Wireless Midi

[stewkamikaze]

Hi folks, first post.

I’m looking for recommendations for a wireless adapter for my factory fitted Borsini —->> Roland BK-7M.

Googling turns out tons of random results, thought you guys would be the best post of call.


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[adam_squirss]

Hi folks, first post.

I’m looking for recommendations for a wireless adapter for my factory fitted Borsini —->> Roland BK-7M.

Googling turns out tons of random results, thought you guys would be the best post of call.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[adam_squirss]

http://pandamidi.com/midibeam

 

[JerryPH]

OK, we forgot to ask the first and most important question... is this for professional use or for home?

For pro use, you pay our $500-$900 and use the above options, and are happy.

I am a complete amateur.

That means two things:
1. I dont need 100 foot range, I wont cry much if I dont get 100% reliability. If it works within 25 feet, I am good.
2. I dont pump the MIDI pipeline with maximum data throughput. I am sending pretty much only some chord changes and a bit from the right hand... whatever the Roland FR-8X puts out thats all that I will ever need. I do not need to capture 16 channels of full data like if I was needing to send 16 channels of MIDI data from the computer to an arranger.

Ive just put up the initial $58 for 2 sets of Bluetooth wireless MIDI transceivers that come out in May 2020. Regular price is going to be $59 per set. Wireless MIDI for the amateur, at this point looks like its the best solutions for amateurs anywhere on the market as it is made especially for musical instruments, and not your Bluetooth speakers, where latency is not an issue... here it looks like it is quite usable.

Time will tell. Here is the link: https://www.cme-pro.com/widi-master/

 

[JerryPH]

Its not come out yet, so I cannot tell you with any certainly...and unfortunately, during my cancer recovery time, my old iPad finally died, so, after I check these out on the 8X and BK-7m arranger, I will later on have to invest in a nice 12.9" iPad Pro and get in to this setup... then I will be able to tell you.

 

[torch]

Jerry, the WIDI Master will be able to connect your 8x and the BK-7m via Bluetooth. No need for IOS device, computer or any other USB MIDI host device. It's the only one of its kind in the world.

 

[JerryPH]

Yes I know, and if it comes out as advertised, it will be very cool.

That said, once I get that, I know myself, I'll want to connect other things to the setup like an iPad pro for paperless music display and control of the BK-7m and FR-8x as I change from song to song, some wireless BT foot switches and so on.

One step at a time!

 

[stewkamikaze]

Hi guys,

Any indication at all as to when this will roll out? It looks ideal for the job.

I subscribed to their page in case it was numbers based.


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[JerryPH]

The first production will likely go out to the people that supported the project, and that is *tentatively* scheduled for May. With the Covid-19 issue ruling the world, who knows how much of a delay it will cause. I've already placed my order for 2 sets and might add another 2 because of the price.

 

[JerryPH]

Well for $29US each, I ordered 3 kits and we will see. As far as needing an IOS device, its not to control the communication path between 8X and BK, but to be able to reconfigure the UPG, rhythm, etc... both with the simple selection of a PDF sheet.

 

[JerryPH]

I do not think it will replace midi jet...I just have mi.1, one of them went bad, bad cable between them. Yes, Bluetooth LE is for making control changes, etc. wireless. But will experiment on the poly transmission like the Accordion chords On our accordions. This method Risky on a live gig...but may work in home applications...
I keep the Quicco mi.1 plugged into Korg keyboard all the time unless midi connection to accordion. It is flat and out of the way. Same with WIDI.
Time to get your iPad and music scanned before it arrives...will be a great tool...

No thinking needed, it 100% will NOT replace the MidiJet, but then again it doesn't cost $500 a kit, but what it will do is give people a budget solution for conditions where demanding conditions such as distance and interference are extremely minimal.  I'll never need wireless MIDI to extend more than *maybe* 20 feet and 95% of the time, it will be under 10 feet.  I'll not freak if reliability is less than 90%... conditions that I would find completely unacceptable if I had paid the $1500US for 3 kits vs the $90US that I paid for the 3 kits I am getting... but here is the kicker... they are saying that latency is ultra low, they are saying that they can transmit and receive on all 128 channels with 128 sliding variations reliably.  

So, if it does work, it will exceed both my expectations AND my needs.  If it doesn't... it will at least meet some of my needs and I am not going to feel any buyer's remorse over the loss of $90... but I would be pissed as heck if I paid $1500 and those 3 kits *didn't* work to absolute perfection under the most demanding of conditions and distances. 

 

[torch]

Set to receive bass chords channel 3. Working great! As I Monitored midi signals, the Korg is only receiving Bass chord information, nothing else. 

Chord recognition only one MIDI channel?   I think your Korg arranger is a lot more capable than that.   How do you play such chords as CM7 and Am7?

 

[torch]

Set to receive bass chords channel 3. Working great! As I Monitored midi signals, the Korg is only receiving Bass chord information, nothing else. 

Chord recognition only one MIDI channel?   I think your Korg arranger is a lot more capable than that.   How do you play such chords as CM7 and Am7?

Use the chord rows on the accordion Minor, dim, 7th etc...do same on Bk-7m...follows my command...! Bass rows on accordion, not transmitting from accordion. Have the midi off on that channel on accordion.

If a person needs the arranger to play more complex chords, two channels can be combined to spell out chords such as C Major 7, Dm7 and so forth.

 

[JerryPH]

My wireless Bluetooth MIDI has come in, I was one of the first to get it... I'll do some tests and demos this weekend.

 

[torch]

Mine worked right out of the box after it paired automatically with the mi.1 on the FR4x. Pretty neat. If I remember it correctly, only the FR4x and FR8x among Roland's digital accordions will power this type of MIDI device. Incidentally, the WIDI Master was powered by the Ketron SD4 module at first but not afterwards. There's is nothing wrong with any of my four Widi Masters. The Ketron Sd1000 MIDI Thru, SD40 arranger and other MIDI devices power them on just fine. I have no idea as to why the SD4 would power it the first but not so afterwards. I didn't change the power supply or anything. There are workarounds but it is kind of annoying, and I am curious. I'm working with the manufacturer to find out why.

 

[torch]

You will like them. Hopefully, all your midi devices will power the WM. I did more tests. The V3 Sound Desktop Arranger will power it from its MIDI Out and MIDI Thru, but the Triangle Module won't... All my Yamaha, Roland, Korg, some other devices power the WM.