WIDI Jack: The wireless Bluetooth MIDI interface
With WIDI Jack you connect all your MIDI devices - without wires - with Bluetooth MIDI. Therewith WIDI Jack fulfils a universal role in MIDI communication. This means it automatically switches between the central and peripheral role. In addition it is bi-directional. You can sent from and towards the connected MIDI device simultaneously.
For instance, you can connect two standalone MIDI hardware devices by using two (2) WIDI Jacks or a mixture with WIDI Master. Furthermore, you can pair your Bluetooth MIDI controller with any standalone MIDI hardware device using one (1) WIDI Jack. Also, you can play your standalone MIDI hardware with any iOS device or Mac by using one (1) WIDI Jack.
What is so special about WIDI?
With WIDI Jack we offer you a complete solution that will save you time and expands your opportunities with MIDI. For instance, you can pair your MIDI devices automatically. Also, we have built a secure connection implementing the Bluetooth MIDI standards as approved by the MIDI association. Furthermore you can fully enjoy the freedom of Bluetooth MIDI both on stage as well as in the studio!
Just get rid of those cables!
These bullet points distinguish WIDI Jack and the entire WIDI family from any other Bluetooth MIDI adapter currently on the market. In short we call this Smart Connectivity Algorithms or SCA!
Smart Connectivity Algorithms (SCA)
- Dual Role Automation - WIDI Jack fulfils a universal role in MIDI communication. This means it automatically switches between the central and peripheral role. In addition it is bi-directional. You can sent from and towards the connected MIDI instrument simultaneously with WIDI Jack.
- Automatic Pairing Mode - WIDI Jack automatically pairs with any other WIDI family member. And with any Bluetooth MIDI equipped device like your mobile device, laptop or Bluetooth MIDI controller.
- Smart Hub Functionality - WIDI Jack is in essence a point-to-point solution. With today's Bluetooth technology it is possible to connect multiple WIDI products to one WIDI Jack. This way you can connect one-to-multiple.
- Latency Reduction Optimization - WIDI Jack implements a unique protocol to reduce latency in any given situation. Therewith we can reduce latency to 3ms between two WIDI products.
- Range Performance Optimization - WIDI Jack offers a smart algorithm that negotiates the best performance with any given distance. Therewith you are assured of the best performance covering a reach of 20m (65ft) inside without obstacles and even more outside.
To get more insights in the capabilities and technical details of WIDI, we recommend to read this blog carefully as a starting point!
How will Bluetooth MIDI and WIDI work for Windows and Android?
Bluetooth MIDI has originally been developed by Apple. Therefore you will encounter no complexity while working with WIDI on Apple products. In addition, for Windows and Android users, you can use the next member of the WIDI family to arrive: WIDI UHost!
WIDI UHost is the Bluetooth MIDI solution for USB MIDI. More about that later!
On Windows PC Bluetooth MIDI requires your music software to implement Microsoft’s new UWP API which includes the BLUETOOTH MIDI class compliant driver. You need to be able to set that functionality in the software you use.
- You can use a virtual MIDI driver or Korg's BLE MIDI driver.
- Or purchase our previous WIDI BUD
- You can also wait for our new WIDI Uhost
How many WIDI Jacks do you need?
In short WIDI Jack offers a reliable low latency solution for three specific use cases:
- MIDI to MIDI: You can pair two standalone MIDI hardware devices by using a direct connection between two (2) WIDI Jacks.
- Bluetooth (BLE) to MIDI: You can connect your Bluetooth MIDI controller with any standalone MIDI hardware device by using one (1) WIDI Jack that connects with your Bluetooth MIDI controller or similar device.
- MacOS/iOS BLE to MIDI: You can play your standalone MIDI hardware (automatic switch to WIDI slave mode) and pair it with your iOS device or Mac. For Windows and Android we suggest to use with our WIDI BUD or our future WIDI Uhost by paring it with one (1) WIDI Jack.
Tom White – Former President of MMA
Bluetooth MIDI is the industry standard from the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) for wireless MIDI connections, and the CME WIDI Master is the first Bluetooth MIDI adapter that can perform as both a “peripheral” or “central” device, allowing fast, low-latency, and stable point-to-point wireless connections between any two devices. This opens new possibilities for all musicians and gives them more freedom in the studio and on the stage.”
MIDI Manufacturers Association (June, 2020)
I have been following CME for sometime, since I got the Xkey keyboard. I have been an amateur musician for many years. I always hated how cables get tangled, fail, have reliability issues. So when I saw the WIDI master, i knew I had to get me some. Currently waiting for delivery with baited breath. I now have the Xkey Air and several old MIDI keyboards I still love to play as you cannot beat some of the sound banks available from the synth era. I still drag out my DX7 and M1 for playing my fave 80’s tunes.
