Hi all
I’m trying to figure out an solution for powering the midihub (which I have yet to order), when using it in standalone mode.
Take an regular USB A - USB B cable, cut to length, keep USB B side and solder an male DC barrel connector in other end (to be powered from a pedal power distribution)?
Or use an USB A breakout board, solder an DC female jack to the breakout end. Use an normal USB A - USB B cable.
There are pro’s and con’s in both scenarios above.
Other solutions?
I just use a usb hub connected with an iPhone charger for my usb powered synths and midihub i think. It’s all behind my piano in a mess so I can’t confirm exactly. Works great as long as the usb cables are good and don’t produce hum.
For my portable rigs I just use a power bank with dual outputs.
This wouldn’t work without adding a regulator, as Pedals use different voltage than USB.
You may instead just use any USB phone charger which comes without a USB cable directly attached to it, so you can just connect a USB-A ↔ USB B cable and power Midihub from it.
If you really want to have a custom solution for this, make sure the output voltage is 5V DC and that it is capable of providing at least 100mA of current.
Thanks I am aware of that regarding voltage. And admittedly I had to spend some time in my search, but finally:
Port number 2 (adjustable down to 5V and 100mA). I need power distribution to several pedals anyway so this unit seems to fit them all in its specs including a midihub.
I’ve given this thought some consideration back and forth. I think it would be best to have an breakout bord with DC input jack and USB-A jack. Then it’s all typical cables both ways that are easy to replace if any of them gets damaged.
My MIDI Hub is underneath my pedalboard (for guitar and bass). My board is powered by Strymon (1x Zuma and 3x Ojai). One of those ports powers a One Control USB Porter:
I realize this is specific to pedalboards and may not apply to your situation, but just throwing it out there.
Thanks! It’s always good to be aware of alternatives.
I do plan to use the midihub on my pedalboard (guitar), hopefully to have it to do some pseudo pedalsteel imitation. The sound of pedalsteel is so mesmerizing, but playing such a instrument is very different from a ordinary guitar.
It’s expensive but I wanted to add alternatives for anyone out there who might have a similar thought/problem:
And another one:
My original problem is not so much of a problem any longer.
Oooh. I also need this. I want to power the Midihub from my Strymon Zuma. But it’s not as easy as I thought?
This is USB Porter out of production?
Possibly they’ve gone mini size instead?
Not sure if it will work the opposite way, couldn’t find anything confirming it…
As for anyone who might be interested, I bought this one recently:
There are 2 USB power outputs in the Runsten. 
It works the other way - powering 9V DC devices from 5V USB chargers & ports.
Yeah, if it would work both ways they would surely have written it out clearly. As it would be quite unique on the market. Most converters aimed towards the FX pedal users, have the same design.
In my opinion having only the USB connector but no separate power connector in the MidiHub, was an bad design choice. If it ever comes an mk2, please do not make this mistake again.
Keeping my own post alive… but it is for a good reason, so for anyone wondering:
Yes. MidiHub has only USB B for both power as well as for USB MIDI. My early gripe regarding MidiHub was just this ‘issue’ (hence this thread).
However, a cool thing that I think you’ll all like, is that you can connect your MidiHub to a CME H12MIDI Pro.
What you’ll get is an host that accept your MidiHub(s), ‘expands’ its ports by offering both several USB C and TRS 3,5 MIDI (selectable A/B type) in and out. Back and forth. And it has it own separate barrel power jack.
Only issue is that it doesn’t function as a ‘regular’ USB HUB, which means that unfortunately the MidiHub Editor won’t be able to find your MidiHub(s) via USB from computer despite it’s all seems to working in USB MIDI scenarios (even standalone).
I have contacted CME support and asked/suggested for such update (if possible). I’ll update here if and when I get a response…
Thanks, @miketheman, I’ve been wondering about H12MIDI.
So you configure the routings within the device then use as standalone with pre-written MH presets?
Can you show us an interface screenshot if that’s how you set it up?
As of now it is only a test setup:
Laptop (Reaper DAW + Stepic VST) => MOTU UltraLite (DIN Midi Out) => MidiHub Midi In DIN Port 1
MidiHub Midi In DIN Port 1 (Clock + Arpeggiator pipes) => MidiHub USB Port => USB HUB
(I have no USB B - USB C cable yet, so the USB HUB functions as a cable ‘adapter’)
USB HUB => H12MIDI Pro USB C Host Port 1 (which recognizes the MidiHub USB, see image) =>
H12MIDI Pro USB C Host Port 1 => H12MIDI Pro TRS Midi Out Port 1 + 2 (see image) =>
H12 TRS Port 1 = Banananaeffects Quimera (Audio) => Source Audio Ultrawave Audio In 1
H12 TRS Port 2 = Meris Enzo X (Audio) => Source Audio Ultrawave Audio In 2
Source Audio Ultrawave Audio Out 1 + 2 => Eventide H9 Max Audio In 1 + 2 =>
Eventide H9 Max Audio Out 1 + 2 => MOTU UltraLite Audio In => Headphones
So starting the DAW with its Stepic sequencer sends the midi to DIN Out, into MidiHub DIN In which in turn adds the arpeggiator with octave jumps, which goes out via its USB B ports (no DIN out connected at all). Both pedals receives midi and I can confirm and hear the audio. Pretty cool.
And a bonus of H12MIDI Pro: it has it own filter and mapper as well.
So combined with MidiHub’s own capabilities, you can have a basic ‘construction’ in it spanning for example the whole Note Number range. But let the H12 map it to just one octave to any port/channel you want (including random Note skips set in %, from None or 1 - 100). A simple example.
Or using a Note to Control Change Map combined with the H12 curve editor (freely draw your own curve, save up to 4 curves), where the Note span set translates into Control Change (which I guess is) following the drawed curve (I haven´t tried so I might understand it wrong).
Sending that curve back to MidiHub… hmmm, could be interesting.
