MIDI Eurorack

Martin Doudoroff

This is a study of the rise of MIDI as a supplemental patching system to conventional audio and CV patching. Here, we are mainly concerned with 3.5mm TRS MIDI connectivity, although USB and DIN-based MIDI are acknowledged (and of course, DIN can be adapted to TRS via readily available cables).

TRS patching of MIDI in Eurorack is already supported by over 80 modules and it is clearly here to stay. Unfortunately, TRS MIDI has been hobbled right out of the gate by two de facto standards: Type A (Korg) and Type B (Arturia). There’s nothing more than a single wire tranposition between these two standards, but this complication remains a fact of life. (For the time being, I have disregarded another, rare variant that uses TR cables, as it seems to be neither here nor there.)

Scope-wise, this study largely disregards MIDI-to-CV converters, but includes CV-to-MIDI converters. Some of the modules below can perform MIDI-to-CV, but that is not why they are included. MIDI-to-CV converters are still relevant, of course, but that is well-established topic area.

Moreover, this study is exclusive to Eurorack modules. There are, of course, gobs of standalone devices out there that support MIDI over 3.5mm TRS cables or adapter cable.

Acknowledgements: this work began with this ModWiggler thread by user kay_k in 2017, and many contributions by other ModWiggler users. ModWiggler user audionerd created the minimidi.world project in 2019, which includes its own database (including many non-Eurorack entries) and an excellent presentation on cabling. I got some of the information in this study from both these sources, and collected the rest, myself, via ModularGrid and module documentation.

I plan to update this study with new modules (and corrections) for as long as it seems relevant to do so.

Latest

2024-04-24 more errata and a few stragglers
2024-04-18 errata and a few stragglers
2024-04-17 first draft

Growth of MIDI Eurorack

The graph below summarizes the number of modules with TRS MIDI support (black line), and the numbers specifically for TRS-A, TRS-B and modules designed to accommodate both TRS-A and TRS-B (automatically or manually). The graph omits modules of (as yet) unknown TRS type, and modules that only offer DIN or USB MIDI.

2016201720182019202020212022202320245101520253035404550556065707580859095

Modules

Utility

ProductTRS InTRS OutOther MIDINotes
1010 MX4
2017
Modular Grid >		BB × 4
  • buffered thru for TRS Type B
ADDAC 221
2016
Modular Grid >		AA
  • CV-to-MIDI CC converter
ADDAC 222
2016
Modular Grid >		AA
  • CV-to-MIDI notes converter
Alyseum Matrix II
2019
Modular Grid >		BB
  • 16:16 switching matrix with MIDI preset control
Alyseum Q-VCA
2019
Modular Grid >		BB
  • quad VCA with MIDI preset control
Alyseum Q-Linear
2019
Modular Grid >		BB
  • quad 1v/o processor with MIDI preset control
Befaco CV Thing
2020
Modular Grid >		A
  • CV-to-MIDI converter
Befaco VCMC
2019
Modular Grid >		USB-B DIN
  • CV-to-MIDI converter and MIDI controller
Clatters Garden Listener
2021
Modular Grid >		A
  • biometric electrode-to-MIDI interface
Deftaudio MIDI TRS Thru
2022
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B × 4
  • TRS type configured by jumpers per port
Divergent Waves DrumFiend
2022
Modular Grid >		A/B
  • Trigger to MIDI conversion
  • TRS type configured via jumper
DMMDM Droid MASTER
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BA/BUSB-C
  • requires X7 expander
  • cv-to-MIDI
  • TRS IN type is auto-detected
DMMDM Droid MASTER18
2024
Modular Grid >		A/B × 2A/B × 2USB-C
  • two MIDI interfaces built in
  • TRS IN type is auto-detected
dsp.coffee DPT
2022
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
  • Electrosmith Daisy Patch platform
Electrosmith Daisy Patch
2020
Modular Grid >		AA
  • Electrosmith Daisy Patch platform
Expert Sleepers CVM-8
2022
Modular Grid >
  • dual CV-to-MIDI converter
  • requires one of assorted breakout options
Expert Sleepers FH-2
2018
Modular Grid >		A/BUSB-A USB-C DIN
  • TRS and DIN MIDI via breakouts
  • CV-to-MIDI conversion and MIDI message creation
LPZW.modules WK3 MIDI Thru
2017
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B × 5
  • TRS input is autodetect
  • each TRS output has a physical type switch
LPZW.Schleußig
2018
Modular Grid >		A/B
  • MIDI clock-synchronized muting
Malekko SYNC
2017
Modular Grid >		BB
  • MIDI clock extractor
Manikk Otto MIDI
2020
Modular Grid >		AA × 4
  • TRS MIDI Thru
Michigan Synth Works USB2MIDI
2022
Modular Grid >		A × 5USB-A
  • USB MIDI to 5X TRS TYPE A
Shakmat Clock O’Pawn II
2023
Modular Grid >		A/B
  • MIDI clock extractor
Tesseract Sweet Sixteen
2019
Modular Grid >		A/BUSB-B
  • MIDI controller
  • CV-to-MIDI converter
  • TRS type is jumper-controlled
Tesseract Sweet Sixteen Mk2
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BUSB-B
  • MIDI controller
  • CV-to-MIDI converter
  • TRS type is jumper-controlled
Tiptop Octopus
2023
Modular Grid >		USB-B DIN
  • MIDI-to-ART converter
Tubbutec TRS-bridge
2023
Modular Grid >		A/B × 4A/B × 4
  • route/split/merge TRS midi streams
Tubbutec USB-bridge A
2020
Modular Grid >		AAUSB-A
  • route/merge MIDI data between two USB devices and one TRS device
vpme.de trig31
2018
Modular Grid >		B
  • trigger-to-MIDI converter
XOXO Modular MIDIXO
2019
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
  • TRS type converter (jumper-configured)
  • Expert Sleepers-compatible MIDI breakout

