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

What is a MIDI interface? What is a MIDI USB HOST? In todays video I talk about the difference. Check below for product links.

USB MIDI HOSTS

USB MIDI INTERFACE
iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!)

MIDI THRU BOXES (these SPLIT the midi and are for connecting multiple synths to one sequencer)

SYNTH MERCH

PRESETS & SAMPLES

SOCIAL MEDIA

COMMUNITY

GEAR I USE (affiliate)

BUSINESS INQUIRY

#midi #ExplainingMidi #Bobeats

[BoBeats]

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

USB MIDI INTERFACE
iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!)

MIDI THRU BOXES (these SPLIT the midi and are for connecting multiple synths to one sequencer)

[fcf]

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

[reggiegimmix]

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.

[iConnectivitySupport]

@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.

[ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic]

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!

[happyratgaryg.]

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.

[thomasbeckett]

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

[TheSoundtec]

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

[Dregarf]

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 !

[williamgeorgefraser]

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.

[johnhricko]

"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.

[edrosa]

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.

[stevebaldock]

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

[fratertater]

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

[burninggiraffe]

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

[jorgetrimboli]

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

[TheRedstoneGamerOfficial]

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.

[lsamoa]

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

[mikestein]

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.

[stephenkyburz]

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