Making MIDI patch cables – MYSELF

hotpickups

I fancy having a go at making a couple myself. Not too long but long enough to connect my Strymons and MIDI controller together etc. So maybe a foot or more. 

Is this a big job and where can I get the parts etc? I would like to use a right angled MIDI jack to save space so can anyone suggest where I can get a good quality Jack and suitable cable from? Just thought I'd point out that the only soldering I've done was for my patch cables so if this is a big job then I'll think I'd rather buy some ready mades

Cacofonix

It's easy enough.

Maplin will have all the parts, although perhaps not a right-angled jack.  You might have to make do with an over-cored cable from Maplin.

There are bound to be cable suppliers out there that do proper midi cable though.

Make sure the soldering iron gets hot though, and melts the solder quickly, as otherwise you'll end up melting the plastic holding the pins to the MIDI plug base, and have wonky pins.  This is a real risk and can be a pain to put right - because you then need to heat the pin enough to melt the plastic again to push the pin back into alignment, at which point the solder melts and the wire comes off again.  A merry jape, the first four times.

octatonic

Here is a hint for long cable runs if you only need 3 pins (i.e. no phantom power).

Make a few cables that are midi at one end and XLR at the other.

You can then use long XLR cables as extenders if required.

For materials- Studiospares.

Maplins only have shite.

hotpickups

octatonic said:

Here is a hint for long cable runs if you only need 3 pins (i.e. no phantom power).

Make a few cables that are midi at one end and XLR at the other.

You can then use long XLR cables as extenders if required.

For materials- Studiospares.

Maplins only have shite.

Yes I do fear the same thing with marlins. Unfortunately Studio spares don't do the right angled MIDI jacks it seems

octatonic

Give them a call- they might not have them in stock.

I have definitely bought them from there in the past.

I don't know if Jazzyjefferson has made it to the new forum but he works there, or at least he did a year or so ago.

johnnyurq

These guys are one of the few that do angled MIDI jack cables, not too sure who they het the jacks from though for a home brew cable.

http://www.hosatech.com/products/340098/Right-angle_5-pin_DIN_to_Same

Mouser UK or Rapid Electronics may have them, or even Farnell CPC.

Van_Hayden

These are the best if the pin orientation suits.

https://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=3083&cat=139&page=1

The Deltron stuff is ok

http://cpc.farnell.com/deltron/620-0510/din-plug-90deg-5p-240deg/dp/AV12826

I hate working on the cheap plastic ones.

hotpickups

Nearly £12 each

Van_Hayden;176874" said:

These are the best if the pin orientation suits.

https://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=3083&cat=139&page=1

The Deltron stuff is ok

http://cpc.farnell.com/deltron/620-0510/din-plug-90deg-5p-240deg/dp/AV12826

I hate working on the cheap plastic ones.

ecc83

An excellent cable for MIDI (and audio in general) is Belden V 9534. It is a network cable, foil shielded with a drain wire and 2 twisted pairs and very easy strip/solder. Overall diameter is only about 4mm so it is very flexible despite being a foil. You might as well connect all the pins.

Dins are fiddly so set a socket in a wee swivel vice to plug them into and use some silicone sleeving on each wire to prevent "whisker" shorts. The cord clamp is pretty crap on most DINs as well, I beef it up with a cm or so of heat shrink.

MIDI cable does not have an "impedance" as such so the cable type does not matter. I have sent MIDI down 40mtrs of unshielded CAT5 without problems.

Dave.

Van_Hayden

hotpickups;176911" said:

Nearly £12 each

[quote="Van_Hayden;176874"]These are the best if the pin orientation suits.

https://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=3083&cat=139&page=1

The Deltron stuff is ok

http://cpc.farnell.com/deltron/620-0510/din-plug-90deg-5p-240deg/dp/AV12826

I hate working on the cheap plastic ones.

[/quote]

Yeah - depends who's paying, I used them at my former place of employment where cost didn't matter that much....They're easier to work with! Plastic din plugs are the work of satan. At least you only need 3 pins.

spacecadet

I needed the same thing and made some. They worked but were a twat to make. I got the plugs from Maplins. They were right angle and you can change the orientation of the plugs which is what I wanted. Only about 2 quid each but they are plastic and rubbish to work on. I used some mic cable cut off and all worked fine.

hotpickups

spacecadet said:

I needed the same thing and made some. They worked but were a twat to make. I got the plugs from Maplins. They were right angle and you can change the orientation of the plugs which is what I wanted. Only about 2 quid each but they are plastic and rubbish to work on. I used some mic cable cut off and all worked fine.

Hmmm. I may go for the metal ones then although they are expensive. Get what you pay for I guess

Van_Hayden

Deltron are fine!

hotpickups

Van_Hayden said:

Deltron are fine!

Thanks 

hotpickups

Just out of interest there is no way I could ever damage a pedal if I wired the patch cable incorrectly is there?

ChrisMusic

+1 to ecc83's advice.  Clamping a socket and putting your plug into that not only holds it firm while you solder it (just like having an extra hand), if the plastic overheats a bit then it keeps the pins in position till it sets again (better to solder quickly, decisively, but well with a clean, tinned and hot iron), and it acts as a small heat sink to reduce the risk of that happening.

edit: Sleeving cable joins is always worthwhile, if a little fiddly, for extended reliability.  As is adding strain relief.

Those Deltron plugs look pretty long to me, especially if space is at a premium, maybe worth checking before you order.