iConnectivity iConnectMIDI User manual

Quick Start Guide

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Table of Contents
Overview...............................................................................................................3
What’s in the Box..................................................................................................4
Getting Connected................................................................................................5
What You Can Connect ........................................................................................6
Port Names...........................................................................................................9
MIDI DIN Connections.....................................................................................11
To Send MIDI To iConnectMIDI™ ...............................................................11
To Receive MIDI from iConnectMIDI™........................................................11
Multiple MIDI Devices ..................................................................................12
USB MIDI Connections ...................................................................................12
Mini-USB Connections........................................................................................14
Routing and Filtering...........................................................................................18
PortManager....................................................................................................18
Saving Your Changes..................................................................................20
Mac, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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Overview
iConnectMIDI™ is a versatile and easy to use, next generation MIDI interface
that converges several existing standard connectors in one unit. Now you can
seamlessly connect your MIDI instruments and controllers with your iOS devices
and computers without special drivers and using standard cables.
iConnectMIDI™ is a wired interface to ensure a stable connection between all
your devices and providing reliable MIDI data transport. It is self-powered
(adapter included) and provides useful indicator lights for all ports. A cable that
connects the iOS 30-pin connector to a mini-USB connector is also included
(additional cable for a second iOS device is optional). All other cabling can be
accomplished using standard MIDI cables and USB cables.
The USB-A connector on the front can be connected to a single USB-MIDI
device/controller or a standard USB hub (powered) so that more than one USB-
MIDI device can be used at once. Up to eight (8) controllers can be
simultaneously connected and played with a hub. With two pairs of MIDI DIN
ports on the back, the hub-capable USB-A connector, and two mini-USB
connectors, iConnectMIDI™ can be the central interface for twelve (12) ports of
MIDI. Because MIDI DIN allows for daisy-chaining of instruments through their
built-in MIDI ports, the total number of instruments and controllers can be greater
than twelve.
iConnectMIDI™ lets you take advantage of the vast choice in USB-MIDI
controllers currently available, many of which are highly affordable and portable.
These controllers are also lightweight compared to their traditional counterparts,
which means savings in your shipping and transportation costs, not to mention
savings in back pain!
One unique aspect of iConnectMIDI’s functionality is its ability to allow full
communication between all connected devices. This has been done in the past
with other MIDI interfaces, but it is the first time that standalone direct
communication between USB-MIDI and MIDI-DIN devices has been made
possible. No computer is required for such setups, which greatly increases your
ability to create truly one-of-a-kind rigs.
It is also the first time that a MIDI interface allows direct connection between your
MIDI instruments and controllers to both an iOS device and a computer, taking
advantage of the massive software diversity on three platforms (iOS, Mac®, and
PC). This is truly a revolution in convergent technology, where a rich touchscreen
interface of a handheld device can be coupled with the power of huge memory
and hard drive space of a computer in a dedicated musical context.

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What’s in the Box
Figure 1. iConnectMIDI™ main unit
Figure 2. Power supply Figure 3. International plug adapters
Figure 4. iConnectMIDI™ - iOS cable

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Getting Connected
1. Select the appropriate plug adaptor for your region and attach it to the
power supply at the wall wart end. It should snap into place.
2. Plug the power supply barrel connector into the barrel jack at the rear
panel of iConnectMIDI™.
3. Plug the power supply into the power receptacle. iConnectMIDI™ will
power up by displaying a brief flash of some of the indicator lights,
followed by a constant green light of the power indicator light.
4. You are now ready to connect devices to iConnectMIDI™.

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What You Can Connect
iConnectMIDI™ has three connector types:
•USB-A(frontpanel)
•Mini-USB(frontpanel)
•MIDIDIN(rearpanel)

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These connectors allow for a wide range of devices to be connected to
iConnectMIDI™, including:
USB-A
(front panel)
Mini-USB
(front panel)
MIDI DIN
(rear panel)
•Keyboard controllers
•Drumpad controllers
•Control surfaces
•Synthesizers
•Mixers
•USB hub (powered)
•Mac® computer or
laptop
•PC computer or laptop
•iOS device (iPhone®,
iPod touch®, iPad®)
•Synthesizers
•Synthesizer modules
•Keyboard controllers
•Drumpad controllers
•Control surfaces
•Mixers
•MIDI-enabled guitar
pedals
•Outboard effects units
•Sequencers
•Standalone digital
recorders
•Timecode generators
•MIDI mergers
•MIDI splitters
Endless combinations of instruments and computing devices are possible with
the connectivity options of iConnectMIDI™. All devices can freely talk to one
another with MIDI data.