So I am extremely happy to continue to support CME with their next projects with the WIDI jack and WIDI uhost being next on my shopping list. It would be great to see details on max number of devices that can be paired and controlled via Mac/PC and the product mix. I am looking to take some of my local projects wireless, the school band, and theater company were I volunteer.
CME keep up the great work.
Thank you so much for your kind and trusting words. I absolutely adore the sound of the DX7!! We will provide more details about connectivity while we develop the app to control and manage it. Also we are working on the one-to-multiple feature we refer too as “smart hub functionality”. We will keep you posted on the progress through our channels!
1) Widi needs an iOS app, for updating firmware and for setup/connection of multiple devices.
2) an iPad should be able to connect with multiple widi’s, route midi between two or more jacks. Imagine an iPad sending Midi program change messages to one hardware synth, and the widi connected on that hardware synth should also be able to control another hardware synth.
Thanks for your reply. You are totally right. We are working on the apps in phases. We released to. early Android. app due. to. un expected behaviour. we needed to solve immediately. We are now working on the iOS app and after this on the Windows and MacOS tools. The tool will be expended with the one-to-multiple feature as you suggested, naming the different WIDI devices, controlling more complex setups and pairing memory. It will only take time before we get there.
I have a few Midi devices that I want to consider using with your new devices, but currently I don’t have much Midi experience.
I have the Behringer X-Touch Mini (Mini USB Connector), AKAI MPK Mini MKII (Type B USB Connector) which both use USB Host for Midi, and the Behringer FCB1010 Midi Foot Controller (5 PIN DIN) which I would like to consider adding the WIDI capability to.
Will there be suitable connectors to connect all these different connection options?
HI Andy,
Thanks for reaching out to us. WIDI Jack will be suitable for the Behringer FCB1010. That said, another solution would be our already available WIDI Master. It is especially designed for 5-PIN (standard) MIDI DIN connectors: https://www.cme-pro.com/widi-master
For USB solutions the WIDI Jack is not suitable. Therefore we are working on another project that solely focusses on USB MIDI + Bluetooh MIDI. It is called WIDI Uhost and you can register for more info: https://www.cme-pro.com/widi-uhost
I hope this helps!
Thomas
J’ai deux WIDI Master, l’un branché sur mon AKAI EWI400S, l’autre couplé sur Ketron SD4 et Roland SonicCell. Je voudrais couplé mon piano numérique Technics 4prise midi 8 broches) et ma console aMAudio Projectmix I/O. Ce qui me permettrait de supprimer tous ces câbles midi et USB. Merci
Bonjour, my French is not that good. Nor do I understand your specific request using Google Translate. We have a French team member which I can connect with you to answer your question. I will connect you by email.
Greetings, the main differences between all three widi devices are just the physical connections? There’s 5 pin midi, mini din, and usb ?
Indeed. The WIDI Technology is the same!
WIDI Master = 5-PIN MIDI DIN
WIID Jack = MIDI cable options (TRS, MINI-DIN or DIN) + external power supply option
WIDI Uhost = USB MIDI
Hello All,
I have two WIDI Master units and love them. After tinkering with different gear and coming up with different solutions for people looking to power their WIDI Master, would prefer if the 2.5mm cable was detachable from the WIDI Master’s sub-adapter – like a 2.5mm female to 2.5mm female. Now looking at the upcoming WIDI Jack system and see that I’d be able to make any cables I need, with respective plugs to match up to the WIDI Master to obtain power, send/receive data, etc. Going forward, should people simply order the WIDI Jack setup due to the added flexibility?
Hi Jaime, that depends on what people want. Different person, different preferences. Some people just need the 5-PIN MIDI DIN solution from WIDI Master and just want it to fit in the MIDI socket of their device. Others love that detachable design to use only the main connector for MIDI OUT.
WIDI Jack is a wider solution. It offers cable options. Therewith, in theory, we broaden the Bluetooth MIDI application to a wider variety of solutions. The other side is, that it is more like a tiny interface and not like an adapter. That said, the WIDI technology is the same.
If you want a solution for devices that are not powering up WIDI Master, WIDI Jack is your solution.
Can the hOst have a powered usb hub attached, and have multiple usb midi devices connected through the hub?
When connected via a USB hub, WIDI Uhost can only operate as a USB device, not as a host. So, it will be impossible to connect multiple other USB devices to a USB device, it will need to operate as a USB host.
Keep in mind that a USB hub is not a MIDI interface.