How can I run a midi signal for 100 feet or so?

[mwingerski]

I'm about to do some long runs with midi and need to run it about 100 feet from laptop to destination... anybody got any ideas on how to run long midi signals? any particular gear I would need? where i could get cable?

I thought about using a cat5 to USB line from griffin and put my midi interface at the end of it, but those things are about 400 bucks or more... would prefer to find some way of making long midi runs...

Do any of you guys have experience or suggestions with this sort of thing?

[apropos of nothing]

Looks like it is a possibliity according to this:
http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center ... 05/19/2000
Here's another relevant article:
http://www.richmondsounddesign.com/faq.html#midilen

Alternately there is a JL Cooper MIDI relay box that's a couple few hunnerd that'll transmit MIDI signals up to 1000 feet.

Best of luck.

[Milkmansound]

I think OSX Tiger can do midi sync over a wireless network - might that help?

[The Real MC]

It depends on the capacitance/ft spec of your cable. If the cap/ft is low enough you can run extra length MIDI cable, but you'll reach a point where the total capacitance will degrade the MIDI signal such that that MIDI receiving box won't recognize it.

FWIW I used to run MIDI signals over my 150ft ProCo Stagemaster snake with zero problems, but attempting the same trick with chained mic cables didn't work.

[krylenko]

Maybe you could use a MIDI thru box...
My understanding is that they're basically just buffers anyway.

You should be able to get a simple 2-in/2-out thru/merge box for under $50.
Just plug a 50-foot cable into each end and you might be golden.

[Professor]

I've got MIDI lines in the studio that run about 100-125 feet from the keyboards in the live room, to the MIDI jack on the wall panels, up through the conduits to the machine room, and into the MIDI I/O on Protools. The lines in the conduit are just simple twisted pair balanced lines, Canare MR-202 2-channel snakes, and the signals work out fine in either direction with no additional gear.
So I'd just try running the 100' first to see if it works before going on the hunt for gear. If it ends up being troublesome, then look into ways to fix it like the MIDI long-haul converters.

-Jeremy