Hi, I want to connect my tracker to an empress zoia and I wonder if all I need is a trs 3.5mm cable of audio or it’s a specific trs cable for midi.
I have midi jack cables and I know how to connect via midi but I would like to know about a single trs cable without adapters. Thanks!
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ZOIA is MIDI TRS A and Tracker is TRS B so a 3.5mm cable wouldn’t work between these 2 devices. TRS A sends MIDI info on the ring of the TRS cable and receives it on the tip and TRS - B is the inverse.
So TRS B devices will talk to each other with a 3.5mm TRS cable only if they are both TRS B.
So you would either need to use the MIDI dongles with a DIN MIDI cable between the two or you could use something like this - https://retrokits.com/shop/trsabdongle/
Or you could make your own 3.5mm TRS A to TRS B cable by switching the ring and tip connections on once side if you are handy with a soldering iron. I don’t know anyone that sells these types of 3.5mm cables.
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Thanks a lot. You have clarified my ideas. If, for example, Zoia were MIDI TRS B type… Could a normal TRS audio cable be used?.. I’ve always called them, I don’t know if wrongly, stereo cables…
Yes if they were both Type B it would work, for example I have a 3.5mm stereo cable from the Play MIDI output to the Tracker right now. TRS A and B are important for the DIN midi adapter but any stereo cable would work with two TRS A or two TRS B devices.
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Thank you very much for the answer
No problem, it can be a confusing subject so happy to answer any other questions on it!
Thank heavens for this thread. It helped me solve a problem where I wasn’t using the bundled MIDI adapter that came with my tracker. Little did I know that there is a type A and B!!
Retrokits sells a TRS A-> B dongle here:
Useful to have a cleaner connection directly between a TRS-B device to a TRS-A device!
Another useful resource: https://minimidi.world/
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The TRS A / TRS B situation is a farce, I cannot believe it!
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Polarnoise also sell an A/B adapter. Super handy and has saved me on more than one occasion
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This looks interesting too but obviously more expensive and used as a midi host - https://intech.studio/gb/shop/knot/
Behringer are also bringing out a midi host called Go - https://youtu.be/auLg8JLtOM0?si=HV_nOvGXVXNjZ15Y
It’s completely rock solid using the heatshrink stuff. I use little sections of really thin heatshrink for the two internal spliced wires and a section of thicker heatshrink for the outside. This stuff really locks everything in place super strong. I’ve even done gigs with this cable (albeit very small café gigs…).
Could do but that’s a total OCD trigger lol!
Just buy a spare cable and a pack of 3.5 plugs. Solder yourself and there’s no joint in the middle. Looks like bought, just dont forget to color code the cable because of the reversed polarity
For everything trs to din5 i just buy the befaco ones. Cheap, very good and midi a / b options.
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