2016/08/07 13:13:10
drma173
Which USB port hubs do you guys recomend. I need one to power my midi control and extranal drive
2016/08/07 17:47:07
kitekrazy1
Hubs are not recommended for midi controller unless they are the little ones that can be used with iPads.
2016/08/07 21:12:14
BobF
I wouldn't use them with a storage device either
2016/08/07 21:46:37
kitekrazy1
They are great for dongles though.
2016/08/07 21:57:23
rivers88
FWIW -
I've had VERY good luck routing multiple midi device through POWERED USB hubs such as the Belkin 5 and 7 port powered hubs.

I do try to dedicate a port for USB drives that will be doing any type of streaming, but for lower-end projects on my laptop I've had few problems mixing MIDI devices and basic audio interfaces on the same powered USB hub.

A good quality powered hub is the key!
2016/08/08 09:23:12
Bajan Blue
I would agree - must be top quality and MUST be powered
Nigel
 
2016/08/08 09:43:54
bitflipper
There are two problems with hubs, and they're the reasons hubs are so often dis-recommended (if that's a word). One is that in terms of throughput all of the USB connections on that hub share the bandwidth of the single port that the hub is plugged into. The other is that unless the hub has its own power supply, the maximum current that can be supplied is also split. These limitations can seriously impact performance, and in some cases even render a device unusable.
 
Hubs are not a problem with slow devices that don't need maximum responsiveness and have minimal power requirements: USB dongles, printers (if they have their own power) and computer keyboards. They may not be suitable for devices that have high current needs and/or lots of bandwidth: mice, DVDs, external disk drives. A MIDI controller, especially one that draws power from the USB port, would fall into the latter category.
 
Rather than look for a hub to use with your MIDI keyboard and USB drive, consider moving other devices to the hub instead to free up ports for them. If that's not possible, then at least get a powered hub (with a wall-wart power supply), and if your MIDI controller has the option of using its own power supply, use it.
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