[sdiy] Midi 3.5mm cable

[ASSI]

On Wednesday, 24 August 2016 15:27:38 CEST rsdio at audiobanshee.com wrote:
> mini-DIN receptacles are still a lot larger than low-profile 3.5mm jacks.

The standard board profile for through-hole about 13mm on all sides, 
Switchcraft 3.5mm board mount is 12x12x5mm³.   Panel mountable hardware 
requires about 14x25x10mm³ (fastened with two screws), Kycon 3.5mm panel mount 
is roughly 10mm on all sides.  There are smaller miniDIN variants that are 
fastened with only a single screw or snap-in to the panel, but I'd avoid the 
latter at least for DIY.

So in theory you might get two 3.5mm jacks panel mounted to the same space 
where one mini-DIN goes, but your users would curse you for it.  Any other way 
it's a wash from where I sit.  Plus mini-DIN has dual receptables for doing 
MIDI In / Out readily available (even color-coded for mouse/keyboard).

> 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.

Other equipment using the 3.5mm jack for audio might not be so forgiving.

Say you wanted _larger_ MIDI plugs because you expect klutzy users…  just 
because CEE plugs are large and have five pins doesn't mean it's be a good 
idea to use them in this application.

> 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!).

It would not only be taller than 3.5mm, but also slightly taller than mini-
DIN.  If you're trying to go smaller, then using an RJ 6p6c (telephone) or 
8p8c jack (ethernet) might be an option, but then you'll have to make your own 
adapters.  I still have a plan for a MIDI matrix that was supposed to use the 
latter in order to fit into 1U in the rack.


Regards,
Achim.
-- 
+<[Q+ Matrix-12 WAVE#46+305 Neuron microQkb Andromeda XTk Blofeld]>+

Samples for the Waldorf Blofeld:
http://Synth.Stromeko.net/Downloads.html#BlofeldSamplesExtra