Wireless adapter options to make Midi Pad Controller wireless?

[mikehende]

Hey guys, how you all doing, hope all is well with everyone.

I am making a push now to see if I can finally get the wireless fx option I am seeking. So here's the entire situation. Playing my mp3's on my pc's DJ and other softwares, I am going through Reaper and can trigger the VST fx's plugins [reverbs, delays e.t.c] in Reaper from either my USB Akai MPD 218 MidiPad Controller or wireless via my iPhone using TouchOSC.

The final step now is for me to have a wireless option for a midi Pad controller. So I started looking into all possible wireless adapters. First, I am seeing two types of technology "Bluetooth" and non-bluetooth and wondering which might be better for my application with of course very low latency being the focus.

I can't do line-of-sight as I might be out of the direct range depending on where I should be sitting away from my DJ rig. Distance from right should not be more than 25'.

I would like to use my Akai Midi Pad but that has a Printer type connector from the unit to the pc USB so if I should need to get another Midi controller for connector purposes then I will do so. Regarding having to try another Midi device instead of the Akai I would need a device with at least 3 Rotary knobs to trigger 3 fx on my pc, any thoughts or recommendations please guys?

[kPere]

Oh you got me interested in it. Looked it up quickly, and couldnt find any USB wireless connection possibility. That's actually surprising, give that many tools work by bluetooth or so.

But, there is a problem of powering our MIDI devices, they need some kind of power, suplied by usb or straight from the line. If there is no space for batteries, I guess it becomes more problematic than just sending the MIDI information from the device to computer through wireless protocol.

There are wireless MIDI controllers though. Even cheap ones.

[mikehende]

Thanks, you hit the nail on the head. This is what I had just posted on the CME WIDI Forum short while ago:

Hey guys, I am seeing that different MIDI Controllers have different type connectors, I saw one which has a 5 din connector and another with a square printer type connector.
Like with my Akai MPD218 Midi controller which has that printer type connector, how might I make that wireless please, I mean since it depends on USB connection how can it be powered with any wireless adapter?

[mikehende]

Hmnn, I don't have to use that Akai or any specific controller so maybe I should look around for any possible battery powered midi controller with rotary knobs then seek out whichever wirelesss adapter can work?

[whyterabbyt]

virtualhere on a raspberry pi (or something else), over wifi.

USB device plugs into the pi running virtualhere, the computer connects transparently to the virtualhere version over wifi. no drivers required on the pi.

[mikehende]

The guy on the CME forum replied with:

You will need to add power via an external USB power source, like a power bank or adapter.
WIDI Uhost can split the incoming power and distribute it to your MIDI device if it is bus-powered.
You can check all details in this blog about different ports and WIDI solutions:

https://www.cme-pro.com/widi-which-devi ... u-connect/

but I don't want any clutter, closest thing I am finding is this but issue with that for me is no rotary knobs:



I will look into the Raspberry pi, thanks.

[mikehende]

Guy on the Pi forum said:

Any Pi (1,2,3 or 4) is going to need programming. And unfortunately it uses power whether you are triggering something or not so really needs a USB wall wart.

So the search goes on.

[carrieres]

you can use a USB power bank

[whyterabbyt]

Guy on the Pi forum said:

Any Pi (1,2,3 or 4) is going to need programming. And unfortunately it uses power whether you are triggering something or not so really needs a USB wall wart.

So the search goes on.

the guy on the forum is wrong. virtualhere does not need programming.

[mikehende]

Well, whether or not he should be wrong on this part, I don't think that's the main issue here. Seems to be the power issue is the main hurdle.

[whyterabbyt]

Well, whether or not he should be wrong on this part, I don't think that's the main issue here. Seems to be the power issue is the main hurdle.

well he is wrong, im not suggesting something ive never used.

and since we're talking electronic devices here, yes, they need power.

[NikkiA]

I'd run rtp-midi ('rtpmidid') on a Pi, a pi 0w might even be powerful enough for it. Running the pi from a power bank will be iffy though, they ideally need somewhere around 1.5A.

[mikehende]

I was looking at the midi fighter twister which is exactly what I would like to have just in a battery operated version.

https://www.midifighter.com

I appreciate you guys trying to help [thanks] but I was looking for a ready made item I can purchase. Going the Raspberry route would mean I would need to be both mechanically and technically adept to build a device myself the way I want it. If I should attempt this I might just end up totally frustrating myself so it's a very risky endeavor way I see it.

[whyterabbyt]

But surely the midifighter isnt any more wireless than your Akai is.

[mikehende]

Correct, was just saying I would like a unit like that, same amount of rotary knobs and functions.