Sequencer

ProductTRS InTRS OutOther MIDINotes
1010 Toolbox
2017
Modular Grid >		BB × 4
Cycle Instruments Tetrachords
2023
Modular Grid >		A/BA/BUSB-C
  • TRS IN type is auto-detected
  • TRS OUT type is set via a switch on the back of the module
DMMDM Droid MASTER
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BA/BUSB-C
  • requires X7 expander
  • cv-to-MIDI
  • TRS IN type is auto-detected
DMMDM Droid MASTER18
2024
Modular Grid >		A/B × 2A/B × 2USB-C
  • two MIDI interfaces built in
  • TRS IN type is auto-detected
endorphin.es Ground Control
2019
Modular Grid >		BBUSB-A USB-B
Erica Black Sequencer
2019
Modular Grid >		BB
Erica Drum Sequencer
2019
Modular Grid >		B
  • MIDI sync only
Eventide Misha
2022
Modular Grid >		AA
Expert Sleepers FH-2
2018
Modular Grid >		A/BUSB-A USB-C DIN
  • TRS and DIN MIDI via breakouts
  • CV-to-MIDI conversion and MIDI message creation
Five12 Vector
2017
Modular Grid >		B × 2USB-A USB-B DIN
  • DIN MIDI features require expander
Flame TAKT
2022
Modular Grid >		BB
Flame TON
2022
Modular Grid >		BB
Floating Knobs Cuisine
2023
Modular Grid >		??????
Kaona Zazou
2024
Modular Grid >		A/B
Knobula Chord Pilot
2022
Modular Grid >		AA
Making Sound Machines Stolperbeats
2022
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
  • TRS input is autodetect
  • TRS out has physical switch on the back of the module
Plinky
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BA
  • requires Pinky Expander
RYK Modular M185
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
SDS Digital / Konstantine Accord Melisma
2019
Modular Grid >		A
  • CV-to-MIDI chord and melody generator
Squarp Hermod+
2023
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
Tesseract Modular Tukra
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
Tubbutec 6equencer
2021
Modular Grid >		A
Westlicht Per|Former
2019
Modular Grid >		AA
XOR Nerdseq
2016
Modular Grid >		AADIN
  • requires expander
Zetaohm FLXS1
2017
Modular Grid >		AA

