weak MIDI out?

Hi forum!

I played around with my mpc500 and connected it to every single MIDI device I own. I remarked - and I haven't read it anywhere else - that my MIDIMAN 1 in/3 out module could not be driven by the 500 alone. When I go through another synth's MIDI-through it works (as far as I know MIDI-ports work with opto-coplers, so each device in the line will put out it out/through with 5 Volt).
So I ask myself is that normal? I could imagine they made the signal weaker to be run from batteries or what... any ideas?

hi,
has no one else experienced this problem?
I looked for a infosite for the midi splitter i'm talking about: www.synthman.com/midiman/117100.html

midiman renamed to quasimidi as far as i know...

the idea was to have a small live setup mpc500 + 2 synth that don't have midi thru themselves..

an ideas/help would be appreciated!

Sounds like the weak MIDI signal is from when you split the cable, not from the 500 itself.

I'm not a MIDI man (no pun intended) but check here for your connections

www.tweakheadz.com

hey ill-green,
thank you for the answer. Well i just finished another testing. It seems like "midiman thru 1x4" is the offical name. To correct myself they're m-audio today...
I bought it so many years ago and now finally found the manual again. But first i have to admit that now when it's dark there is a green light on the backside indicating functionality... I thought it was broken..maybe need glasses.

I compared the midi out signal of lil' mpc to that of my even tinier qy10.
It's definitely the mpc that has a too low output as it only worked with the qy10. I finally found a working wall wart for the splitter and now it's fine with the mpc too, so i'm happy
Citing from the midimans manual: "..is designed to consume almost no power. However, very, very, rarely you may encounter some older MIDI device which requires more power..."

Thanx for the link anyway!

use the adapter for the midiman... often devices aren't able to power the midiman... most often this is the case with old midi gear but I suppose it's possible with the 500 (it doesn't surprise me) .. That is why midiman split/merge boxes have a spot for an adapter.

http://www.midisolutions.com/faqs.htm#LED
check this
They have a solution for the problem (a midi power adapter) and know the reason why this happens.
Akai MPC 500 is listed there as known not to support midipower

gamma wrote:midiman renamed to quasimidi as far as i know...

Ha ha that's a good one. Not. Can't remember exactly but I think they went out of business even before MidiMan became Maudio. The last remains of Quasimidi was reformed into the new Radikal Technologies company.


BTW I think I have one of those old MidiMan boxes (the pink 2x2 thrubox version) and I usually power it with an external adapter. Small battery powered devices usually can't power much besides their own circuits and will not supply the 5 volt current on the midi line. Even if I'm using a piece of studio iron that can, it's just usually a better idea not to suck power of the midi line if you don't have too.

Only thing to watch out for with those boxes and an external adapter is a power on failure when the gear is already connected at power on. If the midi gear can supply the 5 volts (ie not the 500) and external power is connected, the box may get "confused" as to which power tap to feed from and it won't work. If that happens, just disconnect both midi and power and reconnect the power first before the midi.

yeah I have the pink 2x2 midiman too... it's supposed to draw power from the source that has the most so it pretty much by default gets it from the power adapter... from what I understand. I have the manual somewhere for that thing haha. it's a great little box IMO...