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MIDI Connections
06/02/2009

Q: I opened one of my MIDI cables to fix a broken wire, and noticed that not all the pins are connected. What gives?

A: MIDI uses a 5-pin DIN connector; but only pins 2, 4, and 5 are connected - and, in fact, pin 2 (shield) is only connected on one end. This is done to create a telescoping shield, which helps prevent ground loops. Pins 1 and 3 (the outside pins) don't have to be connected, though some cables come with them wired.

In the past, some manufacturers have used those extra two MIDI cable pins for non-MIDI-spec-compliant purposes, such as for MIDI thru or to carry "phantom" power for other devices.



Other Techtips from June 2009:
June 30 - Fast PT Window Switching
June 26 - Using Returns and Inserts
June 25 - Multiple Limiters
June 24 - Happy New Amp Day!
June 23 - In the Loop
June 22 - When Mismatched Speakers Make a Perfect Pair
June 19 - Use the Room
June 18 - String Tension
June 17 - StealthPedal Drivers
June 16 - Setting Tremolo Angle
June 15 - No Crack Guitar Drilling
June 12 - Hanging Foam
June 11 - Non-exact Doubles
June 10 - Body Sizes
June 09 - Save It All
June 08 - Cool Tool Alert
June 05 - Guitar Weight
June 04 - Creating a PDF of a Sibelius Score
June 03 - Staying Alive While Modding Amplifiers
June 02 - MIDI Connections
June 01 - APC and Ableton
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