Sensel Morph to 2hp MIDI over USB?

Hi all,

I’m wondering at the possibility of connecting the Sensel Morph to a device that consumes MIDI-over-USB. I have a 2hp MIDI eurorack module (http://www.twohp.com/modules/midi) that takes a Mini USB Type B male input, and have been able to find USB cables that have the right connections to run between the Morph and this module, but there’s talk of such use requiring USB OTG (On the Go) compatibility. Has anyone tried something like this, or am I going to have to break down and buy a cable to find out for myself?

I guess I’m also curious if others have found a solution that does Morph to MIDI using something like a USB-to-MIDI cable (such as https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FTJXFLT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

@wendallsan The 2hp module doesn’t provide a host, so it is not possible to connect directly from the morph to that module. You need a device such as listed on our comparability list.

What you would need is a USB MIDI Hub, like https://www.retrokits.com/shop/rk005/ or https://kentonuk.com/product/midi-usb-host-mkii/, combined with a USB Hub.

Another option is to use a Teensy 3.6 with a USB host cable and USB Hub, and some simple code based on the Teensy USBHost_t36 > MIDI > Interface_16x16 example.

Or get a RaspberryPi to do this, which seems to be the cheapest solution, although it seems a bit overpowered for the job. https://stimresp.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/using-a-raspberry-pi-as-usb-midi-host/

it’s also possible to do this with an IOS device using camera connection kit to usb hub; and plug morph and the 2hp midi into the hub. IOS device is your host, and you can use an app to route midi from morph into the 2hp. I use AUM.

Hosts can also work with the usb midi to midi din cables.

There are some eurorack modules that provide midi host, like the Expert Sleepers FH-2.
The morph can be directly connected in that case.

Hello, I am also trying to control and mini usb type-b connected hardware device (Teenage Engineering op-1)with the sensel morph and I am running into problems. I see one person wrote to use Kenton USB Midi Host Plus a midi hub? How would that work? This would also defeat my intended (and seemingly stated) use of this devise as a portable controller. Why even have a battery in it and a low power mode if it has to be plugged in to use. I also see the moderator linked over to the other similar thread on this forum to provide a list of midi interfaces that would help with this issue. Interesting that I own one of those units on the list and I still cant connect to my op-1. None of these options listed seem to directly deal with this issue.
If anyone knows a direct and portable way to connect this devise to my op-1 I would be very happy to hear it. Otherwise maybe someone out there is looking to buy mine cheap?

Edit:
solved/not solved
looks like there is not good option except eBay.

In he original post the author asked about USB otg (on the go) helping in this case but it was never answered. Does anyone know if USB otg will work with the morph to create a USB midi host?

No, the Sensel Morph does not have the ability to become a USB host, it is a USB client.

Very few controllers/synthesizers can be both.

Any advise on which controllers can? How does this response apply to USB otg?

The Studiologic Mixface is a control surface that apparently has MIDI USB host capability. I have no experience with it though. There are a few synths that also have MIDI USB host capability, such as the Futuresonus Parva and the Buchla Easel Command (with the optional USB Host board) and a few more.

As for how my commend applies to USB OTG, for OTG to work, one of the devices needs to serve as the Host. An OTG cable/adapter merely allows the use of what would normally serve as a Device->Host port into a Host->Device port.

As an example, I have a camera that has a Micro USB port and USB Host capability. It’s intended that you connect the camera (device) to a computer (host) to access content on its SD card, upgrade firmware, etc. With an OTG adapter I can connect a USB drive (device) directly to the camera (now a host), boot up the camera in Host mode and offload content from its SD card to the USB drive without having an intermediary computer (Host). Using this same adapter on any other camera I have will not work unless the camera also has a USB Host capability.

1 Like

So would a USB otg adapter possible work in line with a Kenton USB midi host.

If you’re using a Kenton USB host, you wouldn’t use an OTG cable. You’d just use a standard USB-A/Micro-USB cable. The Micro-USB end to the Sensel Morph, the USB-A end to the Kenton USB Midi Host.

Per the Kenton website https://kentonuk.com/product/midi-usb-host-mkii/ the MIDI USB Host MkII can host up to four different USB MIDI devices if you have a powered USB hub:

If your host has the
latest firmware already installed then you can plug in a powered USB hub and up to four USB devices
can then be connected.

I have tried that and it has not worked even after multiple attempts.
Just ran into this though:


"By using a simple (and included) OTG Adapter cable you can even connect plain 5V power and a USB hub to the RK-006 and host multiple USB-MIDI devices. The RK-006 will interconnect them and merge them together with the existing hardware ports. "