![midi converter midi converter](https://images.juno.co.uk/full/IS564328-01-05-BIG.jpg)
an FTDI cable (USB to Serial cable) - for programming the Arduino.You'll need general soldering tools and supplies of course, as well as some good perfboard (love this stuff). You can do this same project with a regular USB Host Shield and an Arduino Uno - it's less compact but you can skip modding the host in step 2! Arduino USB Host Mini - made by Oleg Mazurov of A note here: The USB Host Mini seems to be getting a bit hard to find - perhaps Oleg is discontinuing them.Here is a list of parts I used in this build: I specifically wanted to control my nice Nord synth with my keytar, which has a little wireless USB receiver. This is true for most keyboard synths (why build a USB host into it?) and for may DIY synths one might build (legacy MIDI is a lot easier to DIY). This is a problem if you want to talk to something that only has a 5-pin jack for MIDI IN. Many newer controllers only have USB, which they use for both power and MIDI. Like rubes, we used to use these clunky 5-pin DIN cables to carry MIDI, but now the slick way to do it is MIDI over USB. MIDI is a protocol that musical instrument controllers like keyboards, keytars, electronic wind instruments, or any old thing can use to talk to devices that produce sound - such as other keyboards with built-in sounds, synthesizers, computers, etc. However, the way I did it is perhaps different enough to be worth sharing, or maybe someone knows a better way to do this now and will school me. I'm not the first to do this - I think it was first hacked by my secret idol, the famous Collin Cunningham, back in 2010.
![midi converter midi converter](https://elevatorsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/mmmidi2.jpg)
![midi converter midi converter](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0902/2828/products/Analogue_Systems_RS-140_MIDI_to_CV_Converter.jpg)
This project allows sending MIDI signals from a USB-only keyboard or controller to a device that only has 5-pin MIDI IN.