Voice

ProductTRS InTRS OutOther MIDINotes
1010 Bitbox
2018
Modular Grid >		B
1010 Bitbox Micro
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BB
1010 Synthbox
2017
Modular Grid >		B
Atonal Circuits WVR
2022
Modular Grid >		A/B
Atonal Circuits Tone Hack
2024
A/B
Dreadbox Lil’ Erebus
2018
Modular Grid >		A
Dreadbox Dysmetria
2022
Modular Grid >		A
Dreadbox Telepathy
2024
Modular Grid >		AA
Eowave Quadrantid Swarm
2017
Modular Grid >		B
Expert Sleepers Disting
2017
Modular Grid >		A/BDIN
  • via breakout
Expert Sleepers Disting EX
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BDIN
  • via breakout
Expert Sleepers General CV
2017
Modular Grid >		A/BDIN
  • via breakout
Flame 4VOX
2015
Modular Grid >		DIN
Gamechanger Audio Plasma Voice
2023
Modular Grid >		A
Haken Audio Eaganmatrix
2021
Modular Grid >		BBUSB-A
IO Instruments Kallichore
2020
Modular Grid >		??????
Jomox ModFM Synth
2023
Modular Grid >		??????
Knobula Pianophonic
2023
Modular Grid >		A
Knobula Poly Cinematic
2021
Modular Grid >		A
Modbap Trinity
2022
Modular Grid >		USB-C
MOK Waverazor Dual Oscillator
2019
Modular Grid >		B
Moog Subharmonicon
2020
Modular Grid >		A
Moog Mother-32
2015
Modular Grid >		DIN
Nanopolis Antigone
2023
Modular Grid >		???
  • via expander
Neutron Sound Dust of Time
2020
Modular Grid >		A/B
Neuzeit Warp
2023
Modular Grid >		B
Oxi Instruments Coral
2023
Modular Grid >		A/B
Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms SV-1
2016
Modular Grid >		B
Plinky
2020
Modular Grid >		A/BA
  • requires Pinky Expander
Rebel Tech Magus
2018
Modular Grid >		BB
  • requires expander
Rossum Electro Music Assimil8or
2023
Modular Grid >		DIN
  • requires Locutus expander
RYK Vector Wave
2022
Modular Grid >		A/B
SDS Digital VCO
2017
Modular Grid >		A/B
  • requires additional add-on
  • TRS type user switchable
SoundForce DCO
2021
Modular Grid >		A/B
SoundForce uDCO
2022
Modular Grid >		A/B
Squarp Rample
2020
Modular Grid >		A
Supercritical Demon Core Oscillator
2019
Modular Grid >		A/B
  • via Demon Core xpander
  • TRS input auto-detect
  • TRS output user-selectable
The Centre
2021
Modular Grid >		???
Tubbutec/LPZW.modules 6m0d6
2021
Modular Grid >		A/B
Warped Circuits Threshold
2020
Modular Grid >		A/B
XOR Nerdseq
2016
Modular Grid >		AADIN
  • requires expander
Ziqal Dimension
2021
Modular Grid >		A

Filter

ProductTRS InTRS OutOther MIDINotes
Flame Curves
2017
Modular Grid >		B
RYK Night Rider
2023
Modular Grid >		A/B

Effects

ProductTRS InTRS OutOther MIDINotes
1010 Bluebox
2023
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
1010 Fxbox
2017
Modular Grid >		B
dsp.coffee KALI
2022
Modular Grid >		A/BA/B
Enjoy Electronics The Godfather
2021
Modular Grid >		??????
Poly Effects Hector
2021
Modular Grid >		AA
Rebel Tech Magus
2018
Modular Grid >		BB
  • requires expander
TiNRS Bopp & Steve
2023
Modular Grid >		A/B
ZOIA Euroburo
2020
Modular Grid >		AA

Video

ProductTRS InTRS OutOther MIDINotes
Erogenous Tones Structure
2018
Modular Grid >		USB-A
Sleepy Circuits Hypno
2020
Modular Grid >		USB-A

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