Midi cable/physical connection question

I'm asking this in Logic Pro (seems logical - it is what I use) but the question is really about physical midi cable connections.


My instruments/hardware with female midi connectors for the most part have that "line up" notch on the outer ring just open - nothing in it. A WX5 wind controller does have a bit of metal that I figure is to keep the connection snug since there could be movement and the cable should be held tighter.


A new adapter cable for an interface that I just received has a metal tab in that "line-up" notch (the one opening other than the 5 din or pin openings), and that metal tab totally prevents a standard midi cord male from fully connecting. It doesn't compress, it doesn't bend... The pins can be lined up, but the metal tab prevents a snug, won't-just-let-go connection from being made. In other words, I cannot push the two connectors fully together.


(this first image from the interwebs shows this new female midi type connector with the metal tab)

(this second image shows the WX5 built-in midi female, which does have some metal, but seems to be just to add a bit of a springy addition to hold the connection snug)


A standard midi cable with males at both end can connect to instruments with zero metal in the "line-up" notch, as well as those of the type shown on the WX5. But not this new metal-tab-filled "line-up" notch as in the first image.


Obviously something I don't know and don't understand is going on here, and thanks in advance to someone who can explain...


Rich Apple

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jan 7, 2023 05:37 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 11, 2023 09:22 PM

Replying to my own question here in case anyone is searching because of the same problem... The answer is that some newer MIDI adapters (and possibly instruments) simply don't work with older MIDI cables. The reason is that older MIDI cables usually had their line-up ridge on the inside of the outer ring start from the very end of the male cable outer ring, or at least beyond where the pins even start.


(old style)


Newer MIDI cables have the ridge more recessed, so a metal tab such as the first image I shared in the original question doesn't block the two connectors connecting.


(new style)



So the solution is to just replace your antiquated MIDI cables as need be...



Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 11, 2023 09:22 PM in response to Rich Apple

Replying to my own question here in case anyone is searching because of the same problem... The answer is that some newer MIDI adapters (and possibly instruments) simply don't work with older MIDI cables. The reason is that older MIDI cables usually had their line-up ridge on the inside of the outer ring start from the very end of the male cable outer ring, or at least beyond where the pins even start.


(old style)


Newer MIDI cables have the ridge more recessed, so a metal tab such as the first image I shared in the original question doesn't block the two connectors connecting.


(new style)



So the solution is to just replace your antiquated MIDI cables as need be...



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Midi cable/physical connection question

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