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Figure 5. iConnectMIDI™ possibilities

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Port Names
When iConnectMIDI™ is used with DAW software on any of the compatible
computing platforms, the list of iConnectMIDI™ ports varies with each platform.
Each platform presents the iConnectMIDI™ port names differently and can lead
to some confusion about which instrument is plugged in to a port.
Refer to the list below to easily identify each of the ports in use and their
corresponding jacks on iConnectMIDI™.
Input Ports
Table 1. Input port names for various platforms
iOS, OSX Windows XP Windows 7 Actual Port Comment
iCM DIN1 USB Audio Device (2) iConnectMIDI MIDI DIN 1 In Rear panel
iCM DIN2 USB Audio Device [2] (2) MIDIIN2 (iConnectMIDI) MIDI DIN 2 In Rear panel
iCM USB D1 USB Audio Device [3] MIDIIN3 (iConnectMIDI) Mini-USB 1 In Front panel, left mini-USB jack
iCM USB D2 USB Audio Device [4] MIDIIN4 (iConnectMIDI) Mini-USB 2 In Front panel, right mini-USB jack
iCM USB H1 USB Audio Device [5] MIDIIN5 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 1 In Front panel USB-A port on
iConnectMIDI if no USB hub
connected; first attached device
with USB hub connected
iCM USB H2 USB Audio Device [6] MIDIIN6 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 2 In With connected USB hub
iCM USB H3 USB Audio Device [7] MIDIIN7 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 3 In With connected USB hub
iCM USB H4 USB Audio Device [8] MIDIIN8 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 4 In With connected USB hub
iCM USB H5 USB Audio Device [9] MIDIIN9 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 5 In With connected USB hub
iCM USB H6 USB Audio Device [10] MIDIIN10 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 6 In With connected USB hub
iCM USB H7 USB Audio Device [11] MIDIIN11 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 7 In With connected USB hub
iCM USB H8 USB Audio Device [12] MIDIIN12 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 8 In With connected USB hub
Output Ports
Table 2. Output port names for various platforms
iOS, OSX Windows XP Windows 7 Actual Port Comment
iCM DIN1 USB Audio Device (2) iConnectMIDI MIDI DIN 1 Out Rear panel
iCM DIN2 USB Audio Device [2] MIDIOUT2 (iConnectMIDI) MIDI DIN 2 Out Rear panel
iCM USB D1 USB Audio Device [3] MIDIOUT3 (iConnectMIDI) Mini-USB 1 Out Front panel, left mini-USB jack
iCM USB D2 USB Audio Device [4] MIDIOUT4 (iConnectMIDI) Mini-USB 2 Out Front panel, right mini-USB jack
iCM USB H1 USB Audio Device [5] MIDIOUT5 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 1 Out Front panel USB-A port on
iConnectMIDI if no USB hub
connected; first attached device
with USB hub connected
iCM USB H2 USB Audio Device [6] MIDIOUT6 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 2 Out With connected USB hub
iCM USB H3 USB Audio Device [7] MIDIOUT7 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 3 Out With connected USB hub
iCM USB H4 USB Audio Device [8] MIDIOUT8 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 4 Out With connected USB hub
iCM USB H5 USB Audio Device [9] MIDIOUT9 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 5 Out With connected USB hub
iCM USB H6 USB Audio Device [10] MIDIOUT10 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 6 Out With connected USB hub
iCM USB H7 USB Audio Device [11] MIDIOUT11 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 7 Out With connected USB hub
iCM USB H8 USB Audio Device [12] MIDIOUT12 (iConnectMIDI) USB-A 8 Out With connected USB hub
Notes:
1. “iCM” is the abbreviation for “iConnectMIDI”

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2. MIDI DIN ports are unidirectional, meaning that a separate cable is need
for each direction of data flow. Connect MIDI cables from a MIDI OUT or
MIDI THRU to a MIDI IN.
3. In Windows XP, if other MIDI interfaces are connected along with
iConnectMIDI™, there may be no distinction in naming of the USB ports
between the interfaces. Thus, some of the names may be duplicates of
names used for iConnectMIDI™ ports.
4. In Windows XP, the default naming for a MIDI port connected through a
USB link is “USB Audio Device”, regardless of whether the actual port is
USB-MIDI or MIDI DIN.
5. Some applications in Windows retrieve the correct names of each
iConnectMIDI™ port.
6. The “D” and “H” designations in iOS and OSX stand for “Device” and
“Host”, signifying USB device ports and USB host ports, respectively.

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MIDI DIN Connections
To connect a device with MIDI DIN connectors, you will need one or more MIDI
cables. A MIDI cable is an inexpensive cable that contains a 5-pin DIN connector
on both ends and is available at most music equipment stores. MIDI cables are
available in various lengths from six inches to 20 feet. Use only the length that
you require as excessive length can introduce some delay in the transport of
MIDI data.
To Send MIDI To iConnectMIDI™
To connect a MIDI device that will send out MIDI data, connect one end of the
MIDI cable to the device’s MIDI OUT port (usually located on its back panel).
Then, with the other end of the MIDI cable, connect it to one of iConnectMIDI’s
MIDI In DIN ports on the rear panel (either pair of MIDI1 or MIDI2). Ensure that
the MIDI device is powered up.
Press a key or button that sends MIDI data on your MIDI-enabled device. Then
look at the indicator lights of iConnectMIDI™. The lights for MIDI DIN input
should light up for each key or button press.
To Receive MIDI from iConnectMIDI™
To connect to a device that will receive MIDI data from iConnectMIDI™, connect
one end of the MIDI cable to either MIDI1 or MIDI2 Out port on the rear panel of
iConnectMIDI™. Connect the other end of the MIDI cable to the MIDI IN jack on
the rear of the MIDI instrument.
Note that iConnectMIDI™ will not be the source of MIDI data. The data will
originate from another device connect to iConnectMIDI™, such as a controller,
synthesizer, or DAW software.

