DIN-5 (180°) pinout
MIDI DIN-5 Pinout
MIDI 1.0 uses three of the DIN connector’s five pins: pin 4 sources current through a 220 ohm resistor, pin 5 carries the data, and pin 2 connects the cable shield at the transmitter end only. Pins 1 and 3 are unused.
| Pin | Signal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not used | Reserved in MIDI 1.0; some gear repurposes for power (nonstandard). |
| 2 | Shield | Cable shield; grounded at the source (OUT) end only per the MIDI spec. |
| 3 | Not used | Reserved in MIDI 1.0. |
| 4 | Current source (+) | +5 V through 220 ohms feeding the current loop. |
| 5 | Data | The current-loop data line the optoisolator reads. |
What it’s used for
MIDI still runs show control everywhere: keyboards and backing rigs, MIDI Show Control to lighting consoles, MIDI timecode between playback and automation. The DIN-5 current loop is optoisolated at every input, which is why MIDI survives hostile stage grounding that would hum on audio lines.
Modern compact gear replaces the DIN with 3.5 mm TRS "MIDI" jacks: type A (the adopted MIDI Association standard: tip to pin 5, ring to pin 4) and type B (swapped). Adapters are not interchangeable between types.
Wiring & termination notes
- MIDI is unidirectional: OUT to IN, always. THRU passes a buffered copy of IN for daisy chains.
- The shield connects at the OUT end only; grounding both ends defeats the isolation the spec worked to provide.
- Runs beyond about 15 m (50 ft) exceed the spec; use a MIDI-over-ethernet or USB transport for long hauls rather than hoping.
- TRS MIDI type A vs B: if a device ignores messages through an adapter, try the other type before debugging software.
Frequently asked questions
Which MIDI DIN pins are actually used?
Three: pin 4 (current source), pin 5 (data), and pin 2 (shield, source end only). Pins 1 and 3 are unused in MIDI 1.0.
What is the difference between TRS MIDI type A and type B?
Type A maps tip to DIN pin 5 and ring to pin 4 (the official standard); type B swaps them. Devices and adapters must match.