The Yamaha MD-BT01 is Bluetooth MIDI adapter that allows you to wirelessly connect to midi gear via the old school 5-Pin DIN midi connectors. So for example you can hook this up to a Yamaha DX7 and use it as a MIDI controller and a sound module. It's a pretty nifty and convenient little device and since it sips its power from the midi connection itself, there really are no wires required. Keep in mind that that some MIDI devices don't provide power and these won't work with the MB-BT01.

It's made to work with Mac and iOS devices and that's what I used for this review. Windows and Android users have been able to get it working too but its not officially supported by Yamaha and seems a little hit and miss. The adapter uses the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) MIDI standard which was released by Apple in 2015.

You connect the MD-BT01 to the MIDI IN and OUT of your MIDI gear. There are directional arrows to indicate which of the two connector ports connects to which but for those who've connected MIDI gear before they really don't help much since usually the MIDI IN connects to the MIDI OUT on the other side. That's not the case here as the brief 'manual' does point out so the 'in' arrow does actually go to the MIDI IN and so forth. Once your connected and switch your MIDI gear on the light should flash and you're ready to connect.

An important point to make here is that BLE MIDI is NOT the same as 'classic' Bluetooth that you would normally use for music playback. You can see some frustrated users leaving negative reviews because they didn't realize this. Yamaha don't really make this as clear as they should in their very brief instruction 'manual' either but it is there. Instead of looking to make a Bluetooth connection in the usual place you need to use the 'Audio MIDI Setup' app on macOS or on iOS you need to load up a compatible app to get the connection going. There are a lot of compatible apps in iOS including Garageband and even a dedicated third party connection app called 'midimittr' that is well regarded for connecting.

Yamaha MD-BT01 connected to a Boss SY1000 Pedal for use with the a Looper app

I connected a number of my MIDI devices with the unit and they all connected reliably and worked well. My trusty old Ensoniq SQ-80's polyphonic aftertouch flowed through perfectly to apps that can use it like Moog's Animoog Z. The weighted digital piano came through on Garageband quite smoothly and I struggled to tell whether any latency was due to unfamiliar resistance of the keys or BLE MIDI. Even a multieffects pedal worked for controlling the 'Loopy' app. It also works well for transmitting MIDI 'system exclusive' messages which is often something that can trip up MIDI adapters.

Some people have reported issues with 'jitter' - random small changes in latency. In practice I haven't experienced this as an issue and most owners don't have problems. However if you're an especially precise player or looking to use this for percussion then it could be a good idea to trial BLE MIDI before committing your entire setup to it.

Minor jitter issues aside, this is a good piece of gear that helps you reduce your cable clutter.

Specifications

• Number of MIDI Ports: 1 MIDI In, 1 MIDI Out
• Compatibility: Bluetooth LE MIDI. Compatible with iOs 8 or later and Mac OSX Yosemite or later with Bluetooth 4.0 installed.
• Power Supply: Powered by MIDI Connection
• Size: 0.67"(W) x 2.63" (D) x 0.67"(H)
• Weight: 0.81oz

The mio is a USB Class Compliant (plug and play) bus powered MIDI interface and a low latency and affordable option for the basic single device MIDI connections.

There's a free companion controller app called "iConfig" available for Windows, Mac and iOS that allows you to route and process MIDI in various ways as well as update the device firmware.

The plug and play class compliant interface is a great choice for future-proofing your setup.

The iConfig software is a bit complicated but is only used for more advanced features. SysEx messages may cause problems as well but that goes for many MIDI interfaces. One other thing is that the 5ft. cable might be too short.

Cons aside, the iConnectivity mio is great if you want a simple and reliable MIDI interface

Specifications

• Number of MIDI Ports: 1 MIDI In, 1 MIDI Out
• Compatibility: Class Compliant and compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS (via CCK/Lightning adaptor) and Linux
• Power Supply: USB
• Length: 5ft
• Weight: 3.5 oz

Miditech is a company based in Cologne, Germany and have been making music gear for over 2 decades.

The Miditech MIDIFACE is a straightforward 4 in / 4 out interface and it is class compliant and will work with most major operating systems.

Its configuration allows up to 64 channels of MIDI via the included USB Cable.

Its simplicity and class compliance means it's a great hub for even for more complex midi routing. The class compliance ensures compatibility with many operating systems. It's important to note however that in my research, I've found a few people having trouble with specific Windows 10 updates though this seems to have been resolved as of this edition of the guide.

Still, if you're looking for a MIDI interface with multiple ports, the Miditech MIDIFACE 4 x 4 is a stellar pick.

Specifications

• Number of MIDI Ports: 4 MIDI In, 4 MIDI Out
• Compatibility: Class Compliant with MAC OSX, Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8 and 10
• Power Supply: Powered by MIDI Connection
• Size: 9.25" x 6.93" x 2.83"
• Weight: 15.5oz