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Re:Bespoke Synth 1.0 – open-source software modular synthesizer by strenholme on Tuesday September 14, 2021 @10:12PM (#28534414)
almost all devices offer USB MIDI and its as good as DIN MIDI in almost all scenarios

DAWless setups are definitely a thing, and you need DIN MIDI to connect the keyboard directly to a sound module (USB can only be connected to a computer).

Re:Bespoke Synth 1.0 – open-source software modular synthesizer by PaulDavisThe1st on Tuesday September 14, 2021 @10:50PM (#28534652)
But the setup being described doesn't involve any sound modules, and for general ease of use and extensibility, I would say that at this point USB MIDI probably wins. If you want to go to a sound module of some sort, there are some cheap and reliable USB->DIN MIDI cables available (along with some cheap and totally unreliable ones).
Re:Bespoke Synth 1.0 – open-source software modular synthesizer by strenholme on Tuesday September 14, 2021 @11:26PM (#28534904)
USB → DIN MIDI adapters are expensive, unreliable (they may or may not work, depending on how the MIDI over USB device exactly converts MIDI in to USB), and another moving part to have in a recording studio.

It is a $50-$100 extra investment to get a quality keyboard with DIN MIDI, but those quality keyboards come with better software and have a better build quality to them.

It’s a lot better to spend the extra money up front to get a keyboard with a DIN MIDI connection (e.g. an Arturia Keylab or Novation Launchkey) than to have something which will need a hacked together USB-to-DIN box (and I notice I haven’t seen any names of make and models of MIDI USB to DIN boxes which supposedly will always work) if they ever want to go DAWless.

Re:Bespoke Synth 1.0 – open-source software modular synthesizer by jacquesm on Wednesday September 15, 2021 @06:35AM (#28537450)
I have a bunch of older stuff that only has 5 pin MIDI. The adapter I use is made by Yamaha, it hasn't let me down even once over a year and a half of pretty heavy use.
Re:Bespoke Synth 1.0 – open-source software modular synthesizer by xyzzy123 on Wednesday September 15, 2021 @04:28AM (#28536655)
Retrokits rk006 is amazing for this (usb host mode) -> DIN midi all ways bridging.
Re:Bespoke Synth 1.0 – open-source software modular synthesizer by jsilence on Thursday September 16, 2021 @03:39PM (#28556363)
USB to Midi cables usually still need a computer or a synth with USB host functionality. You can not connect a USB Midi controller to a 5 pin din midi synth.
Re:Bespoke Synth 1.0 – open-source software modular synthesizer by jsilence on Thursday September 16, 2021 @03:37PM (#28556314)
Some synths offer a USB Midi host functionality like the 1010music Blackbox, the Deluge and most of the Raspberry Pi based synths like the Monome Norns.