I always preferred to use DIN MIDI over USB because I was a little scared of possible issues, and felt like DIN was more reliable, especially in a live situation.
The issues I fear are mostly :
That it would be more sensitive to disconnections due to small electrical shocks.
In certain situations, (like after booting problems, software installations, switching OS, switching computers), I’ve experienced that the device names could change, and consequently the MIDI output would simply not work (stuff like “Analog Rytm” becoming “Analog Rytm #1”).
But today, I feel that connecting my synths (in my case I’m thinking REV2, OB-6, ARMKII, Expert Sleepers FH-2, BS2, Matriarch) with USB would be handy, as it uses one “MIDI port” per device. One of the reason is the use of MPE with OB-6 and Matriarch that “eats” MIDI channels.
I’m using a USB-C macbook Pro (2020) with a USB “dock”.
Apart from the minitaur with known issues, don’t remember ever having issues with midi over usb. As long as drivers were up to date everything always been plug & play, unlike audio that tends to be a wee bit finicky. As for accidental cable disconnects in a live situation, just tape the it down.
I don’t use USB for midi if I get noise added to the audio as a result, but otherwise it’s what I prefer since I haven’t noticed any timing differences between the two (not sure why I would since midi din would still come from usb before hitting the midi interface).
Digitakt, Digitone, Minitaur and MS-20 FS all work great with USB midi in my setup. Not sure what the known issues with Minitaur are but sequencing notes and sending CC automation works fine for me (using Ableton).
This, and all the routing is well organised in the mioxl. 14 synths/drums etc. Connected to the DAW AND a Cirklon while all timing/clocks are taken care via a multiclock. Before the switch, I had 4 different midi usb interfaces, and several synths via usb connected to the computer…a mess with before mentioned technical problems. All fine now
There’s just this review on thomann that scares me a bit, But I guess it’s only a problem when using as a USB hub : Evaluations des clients pour iConnectivity mioXL – Thomann France
MOTU Midi express looks cool, but I remember having issues with a smaller Motu MIDI interface in the past, and the layout (all the INs one one side, all the OUTs on the other) is a bit stupid to me.
since i’ve discovered (and ordered) ground loop isolators – yes.
in general, USB MIDI has better timing (or rather less timing issues) than DIN MIDI, especially when it comes to large amounts of data.
I found using the iPad for routing, filtering etc. very convenient – I only have the mio10 … haven’t tried if they managed to port the overhauled software for the previous version though …
Oh hell yeah. Haha. I mean, besides having 10 USB IO, 8 MIDI DIN IO, and 4 MIDI Out, it does crazy complex routing, allows for MIDI-over-network, works with Mac/Windows/iOS/Norns (that last one surprised me), and it works standalone for when you’re just jamming on your hardware!
Honestly, after the PITA that was setting it up, it’s been absolutely fantastic. I can’t imagine having a studio without it, at this point.
@PekeDorty I tried the iPad for routing and filtering, but I noticed too much latency, especially if I was also using the iPad for actual audio stuff at the same time.
