usb hub for rk-006

abbottobba

Can someone recommend a USB hub that I can order in the US? I've tried three different ones with the rk-006 and non of them work. 2 powered, 1 not. all capable of data.

grit

Then you had quite some bad luck with them. We currently have the HAMA hubs which I think are global brand. There are a lot of hubs out there and they do not need to be expensive. A hub with more than four connectors will not work - these are hubs within hubs. Also just try USB2.0 type which is more than enough for USBMIDI, no need to try USB3.0 types. The FE1.1 usb controller type which is used on the RPIZero USB Hat works (cheap), also the elektron overhub (expensive) and a lot in between these two.

abbottobba

Thank you for your reply. In case anyone else is having the same issue, I bought two more 4 port usb 2.0 hubs off amazon that did not work. I ended up biting the bullet and ordering a hama. It shipped from the UK and took a few weeks. But I just got it and it works!

grit

hmm.. you should not have to 'bite a bullit' for a working USB hub, the USB2.0's are pretty cheap nowadays, the HAMA is about 10,- right? And we also had usb hubs before which look like these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/135015175205 and they worked well. The trouble is: I can't guarantee the insides of these hubs, the enclosure design can be used for another brand and use a different internal chip.

abbottobba

It wasn’t expensive I paid like 26 usd, mostly bc it came from the uk. I more meant bit the bullet for the 3 weeks it took to ship to me.

I’m not sure why the other ones wouldn’t work. I was starting to think I was doing something wrong myself but there’s not much room for error. Plug a controller directly into the RKS cord and it works, put a hub in between them and the RKS wouldn’t receive any midi.

If you’re curious the brands I tried that didn’t work were Anker, acer, sabrent, atolla, and Smartq.

grit

I have been recommending Anker before because they did work … it is Wild West in hub-land!

Beeph

I'm very interested to try the Hama hub now that I hear it worked for you. I've tried an Anker, Sabrent, and a Subusen hub and have gotten them to work with limited success. I use my RK-006 with a Torso T-1 connected by usb. The connection works well without a hub, turns on quickly when supplied power and can send and receive midi data. When the T-1 is connected to a hub, any of the ones I mentioned above, it boots up much slower and doesn't send or receive any midi data at least by usb. If I disconnect the T-1 from the hub and reconnect it, usually the T-1 will work properly sending and receiving midi data by usb. Cool that it works but I just ended up not using a hub as I found it tedious and unreliable. I'd like one I don't have to plug/unplug every time.

Unfortunately the usb hub is currently listed as on backorder. I see a very similar looking Hama usb hub on Amazon, logo is in a different spot. But I think I'll wait for Retrokits to get them back on sale for now. I do want to add a Intech grid to my setup and the usb hub would be a nice way to do that so I am tempted to try it if they don't get them back soon.

grit

I found two extra in storage and have put them online.

Beeph

Just received the hub from Retrokits. It works perfectly! I plugged both my T-1 and an Akai MPK mini into the hub and both worked on powering up, no unplugging necessary. I was able to send midi data from both controllers to a Digitakt while also sending the midi clock out from the Digitakt. I'm very excited about the possibilities this opens up for me.