VOGONS


First post, by bionicle_159

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I've purchased an old 2006 X-Fi with the classic Soundblaster front panel and of course straight after LGR posted a video on it - pointing out the proprietary mini-din connector for MIDI devices!
I would really appreciate someone to do a simple write-up of the pin-out as this would save myself a big headache with dealing with eBay sellers, as the prices for the adaptor cables are annoyingly high on eBay UK for what is essentially a simple wire conversion.

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Reply 1 of 18, by Salient

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I measured my own cable and came up with this:

Male mini DIN:
SB%20X-Fi%20MIDI%20Pinout%20-%20miniDIN%20%28Male%29.jpg

Female DIN end:
SB%20X-Fi%20MIDI%20Pinout%20-%20DIN%20%28Female%29.jpg

I only use the MIDI out of my X-Fi so I am not totally sure if the other conversion cable could be different but as I recall it, they are both the same and not specifically labeled for MIIDI IN or MIDI OUT.

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Reply 2 of 18, by bionicle_159

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so are the blank pins ground?

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Reply 3 of 18, by Salient

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bionicle_159 wrote:

so are the blank pins ground?

Blank pins are not connected anywhere.

MIDI comparison website: << Wavetable.nl >>
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Reply 4 of 18, by bionicle_159

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Thanks for clearing that up for me, I knew I could count on VOGONS for support! I'm sure this will help a lot of people who are bound to run into the same issue. I'll order the connectors in the next few weeks, perhaps in the future I might design a low-profile 3D printed block adapter that simply plugs into the recessed area of the front panel MIDI port.

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Reply 5 of 18, by bionicle_159

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*This may come across a bit daft but what is the blue section for? I was under the impression that the notch was just for lining up the connector, not having any electrical relevance.

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Reply 6 of 18, by Kamerat

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bionicle_159 wrote:

*This may come across a bit daft but what is the blue section for? I was under the impression that the notch was just for lining up the connector, not having any electrical relevance.

Usually that's connected to the cable shielding.

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Reply 7 of 18, by Tiido

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Shields and grounds are to be connected only on one end (one connecting to MIDI out) on the MIDI cables to prevent ground loops from happening.

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Reply 9 of 18, by bionicle_159

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OldDog_Rigo wrote on 2020-10-05, 05:40:

Hi there, just wondering if there was any chance i could get those mini MIDI to Standard MIDI drawings? I also have the front panel inputs but no cables.

Thanks.

Couldn't find a web archive, but here's a link to a manufacturer, not had any luck in getting replies though.

https://m.alibaba.com/product/60697438789/lin … .b1b748dahuD3ZT

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Reply 10 of 18, by Srandista

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OldDog_Rigo wrote on 2020-10-05, 05:40:

Hi there, just wondering if there was any chance i could get those mini MIDI to Standard MIDI drawings? I also have the front panel inputs but no cables.

Thanks.

Here you go:
Male mini DIN:

SB X-Fi MIDI Pinout - miniDIN (Male).jpg
Filename
SB X-Fi MIDI Pinout - miniDIN (Male).jpg
File size
36.32 KiB
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1993 views
File license
Public domain

Female DIN end:

SB X-Fi MIDI Pinout - DIN (Female).jpg
Filename
SB X-Fi MIDI Pinout - DIN (Female).jpg
File size
36.86 KiB
Views
1993 views
File license
Public domain

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Reply 11 of 18, by bionicle_159

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Srandista wrote on 2021-02-07, 21:19:

Here you go:
Male mini DIN:
SB X-Fi MIDI Pinout - miniDIN (Male).jpg
Female DIN end:
SB X-Fi MIDI Pinout - DIN (Female).jpg
[/quote]

Thanks for finding an archive of the images, shame I didn't see this earlier.

I found a couple more online related to this, including one from an old topic Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 40-Pin Header (cached version = https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/9PqgW … XODl6EkFtuX85FA) and http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2010/

Hopefully these links will help if the Vogons images go missing again

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Reply 12 of 18, by SScorpio

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Here's another link, not that the view of the mini DIN is from the perspective of the Live Drive, so it's flipped from the other images.

https://pinouts.ru/Audio-Video-Hardware/minid … in_pinout.shtml

Reply 13 of 18, by bionicle_159

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SScorpio wrote on 2021-02-08, 22:40:

Here's another link, not that the view of the mini DIN is from the perspective of the Live Drive, so it's flipped from the other images.

https://pinouts.ru/Audio-Video-Hardware/minid … in_pinout.shtml

Thanks for helping out!

(I wish there was an upvote option, don't want to spam the forum - this old thread has enough replies from me 🤣)

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Reply 14 of 18, by fsmith2003

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Has anyone successfully made one of these adapters? Hoping to make one myself but I’m not experienced in what materials I need to buy to make it happen?

Reply 15 of 18, by SScorpio

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fsmith2003 wrote on 2021-10-11, 13:48:

Has anyone successfully made one of these adapters? Hoping to make one myself but I’m not experienced in what materials I need to buy to make it happen?

You need a 5 pin male mini din, and a 5 pin female din ends, along with at least a three-wire cable. You'll need to solder the wires to the connectors.

I recommend Aliexpress or another site for the cheapest price on the connectors if you don't mind waiting, just be sure to order a few in case you mess anything up. You are working with a small contact points in the mini din plug.

Reply 18 of 18, by aureal

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That extra pin shouldnt be a problem because the extra stuff on the male end can be ripped out but I just checked the wiring... it doesnt match up with the midi-mini midi adaptor so it would still require rewiring the cable.