A Guide to MIDI Cables: 5-pin DIN vs. TRS Type A/BUpdated 8 hours ago

When connecting to gear that uses 3.5mm TRS jacks for MIDI, it's crucial to know that there are two different, incompatible standards: Type A and Type B.

• The Difference: The two types simply swap the wiring for the tip and the ring on the 3.5mm plug. If you use the wrong type, the connection will not work.

• Which Type Does Orchid Use? Orchid uses the 5-pin DIN standard for its MIDI Out port.

• Common Problem: A user trying to connect Orchid to an Arturia MicroFreak found their 5-pin-to-TRS cable didn't work. This is because Arturia products often use the Type B standard.

• Solution:

  1. Check the manual for your external synth to see if it requires Type A or Type B.

  2. Use the specific 5-pin-to-TRS adapter that came with your device (like the ones included with Arturia products).

  3. Purchase a universal adapter, like the Retrokits RK-TRS-X, which has a switch to toggle between Type A and Type B polarity.