[sdiy] Midi 3.5mm cable

[rsdio at audiobanshee.com]

On Aug 24, 2016, at 10:53 AM, ASSI <Stromeko at nexgo.de> wrote:
> On Sunday, 3 July 2016 17:49:48 CEST Tim Ressel wrote:
>> I wish to add Midi to a product but want to avoid the huge DIN
>> connector. Someone turned me on to some cables that are male DIN to
>> stereo 3.5mm.
> 
> Please don't.  Use a 6-pin mini-DIN (aka PS/2) and wire it up so you can use 
> standard MIDI cables with a keyboard adapter from DIN to mini-DIN (they used 
> to be common for dual-mode keyboards that could be used on AT computers and 
> PS/2 machines).
> 
> http://www.hardwarebook.info/DIN_to_Mini-DIN_Keyboard
> 
> Regards,
> Achim.

mini-DIN receptacles are still a lot larger than low-profile 3.5mm jacks. If you're going to have a MIDI connector that isn't standard, then you might as well use the smallest components. MIDI is quite forgiving of cheap cables and connectors, so long as they don't completely fail.

A D-sub DA-15 could be wired like the old Soundblaster audio card, and that would at least be compatible with some MIDI interfaces. Not sure whether it would be slightly taller than a 3.5mm (certainly wider!).

Brian