CME WIDI Uhost - Bluetooth USB MIDI Interface + USB host for Class Compliant USB MIDI Instrument, MIDI Controller, MIDI Keyboard, Windows, Mac, iOS & Android, Linux, ChromeOS

I preordered my first pair of WIDI Masters when they were still under development. They promised the ability to connect MIDI devices wirelessly without a third device, like a computer or tablet. It seemed too good to be true, but I was willing to try. I was not disappointed. I now own seven WIDI Masters and use them both live and in the studio. As a heavy MIDI user, they are amazingly useful tools. I keep finding more uses for them.This is one really important difference between WIDI Master and many of the other WIDI dongles you'll find here and elsewhere. Most of those others, such as the Yamaha MD-BT01, can NOT connect to other Bluetooth WIDI devices. They can only connect wirelessly to a computer, tablet or phone equipped with Bluetooth MIDI. In other words, you can't connect two such devices together. WIDI Master CAN wirelessly connect to almost any Bluetooth MIDI device, including other WIDI Masters. To put it simply, with two WIDI Masters you can connect any two MIDI devices (with 5-pin DIN connectors) wirelessly, without having to go through a third device. Essentially you use them just like MIDI cables--but without the cables! This is a really big deal. Nothing like this existed before WIDI Master. It's a game-changer.I've been using these little MIDI miracles in many ways. In my photo, you see three WIDI Masters plugged into my studio MIDI interface. I use these to connect (from left to right) a Korg nanoStudio controller, a Roland Aerophone Pro, and Roland SH-201 synthesizer. In my live rig, I use WIDI Master to connect two of my three keyboards directly to my iPad for changing patches via app (OnSong). I've even used WIDI Master to connect a set of Roland V-Drums to my studio from another part of the house. I could go on, but suffice to say these things have made a huge impact in my MIDI life. The things I'm using them for didn't even seem possible a few years ago. Now I don't know how I lived without them.Operating them can be remarkably simple, depending on your situation. In the most basic situation--for example, connecting two MIDI keyboards together--you simply plug them in. The devices will automatically connect to one another, and you're good to go. That simple. But things can get a bit complicated with more devices. With multiple Bluetooth MIDI devices in the area, managing which devices connect to one another can be confusing.Fortunately, CME has developed an app to control your WIDI Master setup. I highly recommend using the app to update the firmware on your WIDI Master before using it. You need to plug your WIDI Master in to power it (it gets power from the MIDI OUTPUT of any MIDI device). In the app, you'll see the device and be able to connect to it. Once you've updated the firmware, you'll have the ability to manage your settings. You can set a WIDI Master to "peripheral" mode. This prevents it from accepting connections while still allowing it to connect to other WIDI Masters. You can also create groups of devices that always connect in the way you need them to connect. These are incredibly useful features if you have many WIDI devices like me.To sum it all up, WIDI Master is an amazing little MIDI miracle that lets you connect almost any MIDI device to any other MIDI device wirelessly. It simply works, and works better than I'd thought possible. It's not an exaggeration to say these devices changed my life.

Wow, I'm genuinely impressed with this device. You just plug it into a windows box, let it pair with the keyboard, and you're off to the races with no fuss or drivers, and low latency.Even leaving local control on the keyboard on, so I'm getting sound through both the onboard speakers and the bluetooth midi->vst->optical coax->speakers chain, it's still low enough latency that it only produces a very mild chorus effect, and that may simply be that I have two slightly different piano voices in play.

I've been waiting for this for a long time. After emailing CME and getting the full details, I got 2 of these to test out. It works amazingly well, although it does take a little fiddling to get it going. BTW I'm on Win 10, and here's what I've learned so far:There are 2 ways to go, directly to your PC's BT (or another BT device like a DAW controller) or to another WIDI Master.I went from an FCB 1010 midi footpedal into my Win 10 PC. But to get it working, you need to have the May Win 10 update (I think it's V. 1909). At first I wouldn't see the WIDI, but after the update it worked great. Since the footpedal is not sending note data (which inlcudes a lot of other data like aftertouch etc), and is only sending relatively small control data, I notcied no latency at all, even on very fast wah pedal moves. But there is some latency when playing notes directly into the PC BT, apparently that's due to how Win 10 handles BT (Mac users don't have that issue, apparently).To get around that latency, I put the 1st WIDI on a keyboard controller, in my case an Akai 4000S wind controller, and the 2nd right on my interface's midi ports. No detectable latency at all, it works really well.BTW their customer support is excellent, they got right back to me with a solution when I initially had problems. CME had told me that the WIDI Bud Pro will solve any Windows BT latency issues, it's a USB dongle that essentially bypasses Windows BT management entirely and therefore makes latency around jsut 3ms. So I could have my footpedal and my Akai each with a WIDI Master, both connecting to the Bud Pro. But unfortunately the Bud Pro's rollout is delayed due to the current global chip shortage. Therefore I just ordered a 3rd Widi Master, which I'll put on my interface's midi ports. The Akai will connect to that for note data at virtually no latency, and the footpedal will go direct to the PC BT, as it is now.BTW I plan to use this gigging and in the studio. I've tested it pretty thoroughly and the range is excellent, plenty for the stage, and I've no dropouts or issues. Although I'm an old-school guy and like the security of cables for many things, so far this has been rock solid. I'll still carry some backup midi cables, but this gives me a slightly faster setup and teardown, and freedom of movement.If they can transfer this low latency BT tech to wireless BT IEM's, they'll have a gold mine. But audio has a lot more data than midi, so that may a while.Kudos to CME... great product.

This device is an absolute game changer for how I use my iPad for music production. I bought a set to see if I could sync my Behringer TD-3 MO with my iPad and it actually works amazingly well. MIDI over Bluetooth allows me to use my iPad to sync up my external synth to DM-1 Drum machine app on my iPad as well as a few audio plugins I use, all while freeing up the lightning port for an audio interface adapter. I run the headphones out of the TD-3 MO into the audio interface and then mix, add fx and sync the app to the synth via MIDI, creating a complete performance and recording setup. Very happy with this thing.

The product is well constructed and is very simple to set up. Unfortunately it connected to, but did not transmit MIDI data from, my Roland FRP-Nuvola digital piano (Costco exclusive FP30X equivalent). This is mostly my fault as the seller does have a list on their website of confirmed compatible pianos, but I'm just posting this as a heads up for those not willing to hunt/non-tech-savvy. I'm sure they will add compatibility with future updates but as of this review, it does not work with my piano (both the device firmware and piano firmware were up to date when tested).