"CME is proud to announce the WIDI-XU, the world’s first “flash disk-like” wireless MIDI interface. The WIDI-XU is the smallest member of the WIDI family, needing no MIDI IN/OUT port -- just an USB plug. Simply plug it into your computer, to enable wireless Duplex MIDI data transfer with other CME WIDI products. The WIDI-XU is quite compact and cheap, making it a great choice as a wireless MIDI system for computer use. The WIDI-XU even provides one-to-multi communication; one WIDI-XU can connect to many wireless MIDI devices, up to 64 MIDI channels. The WIDI-XU also has the same capability as other larger WIDI products, for example: 80m maximum wireless range, powerful error correction with automatic notes-off and on-line detection etc. Free yourself from the restrictions of the MIDI cable! For a musician, the WIDI-XU should be an indispensable piece of hardware, just like a flash disk. When musicians come together, turn on your WIDI, and start a wireless MIDI party.features
- USB class compliant for Win XP and Mac OS X, supporting hot plug. No driver needed.
- The working band is 2.4GHz ISM.
- USB <--> RF transmission mode.
- Duplex wireless MIDI data transfer.
- Manual switching for one-to-multi communication (auto finding and selecting).
- Low power consumption, high speed, powerful error correction with automatic notes-off and on-line detection.
- Maximum wireless transfer distance is 80m(262 feet) without obstacle.
- 64 radio channels for MIDI data transfer, with manual or automatic radio channel setting mode.
- When connected to computer via USB, this product will be automatically recognized as the “USB Audio Device”, fully support MIDI data stream, compatible with Cakewalk, Sonar, Cubase etc.
- Automatic searching, manual or automatic channel setting and other system function can be controlled by the special MIDI SysEx command from USB.
- Powered and upgrade program via USB.
- Indicator for signal and power.
- U-CTRL ? functions added
specification
- USB port x 1
- Power/Signal LED x 1
- USB bus powered
- USB Class-compliant for WIN XP and Mac OS X
- Dimension (W x D x H)?73 x 23 x 6 mm
- Weight?12g"
I'm curious if you can use the WIDI-X8 hub below in stand alone mode. The idea is you have your synths hooked up to the X8 and the XU hooked up to a tablet.
WIDI-X8 hub"The world’s first duplex Wireless MIDI System
Transmission range up to 80M in environments without obstructions
Low power consumption, high speed, error correction ability
Powered by 2 ‘AA’ size batteries
Built-in USB MIDI interface
specification
- Operates on 2.4GHz ISM license-free band
- Duplex MIDI transportation (MIDI In/Out)
- Up to 64 adapter pairs can be operating at the same time. There are 64 working channels can be selected manually or automatically
- Flexible connection of MIDI and USB ports. Three modes (USB RF / MIDI RF / USB MIDI) can be selected
- Plug-and Play USB MIDI on Windows XP and MAC OSX
- Powered by 2 "AA" size batteries (battery life up to 20 hours) or USB bus-powered"
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ReplyDeleteInteresting. I know Kenton has/had a wireless midi product.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered how the performance of such a system would be given how there is quite a bit of RF interference in my area.
Personally I have no need for this but I really don't understand why people can't get together an make an updated MIDI spec. It really shouldn't be too hard to make it backwards compatible. After all, it is 2009!
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ReplyDeleteM-Audio still makes one:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MidAir.html
And the Kenton is still available.
http://www.kentonuk.com/kenton/wireless_midi.shtml
Thing is, all this stuff is based on the same Atheros or Broadcom RF chips that are used in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfaces. So they share the same crowded ISM band, with Wi-Fi and cordless phones and microwave ovens. And yes, Bluetooth.
MIDI is looking old and tired, isn't it? Well, good luck getting musicians (and their gear makers) to change. Gibson and Yamaha both have proprietary LAN-based interfaces, vastly superior to and faster then MIDI, and capable of being fed over cheap Wi-Fi routers to get wireless capability --- sadly, no other manufacturer is willing to support either design, for fear that their gear won't work with other manufacturers.
Did you know that the 2-prong AC mains power outlet design we use today in the US originated in 1904? The 3-prong version was patented in 1928. It became so entrenched, now we're stuck with it forever.
CV and gate will be with us forever, because it's dead simple and nobody owns it.....