Issues with MIDI connector, how to test

[jdonato]

Hi.
A special request and cry for help to the tech gurus on the forum (specially @XBeat , @Nepali_brother ).
Does anyone knows how to test the MIDI Sync socket on the Beat Buddy, like check the current, etc. I think mine could be acting up, and I want to be sure, since buying new breakout cables have not solved the issue.

Details: I usually use my BB with a MIDI Thru 6 from CME. Have also used a WIDI Master in the past. A couple of days ago I took my BB out of the pedalboard and, while out of town, tried it with my WIDI Master, and the WIDI would not blink its internal light as it should. Also, I could not see the WIDI in any of my Bluetooth devices. I suspected a faulty cable (I am on my second one, first one came, new from the factory, with continuity issues in the IN port, never worked. The second one had worked flawlessly since, for more than a year, up until this story).
So, I ordered a new breakout cable. I was away from home, so I could not check the cable pins for continuity. My new cable arrived, I connected everything, but still the WIDI Master would not light up. I tried moving the cable a bit, checking it was seated correctly, nothing worked. Then I began to search for answers in this forum when, suddenly, without moving anything, I saw the lights from the WIDI Master blinking. I was able to change songs via MIDI, as usual. I used it for a while, perfectly, then left everything ON while I continued searching for things on this forum, when suddenly, without warning or moving any cable or the BB, the WIDI went out and I could not connect for a while. Again, without touching anything, the WIDI came back to life and function as expected for a while, only to go out again.
I returned home and was able to check the cables (new and old) for continuity and they seem good. My WIDI Master connects and turns on without issues on my keyboard. My BB MIDI does not work anymore, not even with my MIDI thru 6, (in which I can see its blinking lights when receiving MIDI messages from my app, only that those messages do not get to the BB). Sooo,…

I tend to believe that maybe my BB MIDI socket is not transmitting current, hence the intermittent issues. I would like to know how to test the socket to be sure everything that needs to pass thru it is really passing through as it should, before attempting any more tests. I believe there should be a 5v somewhere there.
Any help from you Masters?
Thanks in advance

[MarkF48]

The 5vdc should be present on two pins of the BB MIDI OUT cable. I did try this with a MIDI cable connected to the BB breakout cable. I suspect the 5vdc is what powers the WIDI Master and if not present it wouldn’t light up.

View facing front of connector. Pin 4 - 5vdc relative to pin 2 - GND.

I ohmmed out the breakout cable and I ‘think’ the image below is correct for its wiring. Again this is a front view of the connectors on the breakout cable (the 6 pin DIN connector on my cable does have numbers next to the pins). On the 6 pin connector pin 1 - 5vdc, pin 5 - GND and if measured on the BB’s 6 pin socket the pin count is ‘flipped’ as you view the socket front (if you get what I saying).

Do you have any other MIDI gear that has 5 pin DIN connectors and can send /receive MIDI note data or sync? I’m inclined to think it’s a cable problem, but maybe not. I wonder if reflashing the BB firmware may ‘fix’ this(?)

[jdonato]

@MarkF48 , this is great information! Much appreciated.
As it stands out, I got home yesterday, connected everything, again, turned all my gear ON at the same time, and the BB MIDI worked flawlessly all night. I will take this issue one day at a time, tonight I will go back and check it again, after everything being turned off for 20-24 hours. Hopefully everything continues to work. If not, your info will come pretty handy, I believe I can just measure pin 4 on the cable end (IN and OUT) to check for voltage.
I will say, it is very uncomfortable to not be able to trust your gear, one that has not been mistreated in any way. I live in fear that when I get to my venue, MIDI will not respond. I am seriously considering adding some mini TRS MIDI connections to the BB, and use good quality mini TRS to MIDI cables. I still have one new breakout cable as backup, but I already had one new cable fail straight out of the bag.
Thanks a lot!