Midi Controller directly plug on Elektron machines

Elektronauts
1

Hello.

Does anyone know if it’s possible to connect a MIDI controller directly to the USB port of any Elektron device? (For example, the Digitone 2).
I know they both have a USB-B connection, but maybe using a USB-B to USB-A converter would allow them to connect.

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Is it possible to power the MIDI controller from the Elektron’s USB port in this way?
Would there be MIDI data communication between the two?

If this isn’t possible, what alternatives are there for connecting them?
Is there a special USB hub or something similar?

Thanks

2

That won’t work, the port is for connecting to a computer. You would need a USB host port which some gear has, but not Elektron stuff currently.

If you want to connect a USB MIDI controller you will need something like this -

There’s a variety of similar devices out there.

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3

Better to get a controller with DIN midi out. Elektron gear is zero latency and plain old MIDI introduces way less latency than USB which kinda negates a big point to the gear imo.

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4

retrokits rk006 will work for usb device host and midi din conversion

i also plug my op-1 field / op-xy directy into rytm with a usb-a to usb-c cable (they are both usb hosts)

5

I’ll take a look at these interfaces.

Thanks for responding.

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6

It’s possible only if the controller acts as a Usb-host, such as the Oxi One.

7

The midi controllers I want to use don’t have DIN MIDI ports, so I prefer to avoid DIN MIDI cables and connect everything via USB.
Now I use the iPad as a host between the midi controllers and Elektron and everything works perfectly but I would like to have a more portable setup with a midi controller and an Elektron.

Thanks for responding

8

Do you mean you can directly connect the OP-1 to the Rutm with a USB cable?
Without using the Retrokit?

If so, shouldn’t one end of the cable be USB-B?
Sorry if I misunderstood you.

Thanks for responding

9

The midi controllers I want to use are an Akai Midimix and a Novation Launchkey 25 mini mk3.

Thanks for your response.

10

This one has a 3.5mm MIDI out, so if you have a type A TRS to DIN MIDI cable or adaptor (I think it might come with one?) then you can use that to connect the controller directly to a DN2 or similar device. You would still need to power it via USB though; either plug it into a computer, use a USB power supply/charger, or use a powerbank. You might be better off trying to find a USB host device that has two or more USB ports though if you’re wanting to use multiple controllers.

11

Exactly, the Launchkey mini comes with a TRS output for midi and a converter cable in the box but as you say, I will also have to power the Launchkey, that’s why right now I use an iPad as my host.

What I want is a portable setup so I can carry only a midi controller and an Elektron and I see that the alternatives if I don’t use an iPad is to add another midi host type device, el which also needs to be power.

For now, I think I’ll continue with the same midi controller - iPad - Elektron setup.
Thanks again for the reply

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