Booster Midi

!! To be placed at the beginning of the transmission chain !!

Long-distance message transmission

A MIDI booster allows you to transmit MIDI messages over a much greater distance than with a standard cable. It amplifies the signal and prevents data loss. While it's generally recommended not to exceed 15 meters for a MIDI cable, this distance can be extended to around 20 meters in the absence of interference, the booster allows you to reach cable lengths of up to 100 meters.

The extension can be achieved with MIDI cable, but it's convenient to take advantage of the widely available XLR cabling, often found in theaters, performance venues, concert halls, and other spaces with separate control rooms. Pre-wired XLR connectors are fully compatible with MIDI transmission. The booster is available in several versions to maximize practicality depending on the equipment and cabling already present at the point of use:

• Booster Midi (5-pin female DIN) to XLR (3-pin female)
• Booster Midi (5-pin female DIN) to XLR (3-pin male)
• XLR to Midi adapters available upon request.
• Booster Midi (5-pin female DIN) to Midi (5-pin female DIN): older version

Our Midi booster is therefore easily compatible with the standard connections of performance venues.

Connectors and fixings

• 1 MIDI IN port for receiving messages to be sent;
• 1 XLR Out port for sending amplified messages via a long cable;
• 1 power connector, 2-way terminal block;
• Power indicator LED;
• Send indicator LED on output.

Protection

The booster is shipped in a protective heat-shrinked wrap. You can protect it yourself in a small plastic box (like a Tupperware container, for example) by simply drilling holes for the cables.

Midi to XLR male version, example in a repainted case.

Technical specifications and precautions

• 8-14V AC or DC power supply.
• The optocouplers used are of very high quality, ensuring no MIDI signal distortion and a good transmission range.
• The power supply (AC adapter) is included.
• The unenclosed version is protected by heat-shrink tubing.
• It is unnecessary to add another booster to the cable input, as is sometimes the case with other models: this module is designed to operate ALONE, upstream of the cable.
• DO NOT use the Booster by connecting its output (MIDI Out) to a non-compliant MIDI device, especially self-powered MIDI devices.
• NEVER CONNECT A SELF-POWERED MIDI DEVICE TO THE BOOSTER'S OUTPUT. Risk of damaging the device.
• The booster's MIDI input, however, can receive messages from any device.
• The booster does not introduce any perceptible latency.

Additional MIDI - XLR connectivity

Depending on the available cables, it may be useful to have adapters for MIDI DIN, XLR male or XLR female plugs.

MIDI to XLR Adapter

= Small board with two connectors + connected to a 60 cm MIDI cable.
- 5-pin male DIN MIDI connector
- 3-way male or female XLR (DMX) connector (Neutrix)

Available here.

Example connection:

MIDI Output
-- MIDI cable --> MIDI Booster / Male XLR
-- Female XLR / Male cable -->
-- Female XLR / MIDI Adapter -->
Remote MIDI Input

For other types of XLR connectors, see the pages.

Programming

No specific drivers are required; the booster is transparent to the user.

To test its functionality, simply connect its output to a MIDI input to verify that the sent messages are received in real time.