My MIDI Cables Are NOT Working!

[pjrake]

I recently got the GCX Audio Switcher, along with the Ground Control Pro. I'm using a short 5' MIDI cable I had lying around and it works fine. However, I needed a longer one for gigs, so I ordered a 20' from Sweetwater:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MIDI20/

However, when it arrived I tried it and it did not work. It didn't power my GCPro at all. Defective cable, I thought. So Sweetwater sent me another one. I plugged it in and NOTHING! I plugged my old 5' one and it worked fine! I even had a 3' MIDI cable with similar ends and pins as the pro co cables I ordered from Sweetwater and it worked fine also.

There is no way that they would send me two defective cables. I'm at a loss here, actually. Just re-read the manual and it mentions that the standard 5-pin MIDI cable should have all 5 pins wired (most are). Is this where I'm screwing up? Are the cables I ordered not wired.

Can someone suggest an actual, high quality MIDI cable (at least 20' long) that works fine with both units?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

-PJ

[JohnClark]

You will need to find a cable that is labeled "5 Pin Active", "5 Pin Wired" or "Wired 5 Pin Discrete". Rapco-Horizon, Hosa, Pro Co, and Live Wire each have at least one series of MIDI cables with all 5 pins wired.

Good Luck!

[pjrake]

You will need to find a cable that is labeled "5 Pin Active", "5 Pin Wired" or "Wired 5 Pin Discrete". Rapco-Horizon, Hosa, Pro Co, and Live Wire each have at least one series of MIDI cables with all 5 pins wired.

Good Luck!

Thanks!

I found this one online:

http://www.samash.com/p/Proco_Excelline ... ths_184770#

In the description it says, "all 5 pins connected for sync functions." Is that the same as all 5 pins wired? If so, then I'll order those. Thanks!

-PJ

[JohnClark]

That is exactly what you need!

[Jeff Snipes]

John,

Could you tell me how the PINS should be wired. I have a guy that custom builds my cables for me but the MIDI he just built me isnt working. I was wondering if you could just give me a quick PIN layout that I could pass along to my builder.

Thanks

[JohnClark]

MIDI cables are wired "1 for 1" for lack of a better way to sum it up easily. Basically, the same numbered pins are connected together on each end of the cable. The important part when trying to use the phantom power is that all five pins are wired. MIDI only requires three pins so not all MIDI cables wire the extra two pins.

I hope that helps!