USB Vs 5-Pin-DIN

Which is better/faster?
Midi via the USB port on my MPC or via the 5 pin DIN socket?
Will the DIN choke with 8 channels of note data including controllers/cc data?
Does the USB protocol introduce timing issues?

FWIW, I had fifteen channels of note/controller data going at high speeds on the regular old 5pin din and everything was pretty much bang on. I imagine it would take a lot to choke modern equipment. Now, if you're sequencing older gear from the 80s/90s, there's a very real possibility of data choke, but that has everything to do with the CPUs of that time period and less to do with MIDI protocol or what physical port is being used.

As far as what's better between USB/din, my guess is "not much" considering how the newer MPCs are designed. Take that with a grain of salt, though. Someone much smarter than me will chime in with specs.

either is fine. but until Akai actually fixes the bug that chokes off MIDI notes of the same value across all tracks, kinda doesn't matter which one you choose

Both are fine. The classic 5PIN DIN can be more reliable in the rare case of USB having any compatibility issues between the devices, but that is very very rare when it comes to just MIDI.

Also, USB needs conversion because (IIRC) is sent in synchronous packets and not asynchronously in realtime like MIDI, so it *can* introduce latency to the signal chain.

In theory, USB MIDI has a lot more bandwidth but a slightly larger minimum latency and jitter, because it sends and receives "frames" at 1 millisecond intervals. In old DIN MIDI, things don't have to wait for a 1 millisecond tick tick. In USB MIDI, entire note-on messages with velocity and note number, can (but don't have to) be combined together in 32-bit MIDI Event Packets, and many such MIDI Event Packets can be sent in a single frame.

But then there is the more important side of the story - what happens in practice, and what is good enough for you. In my tests, I have noticed that the Akai Force, and I suspect it's the same with MPCs, imposes a 10 millisecond delay for realtime MIDI message throughput. You send a MIDI event in, and route it to a MIDI output, to e.g. play hardware synths live - it takes the event 10 milliseconds to pass through the Akai contraption. Does it matter? Maybe it doesn't matter for you.

How are Akai's DIN or TRS MIDI interfaces connected to the CPU - is there an internal USB bus in between? Then it would mean that you get the 1 millisecond USB jitter/latency anyway. But is it like that? Even if it was, would it matter for your specific needs? Only you can tell yourself. Please report your findings.

I went with USB at first when I got the MPC. Occasionally though I'd get a disconnection, and everything would drop off (I think I may have fatigued the USB port with hanging cables on my One). Midi I can plug in and out as I like.

I switched back to midi though due to noise. I'm not sure if this is a grounding issues as we don't have grounding where I live, and I'm on the 4th floor, so I can't just run a cable out the window, and we have PVC pipes here (copper back in the UK) so I can't hitch onto that. But being my main motivation of the MPC one is to play live, I'm going to have grounding issues at pretty much all small venues here.

Sorry it's not a direct reply to your question, but I thought if you were figuring out a plan, and looking into USB hubs vs MIdi hubs, you'd maybe want to test out any noise floor issues before investing.

5-Pin is more accurate than typical USB, but sequencers like the Cirklon fix some of the issues that plague usb that others have mentioned above.

I personally use usb with the MPC simply because it auto generates the name of the synth/drum machine connected lol. but like lampdog said it doesnt matter to me. when im just recording, the mpc takes into account the latency makes it all work. one of the reasons I like using the MPC. Now when playing live, it might matter to you.