DIY Midi Cables

Found it hard to find a decent DIY guide to midi cables on the Net, so here we go!

Parts list:

2x 5 pin din connectors $1 AUD

any size of 2 core shielded Cable

solder

Tools:

Wire cutters

Soldering iron

Get that stuff, and your good to go!

righto, so the 5 pin din, obviously, has 5 pins, but only 3 of these are used for a midi connection.

pin 2, 4 and 5

these pins contain, a gound (shield), Current (reference voltage) and the Signal

the below diagram shows from inside the midi connector.

Step 1: get your wire and strip back the outer plastic to reveal your 2 core wires and your shield surrounding these.

Step 2: Next open up your 5 Pin Din connector, the short part of the pins will be where you solder your wires

Step 3: take the black plastic surrounds of the connector and put the wire through it BEFORE YOU SOLDER ANYTHING!!

Step 4: Tint the Wires and the pins that you are connecting on the Din connector, this will let your easily solder your connections

Step 5: Solder your cables to the appropriate pins on each end of your cable, use a multi meter to check these.

Step 6: re assemble your Din connector around the cable

Step 7: Connect your midi device and away you go!

Midi connectors are most likely the simplest data cables to make, but it can get a bit fiddly, so i suggest a desk top vice!

here's where you can get your bits.

Midi Connectors

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PP0304&CATID=35&form=CAT&SUBCATID=618

Cable

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=WB1506&CATID=22&form=CAT&SUBCATID=543

These are the Australian prices, but i have put them up for you to source from where ever you like this site IS international.

Cheers!