Hi Chris, ok, thank you. Unfortunately the A&H mixer works as audio interface but does not offer MIDI, so I would need two MIDI interfaces and connect both via MIDI cables. Yes. Will this cheap interface work as "MIDI card" under Linux? Another idea: the iPad also has something called Network MIDI via WiFi. Is that the same thing as rtpMIDI? Is there something like that for Linux? I found some sources in the internet but did not quite understand how to set this up. Oliver

On Wed, 1 Nov 2017 22:24:01 +0100, Christopher Arndt wrote: I bought a Chinese CCK for 6,99€. I heard several times that those Chinese products should be from less good quality, than original Apple products, but my experiences with Chinese products prove those rumours false. I'm using a Scarlett Focusrite 18i20. Yes, it has got it's own power supply, but there's no need for an active (or passive) USB hub, when using the Focusrite.

On Thu, 2 Nov 2017 15:04:57 +0100, Christopher Arndt wrote: Yes, it's an iPad 2. Yes. Nobody did, but de facto an USB hub often is required to outwit the current limitation. It not necessarily needs to be an active hub. First I tested a Presonus 1818vsl, since it's also listed as iPad compatible, but it is one of those audio interfaces, that require an USB hub to work, even while it has it's own power supply, too. For some unknown reason only audio in worked, so it wasn't really compatible with my iPad, IOW it's wise to test USB compliant audio devices, before buying one. Btw. when using the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen with Linux, instead of the iPad, it allows lower latency, than the Presonus. Audio quality can't compare to my PC's RME audio card, but it is far and away superior to the iPad's intern audio device. The synth emulation available for the iPad. e.g. Oberheim, can't compare to my real Oberheim, but they are low priced and are far better than all available FLOSS synth for Linux I ever heared, so its nice to be able to connect an iPad with a Linux PC via audio and MIDI. -- Guerilla Open Access Manifesto: https://archive.org/stream/GuerillaOpenAccessManifesto/Goamjuly2008_djvu.txt

Ralf Mardorf <ralf.mardorf-ZCLZIpdjs0kJGwgDXS7ZQA(a)public.gmane.org> writes: A few points of reference: I bought a USB multicard reader (actually 2). Either of them made it close to impossible to insert a Memory Stick because of plastic ridges, and the contacts were arranged in a manner that within very few uses they were bent out of shape. Inserting an M2 flashcard required so much force that you feared for it. It worked for SD cards and microSD (and a miniSD adapter). THen I got a (used) Expresscard reader of Chinese provenience. This works mostly fine, but you cannot use a (Sandisk) Memory Stick Duo to Memory Stick adapter in it: it peels it into pieces. I haven't figured out how it does that. A straightforward Memory Stick works reasonably well. Then there are the infamous ubiquitous USB-to-Midi adapters with a violin clef printed on them. They mangle SysEx information (each time differently) and only manage to pass notes unmolested. Basically, the mechanics may be too cheaply produced, and bad chips don't get retired. There is no quality control. You may be lucky, or not. Sometimes it is easier to buy from a local brand that OEMs Chinese stuff (Delock, Ednet, Hama...) because at least they have some sort of quality control and can pressure their suppliers a bit. And returning stuff is easier. -- David Kastrup

Ralf Mardorf <ralf.mardorf-ZCLZIpdjs0kJGwgDXS7ZQA(a)public.gmane.org> writes: The Swissonic (I think a Thomann OEM brand) I got had the "USB/MIDI through" switch working the other way round than printed. It also had the cable/connector shields miswired according to Midi standards and thus created a ground loop with the USB, thwarting the optical isolation of Midi. It also had the SysEx problem. I might have gotten an early Monday model. Had to retire it eventually. -- David Kastrup

"David W. Jones" <gnome-4S9g3957RhF54TAoqtyWWQ(a)public.gmane.org> writes: These days, there is rather little in electronics products that isn't made in China. Actually, also most manufactured goods. Can't beat labor prize and workers' rights and labor conditions and environmental restrictions there. Or whole product lines or suppliers. It's not just Apple. For stuff like the iPhone, Apple basically OEMs whole factories. For stuff like the Thunderbird/USB adapters, they likely just OEM products (though they probably get the exterior produced according to Apple design). But basically every computer manufacturer produces in China (including Japanese and Korean ones), and tablets and smartphones are also usually made there. Let alone all of the cheap electronic gizmos. The quality more or less is defined by how much involvement the companies have for QA during and after production. -- David Kastrup