 2 usb midi host, and then device 2 midi thru to device 3 midi in. and then control device 3 with device 1?

what is your opinion for the ERM Multiclock and where the difference to Midi Interface?

Huge fan of your channel ! I have novation circuit, after seeing your videos using it with a machine mk3 and studio, I decided to get a maschine mikro mk2. What is the best way to send midi out from mikro mk2 via pc/laptop to the circuit and back from circuit to mikro mk2 ?

Hi Bo. I have found this precious video to help me with a keyboard that only had a usb out. It seems that only you had identified this problem. Thanks a lot ! I have another question. I have just bought a prophet rev2 in desktop mode since I have little room and already many keyboards. My question is, what if I want to connect a drum machine to the synth AND still be able to use my midi keyboard ? Will I need to use the midi trough that you showed in another video ? Or will it work with a midi Hub ? Or it won’t work at all ? Thanks for you help. (A french passionate beginner).

Would the doremidi work with Korg Nanopad?

Hjelp! Can i use a USB to midi converter from a Roland vt3 vocoder effekt box to a midi keyboard, or even straight to my mpc x without a PC? Thanks

I have a CraftSynth and a keystep. Both use power via usb and midi over usb. Would the usb host connect the two without having to use a bus and an iPad?

could i also use a midi usb host just like a midi interface as well ? by connecting it to a pc ? I thought about buying the Mode Machines Cerebel USB

If i have a usb midi breath controller and i want to connect it to the synth itself, how should i connect it?

What is the advantage with a midi usb host? Confused...

Hello, I have an MPC ONE, and a yamaha MODX6 synth. Problem: when using traditional MIDI, my pitch bend wheel gets stuck at the new pitch. This doesn't happen with the old renaissance. Someone in my comments told me to use a thru device because the new MPC is creating a "MIDI loop". I bought a midi host device and couldn't get any midi "in" info to show up. Any advise?

Thanks

Hi Bo. Please help. I have just got got a modal craft 2 and want to link it with keystep without daw. Is this possible please. Thanks.

Hi looking for some advice, thinking of get a UAD interface the problem is that it does not have midi to my understanding. Would the Midi Usb host be the way to go to get external midi equipment into my DAW. Just a bit confused with this at the moment. Thank for any advice 😎👍

I'm not enlightened yet. You didn't show us the connections in that li'l device. You're saying there are no commercial solutions for this and we have to depend on little DIY kits??

Noob question here! I have an acorn 49 master key controller, and i want to hook it up to a Dave smith mopho. Which device will power the acorn 49 to communicate with the mopho?

Excellent Video. I am just looking for a Midi/USB/Sync-Tool for the OP-1 to sync/play Old Midi-Synths and connect to Eurorack. If I want both: usb-to-midi and usb-MTC-to-analog-sync-out the axoloti looks like the perfect and cheapest solution, right?

Hi guys I have took a 10 year break from using midi, I have one of those usb to a pair of din plugs type cable but can’t find the drivers for windows 10, can you help please.

tenquiw very mucho

is there anyway I can use one of these to connect my Fostex vm-200 to my MacBook Pro? its a great mixer and I wanted to use it with Logic Pro X

Thankyou, very interesting! I have a question. I'm a guitar player and I have a multiFX unit that sends MIDI via micro USB, I would like to connect this device to a foot midi controller (5 pin din midi) to change the presets. Is this possible?

How the hell can we specify the correct channel using a midi host? What about a Yamaha MODX that carries audio also via midi? MODX WITH MPC X STANDALONE?????

How would i get midi out of my IPad to send to my PC via this device?

Hi , thanks for this video, will a midi host work with the Zoom ARQ to get midi into a DAW?

Hi BoBeats, nice video as always!! But i got a question, I got some elektron devices, 303 clones, TR-8 and a friend has some boutiques and a analog rytm mk2 (all of these have usb connection) I played with this hardware gear for years standalone even without a sound interface just bought one half a year ago (focusrite 2i4) now i use ableton live lite to record my main L & R from my mixer but i want to start using ableton with my hardware gear and start playing hybrid to use fx from ableton, use limiters, compressors or distortion, etc.. Let's say i would buy Ableton suite and and elektron overhub which has 7 usb connections. I connect my overhub to my computer, connect all my gear to my overhub. Also plug my interface into my computer which is only 2 inputs. -Can i start multitracking? Can i play music in ableton from my hardware gear? and add fx or other vst's to it? -Like what is the best for me use midi or usb? I won't be using any keyboards just later on maybe play in notes from the monologue but use the sequencer to save the notes, so i won't be using any keyboard never. Almost all one shot samples and add a 303 line to that or more as 1. You have quite some experience with this so i hope you can help me out with a good/quick solution or if the overhub would work that would be good to (i tried to keep it as short as possible but i'm not english so i'm trying my best) Do i really need a soundcard with alot of inputs if i want to multitrack? i watched this video from Elektron but don't understand everything.. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OlgyZFdCifw.html Thanks in advance Best regards!

Hi Bo! Which specific USB Host device would you recommend? Kenton's is ridiculously overpriced. What do you think of the Hobbytronics? Thanks for any additional info!

Do these Midi USB hosts work with the korg Nano series, like the Nano Key studio / NanoKontrol studio? On windows the require a driver to use them.

hey bo, i know this is an old video but i have an inquiry. i want to control a synth module (arp odyssey) with my yamaha p71, but the p71 does not have a regular midi out, instead it has a usb to host which has midi capabilities. is this possible without a computer or is it possible at all?

Hi mate, just saw your video and wondering is it possible to connect a usb output midi to focusrite scarlett audio interface through a usb midi host and prevent latency? Cheers. B.

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I am new to hardware music production. So... If I want to connect my digitakt or my digitone to the Launchpad pro.. I'll need a USB Midi host?

Thanks but still confused I kind of get the need for hosting, but don't understand why ALL these devices only have one i/0 usb jack - this assumes (to me) that a hub is still required to simply connect two midi devices. I just want to connect a stopstep controller and boss GT001 multifx dawless, via usb, no DIN midi connects - does it really have to be this hard?? (and i was an audio tech then engineer baaaack in the day!)

You omitted to mention Arduino USB-to-MIDI-host which is the most straight forward one out there.

Thank you for explanation but why not show drawing on the paper (at least) instead of talking only?

Maybe I'm still not understanding part of this, because I was figuring that I could still use a USB/MIDI interface to be able to connect my OP-1 to the iConnect MIDI2 (since it's not powered by the cable, plus going into a host), but the iConnect shows no MIDI whatsoever being transmitted...what am I missing here?? And thank you for posting this btw :)

Thank you for the great video! I just have a question about the Scarlett 2i4, or similar sound cards that has midi and midi out, could it work as a midi host too?

I have to come up with a "MIDI interface" to transfer a firmware update to my guitar amplifier from my PC. Will the Roland work for that?

hi Bo thanks for the video... did you ever use this usb host to connect for example the digitakt to control the op-1 as a slave (through digitakt‘s midi tracks)?

will it work with roland sp404 to my mac running logic?

Hi there! So I could use a Yamaha Reface CP with a M-Audio Keystation, using the MIDI USB HOST and no computer? Thanks in advance!

What kind of interface do i need to sync my MPC1000 with FL Studios?

Re the midi usb hub / host, I wasn't able to get one from hobbytronics, so I made one using raspberry pi. Here's the video I used for inspiration. Let me know if you want me to share my settings. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N4yUduOqR3M.html