Why we started to develop the MIDI over Bluetooth solution
CME has been the wireless MIDI expert since 2005. Our WIDI (Wireless MIDI) technology already serves thousands professional musicians worldwide. Wherever they are on tour or in the studio. The Xkey Air (bluetooth MIDI controller) is now used by a wide range of producers, musicians, keyboardists and mobile music makers. We kept delivering as technology evolved.
If you are interested you can learn more about our wireless MIDI journey and products here!
We have been working on wireless MIDI solutions for over 15 years now. After we launched the Xkey Air (2015) we received many requests about advanced MIDI connectivity over Bluetooth. The current MIDI over Bluetooth solutions have limitations. They actually only pair your computer with a MIDI controller. That is why we've decided it is time to innovate wireless MIDI.
I think CME WIDI Master can be very successful. If you want to sell it “the traditional way” (distributors and dealers), and you have a pricing for it, I would be very interested in selling it. Quote as received from a renowned distributor of musical instruments
Do you really want MIDI over Bluetooth?
We asked ourselves if we could develop the wireless MIDI adapter that pairs all your MIDI devices. Without a computer. Without MIDI cables. Actually the solution has been right in front of us. Did you know CME is the only company worldwide that has developed the affordable wireless MIDI solutions for both master (WIDI BUD) and slave (Xkey Air)?
Therefore we decided to merge these two technologies. Together with the ongoing development of wireless Bluetooth (BLE) technology, we now can offer the most complete and reliable wireless solution for all your MIDI devices.
Our crowd creation project of WIDI started with WIDI Master back in 2019. If you are interested on how this crowd creation worked, we created this dynamic timeline of the development of WIDI Master.
During the crowd creation of WIDI Master we received requests for solutions for USB MIDI and TRS MIDI. Also, with WIDI Master we found that some connection types will not be able to be part of the WIDI Bluetooth MIDI solution. That is why our next steps are WIDI Jack and WIDI Uhost.
Of course we have more concepts and ideas ready. Wheter or not brought to our attention by our vibrant community of WIDI enthusiasts. Take a closer look at what is happening now and in the future!
As for the absolute latency, moving your head even 1 meter from the speaker adds 3 milliseconds of latency through the air alone. Therewith Bluetooth MIDI and the new WIDI Master do not cause any audible latency issue. They really don’t!
We need your support to expand the WIDI family!
Everybody can come up with great ideas. It is more complex to bring those ideas to the market. Today it is also important the develop not only a sustainable revenue model for the company and its employees, but also for the environment and our customers. In the end we want to deliver innovative products and limit waste against the best retail price you can imagine.
It is important to us to offer you the best price and limit our waste. Furthermore we can deliver WIDI products directly to your doorstep and only manufacture what we really need.
Therefore we kindly request you to keep sharing our message and register to keep track of advanced music technology solutions developed with you by CME.
Are you curious to find out what WIDI can do for you? Read further here!
I know CME has been known for quality for a long time. I’m in.
Thanks for your ongoing support. It is highly appreciated!
I,m still using the Widi x8 System and if the new one will work the same i’m in.
Thanks for your ongoing support. It is highly appreciated!
Hi
I already have The Yamaha midi bluetooth adapter that I plug in to the midi in out ports of my Yamaha keyboard this allows me to connect to my iPad by bluetooth and use The
Igrand app .How is this device any different
Thanks
David
Hi David, if you only use your Yamaha keyboard with iPad, your setup was fine. When you need to use your keyboard to play another hardware synthesizer or sound module directly, the WIDI Master can connect with your Yamaha Bluetooth MIDI Adapter wirelessly as point to point communication.
I have been using WIDI X8 for many years, always want to get an extra pair but impossible to find second handed worldwide, I hope the new WIDI Master could work like the WIDI X8, i.e. one device being master and multiple slaves sync automatically to the master such that I can send MIDI signals to multiple devices from my computer simutaneously.
Thanks for your support! We are trying our best.
I think the product is really cool and would like to get rid of some cables, too, but I am not in a hurry. Best of luck though and thanks a lot for pushing the envelope!
Thanks! We will keep you posted!
Dus als ik er 2 bestel kan ik een akai rm1x en een behringer td 3 verbinden?
In principe kan je WIDI Master op alle MIDI apparaten aansluiten die 3.3v of 5v leveren via een standaard MIDI OUT of THRU port van het apparaat in kwestie. De Akai RM1X is mij niet bekend, wel de Yamaha RM1X. Aangezien beide apparaten een standaard MIDI OUT/THRU lijken te hebben voorzie ik geen problemen. Echter, indien je dit zeker wilt weten dan zou je even in de handleiding moeten checken of de poorten in kwestie daadwerkelijk de standaard 5v (of 3.3v) leveren zodat de WIDI Masters wel stroom krijgen. In principe heb je er dan twee (2x WIDI Master) nodig om de apparaten met elkaar te laten communiceren.
I was hoping i could use a WIDI MAster for a instrument that does not have a MIDI OUT jack… ONLY MIDI IN. It appears however that the bulk of the WIDI Master circuitry is located in the adapter plug that connects to the Midi out jack.
Given the Midi spec does not require a DC power pin asUSB does…. i dont see why i couldn’t just lay that larger MIDI out section outside the instrument unconnected. please let me know and thankd
WIDI Master is powered by the MIDI OUT of the device you attach it too. According to the MIDI specs it is recommended to deliver 3.3v or 5v power through the MIDI OUT. If your device does not deliver such power or you only have MIDI IN, you have two solution.
1) Check out WIDI Jack with USB-C external power option – http://www.cme-pro.com/widi-jack
2) Create a DIY solution as provided through the sketch as to be found on – http://www.cme-pro.com/support
Please note that the smaller sub-connector has no other function then MIDI. All power and Bluetooth technology is situated in the larger main adapter. That is why the main adapter can operate as standalone by detaching the small sub-connector. The small sub-connector will not function without the large main adapter.
Hope this helps!
Will this work with an 80’s vintage Yamaha DX-7?
Yes. As long as there are MIDI ports, there is a WIDI solution: https://www.cme-pro.com/widi-which-device-will-you-connect/