Tubbutec USB Bridge A Eurorack USB MIDI Module (Silver)

Routes and merges midi data between two USB devices and one TRS midi device.

USB Bridge A features two midi USB hosts and conventional TRS midi (type A) input and output.
Midi data is routed between the connected devices and merged if necessary. Routing is very fast with very low latency.

Data received from a USB device will be send to the other USB device and to the TRS output.
Data received on the TRS input will be sent to the two USB devices.
Depending on the kind of data it will be merged, see below.

You can use this to:

Connect one or two midi USB midi controllers/keyboards to a conventional midi device
Connect a keyboard to a module with only USB device capability
Connect a cheap USB midi interface and get more conventional midi IOs
Use your phone to control your Eurorack or as a synthesizer
Connect a synthesizer via USB

LEDs show the status of USB and midi:
OFF: NO USB device connected:
BLUE : USB device connected successfully
MAGENTA : Receiving midi
RED : USB device connected, but not compatible
BLINKING RED : Overcurrent detected

The TRS midi LED is BLUE, when the module is turned on and blinks purple when receiving midi.

We use blue and red LEDs so colors are distinguishable for people with red/green color blindness. If you prefer your module with green/red instead of blue/red, please let us know when ordering.

Merging and routing

If all three midi inputs are used (2xUSB, 1x midi TRS), it is necessary to route and merge midi data.
Here, USB Bridge A differentiates between several types of midi data:

NOTE AND CONTROLLER DATA
These are all the midi messages that can be merged without any issues. If two devices send midi at the same time, data will be interleaved and sent to the receiving device.

CLOCK DATA
Clock data can not be merged, only one midi clock stream can be used at a time. When USB bridge A receives clock data, it will lock the receiver to this clock source. Once you press stop, the receiver is freed and clock data can be received from an other device.

SYSEX DATA
Sysex data is even trickier to handle than clock data, because sysex messages can have an arbitrary length. if multiple sysex streams are received simultaneously, USB bridge A buffers the data and will forward it to the receiver as soon as possible. This way sysex messages are merged as well.

Voltage converter

USB bridge A includes an optional DC/DC converter to convert 12V to 5V. This means eurorack cases without a 5V supply are also supported. A jumper on the back selects between 5V or 12V input. The DC/DC converter topology means current draw is less on the 12V supply. For example: If your USB device draws 500mA, USB bridge A will only draw about 220mA from 12V.

The supplied power cable features a 26 AWG conduction diameter and can carry more current than the typical eurorack cables. This allows you to connect midi devices with large current draw, such as charging two phones simultaneously. Your eurorack power supply should of course be able to handle the charging currents.

Voltage selector
Compatibility

USB bridge A is compatible with all Class Compliant devices. It also supports some gear that is not quite Class compliant.
Rule of thump: If your device does not need a special driver in Windows, Linux or OSX, it will work.
So far it has been tested with the following gear, but of course it works with many more:

KEYBOARDS / CONTROLLER

Korg Nanokontrol 2, Korg Nanokey 2
Korg microKEY 37 MkII
Roger Linn Design – Linnstrument
AKAI Professional LPK 25
Alesis Q49
SYNTHESIZERS / SEQUENCERS

Korg SQ-1
Novation Launchpad Mini MK2
Novation Peak
Teenage Engineering OP-1
Arturia Beatstep Pro
USB MIDI INTERFACES

Roland UM1-G
Thomann Midi USB 1×1
RME Fireface UFX
Tubbutec µTune
Low latency

USB bridge A has an extremely low latency between input and output:
Sending note-on from USB to USB: 0.08ms
Sending 64bytes sysex from USB to USB: 0.12ms
Sending note-on from USB to TRS-midi: 0.03ms (until TRS midi transfer starts)

For comparison: Usually USB midi clocks at 1kHz / 1ms, so the minimum latency between two devices is usually 1ms.
USB bridge A is about 10 times faster.
A TRS/DIN midi note on message is about 1ms long. The latency here is about 33 times lower.

Technical specs

Printed aluminum front panel, 2mm thickness
2x USB type A host socket
1x input, 1x output TRS midi type A
Voltage supply 12V or 5V
Includes 12 to 5V converter
Supply current: +12V: 10mA , -12V: 0mA, (5V: 20mA) + current drawn by USB devices
USB devices may draw up to 500mA current each
Dimensions: 3HE, 2HP, 128.5mm x 10mm, Depth: 25mm
Weight: 30g