[sdiy] MIDI output current and MIDI-driven gadgets

[Benjamin Tremblay]

If USB wasn’t a hub-based protocol with a built-in cost of adoption. 
The actual wiring for USB is just fine and getting better all the time. What’s wrong for MIDI is this 90s-era idea of a “peripheral” Zip drive that is powered by your gateway 2000 laptop. All that brilliant design thinking ruined USB for MIDI because a hub is nothing but a toll gate we already paid for and nobody wants. Does anyone really want a hub at all?

Benjamin Tremblay

> On Jun 4, 2026, at 9:30 AM, Mike Bryant <mbryant at futurehorizons.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> You mean USB ?  🙂
> From: Synth-diy <synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org> on behalf of Benjamin Tremblay via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org>
> Sent: 04 June 2026 14:19
> To: Synth DIY <synth-diy at synth-diy.org>
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] MIDI output current and MIDI-driven gadgets
>  
> Why can’t we just develop a new protocol based on cheap UARTs and passive components that runs I dunno 25x faster and works like patch cords instead of hubs, isn’t gated by some consortium, and is backward compatible if you add a cheap adapter?
> 
> 
> Benjamin Tremblay
> 
> > On Jun 4, 2026, at 8:47 AM, Neil Johnson via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
> >
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> > Mike Bryant wrote:
> >
> >> Agree on the spec, but 48V would destroy many of these Chinese MIDI
> >> devices that omit the opto-isolator =F0=9F=98=84
> >>
> >
> > Yes - the bonus feature.
> >
> > Neil
> >
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> > <div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">Mike Bryant wrote:</div><div class=3D"gma=
> > il_quote gmail_quote_container"><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"=
> > margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-lef=
> > t:1ex"><div class=3D"msg-4663179895464832597">
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > <div dir=3D"ltr">
> > <div style=3D"font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Cali=
> > bri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
> > Agree on the spec, but 48V would destroy many of these Chinese MIDI devices=
> > that omit the opto-isolator
> > <span id=3D"m_-4663179895464832597=F0=9F=98=84">=F0=9F=98=84</span></div></=
> > div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Yes - the bonus feature.</div><d=
> > iv><br></div><div>Neil</div></div></div>
> >
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