Connecting MIDI Keyboards to Electribe 2--USB or MIDI in?

pl4t0 · Post by **pl4t0** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 6:02 pm

Hi all,

Will the Electribe 2 (gray synth version) accept a connection from a MIDI keyboard over USB? Or does it have to connect to the MIDI input? Basically, if I buy this keyboard that doesn't have a MIDI output, just a USB output:

http://a.co/jm9E5fE

Will I be able to use it with the Electribe 2? Or does it require a keyboard like this, that actually has a MIDI output:

http://a.co/cWsGOOL

I've searched the forums, read the manual (which is not very elaborate concerning MIDI), and trawled Youtube a bit--but haven't really gotten a satisfactory response.

I appreciate your responses, sorry if this has been answered somewhere else.

slug · Post by **slug** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 4:24 am

The Electribe is not a USB host so will not accept a USB keyboard direct, to connect a MIDI keyboard directly you need to use the MIDI DIN connector.

pl4t0 · Post by **pl4t0** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:09 am

slug wrote:The Electribe is not a USB host so will not accept a USB keyboard direct, to connect a MIDI keyboard directly you need to use the MIDI DIN connector.

Okay, that makes sense; but how about this: if I use a USB-to-MIDI converter on a keyboard that only has a USB output, will that work?

Thanks for the response.

Z7A · Post by **Z7A** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 12:53 pm

pl4t0 wrote:if I use a USB-to-MIDI converter on a keyboard that only has a USB output, will that work?

Thanks for the response.

Yes, but you will only be able to play part one unless the keyboard can change which MIDI channel it sends notes to... Apparently there is no master-keyboard functionality.

pl4t0 · Post by **pl4t0** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 3:41 pm

Z7A wrote:Yes, but you will only be able to play part one unless the keyboard can change which MIDI channel it sends notes to... Apparently there is no master-keyboard functionality.

Thanks for your response, that answers my question.

michi_mak · Post by **michi_mak** » Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:51 pm

pl4t0 wrote:
slug wrote:The Electribe is not a USB host so will not accept a USB keyboard direct, to connect a MIDI keyboard directly you need to use the MIDI DIN connector.
Okay, that makes sense; but how about this: if I use a USB-to-MIDI converter on a keyboard that only has a USB output, will that work?

Thanks for the response.

this will NOT work! you do have to use some sort of usb host (which a cable with two midi jacks and a usb jack is not!) Kenton does offer a dedicated usb host or you can diy one with a raspberry pi and usb to midi converter.