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Multiple MIDI Devices
Most MIDI DIN-equipped instruments can be daisy-chained with other MIDI
instruments. By using a MIDI cable between each instrument so that from one
instrument to the next the cable connects the THRU port of one to the IN port of
the next instrument.
If you need to send MIDI data to iConnectMIDI™, the last instrument in the chain
should have its OUT port connected to iConnectMIDI’s IN port with a MIDI cable.
Each instrument in the chain can be set to its own MIDI channel so that it can be
recognized from the originating MIDI device and specifically sent data. One or
more MIDI instruments can be on the same MIDI channel; this causes all of
those instruments to trigger their sounds simultaneously from a single MIDI event
on the same MIDI channel.
Note that there is a distinction between a MIDI channel and a MIDI port. Each
MIDI port can contain MIDI data for up to 16 channels of MIDI. That means that
iConnectMIDI™ can simultaneously pass 192 channels of MIDI data.
USB MIDI Connections
Figure 6. Hub-capable USB-A jack on front panel
One or more USB MIDI devices can be connected to iConnectMIDI™ via the
USB-A jack on the front panel (see Figure 7). Additionally, this is a hub-capable
jack, allowing you to connect a powered USB hub (sold separately) with which up
to eight (8) MIDI instruments and controllers can be connected to
iConnectMIDI™ simultaneously (see Figure 8).
With this many controllers connected via a USB hub, each device port is given a
unique name. The port names are visible in the computing device’s operating
system or at the software application user interface, with each operating system
using a different naming standard for attached USB MIDI devices. See Table 1

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and Table 2 for listing that compare the names of each port on various operating
systems.
Figure 7. Single USB MIDI device connection to iConnectMIDI™
Figure 8. Multiple USB MIDI devices via a USB hub

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Mini-USB Connections
Figure 9. Mini-USB jacks on the front panel.
Located on the front panel are dual mini-USB jacks (see Figure 9), allowing you
to connect iOS devices (iPhone®, iPod touch®, and iPad®), Mac®, and PC
computers. Any combination of up to two computing devices can be connected to
iConnectMIDI™.
To connect to an iOS device, use the included 30-pin to mini-USB cable. To
connect to a computer, use a USB-A to mini-USB cable.
Figure 10. Dual iPad setup.

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Figure 11. Dual Mac® computer setup.
Figure 12. Mac, PC and Korg nanoKontrol setup.

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Figure 13. PC, iPad and Korg nanoKontrol setup.
Figure 14. Mac, iPad, and Korg nanoKontrol setup.

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Figure 15. Several USB-MIDI controllers with PC and iPad.

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Routing and Filtering
iConnectMIDI™ has powerful routing and filtering features that provide
unprecedented control over the MIDI data flow. With these, you can set how data
is routed between all of the twelve ports and what types of data is seen at each
port.
By default, any MIDI data from an input port is instantaneously replicated to each
of iConnectMIDI’s output ports. For most applications, this behavior is useful.
However, there may be setups that require more specific routing of the MIDI
data.
Similarly, iConnectMIDI™ supports the full specification of MIDI data types.
iConnectMIDI™ has filtering capability for a subset of the most commonly seen
MIDI data, such as Note On, Note Off, pitch bend, and Active Sensing.
The configuration features of iConnectMIDI™ can be accessed using the iOS
app PortManager, available for free download from the Apple App Store.
PortManager
PortManager hierarchically displays the inputs and outputs of iConnectMIDI™,
starting with the input ports, and progressing to the twelve output ports tied to
each input port. With this arrangement, you can determine (using simple
touchscreen gestures) which input port is enabled and which of the output ports
will receive data that has entered a given input port.

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Figure 16. Hierarchical display of inputs to outputs in PortManager.
Figure 17. Input ports list. Figure 18. Output ports list for an input port.
To enable and disable an input or output port, simply touch the line of the desired
port and its checkmark will appear as a solid color (enabled) as or as an outline
(disabled).
Figure 19. Enabled port.
Figure 20. Disabled port.

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For each input and output port, there are filterable parameters corresponding to
specific MIDI event types that can be enabled or disabled for pass through from
input port to output port, again with simple touchscreen gestures.
Figure 21. Filters enabled.
Figure 22. Some filters disabled.
Similarly, enabling or disabling a filter involves simply touching the line of the
desired parameter and its virtual button will appear pressed or unpressed.
Figure 23. Channel pressure filter inactive.
Figure 24. Channel pressure filter active.
Note that the filter for a given parameter is active only if the button for the
parameter is in the “up” position and grey. When the button is in the “down”
position and orange in color, then the MIDI event will not be filtered out and is
allowed to pass from the input port to the output port.
Saving Your Changes
Changes to your iConnectMIDI’s configuration are temporary and can be lost if
the power is disconnected from iConnectMIDI™. To permanently save the