RK-002 connection via cubit duo?

verdurin

I'm trying to configured my RK-002 for use with various Elektron devices.

The only MIDI interface I have with DIN sockets is the cubit duo, connected to a Mac Mini.

Whenever I try to connect to the cable in the Chrome portal, it says:

interface operation timed out

I do have an RK-006 too, though no female DIN-TRS adapters that would allow me to connect the RK-002.
Is that the only way this is going to work?

(I did try with the TRS adapters that came with my Microfreak i.e. RK-002 -> Microfreak adapters -> RK-006 and that didn't work either - same error message, so I guess they're not the correct type?)

Or is there perhaps some debugging I can try?

Connecting via the interface then the Thru port of the Digitakt II back to the cubit duo didn't work.

grit

Perhaps the cubit duo does not power the RK002? Or maybe something with sysex implementation (but that would surprise me) These are the two conditions which should be met on reprogramming the RK002 via the DUY portal. The RK006 works, but a lot of other interfaces do too (Also for example a minilogue or roland aira compact) The Digitakt does drop midi sysex messages unfortunately so it can't be used for reprogramming. The Microfreak probably has TRS-B minimidi. Your easiest fix is probably a TRSA-DIN5Female adapter. Here's an explanation:
https://learn.adafruit.com/classic-midi-synth-control-with-trellis-m4/midi-connections
But we also have ready made adapters in the shop:
https://retrokits.com/shop/trsa-din5-dongle/

verdurin

Yes, after I posted I heard back from Peter that the cubit duo doesn't provide power. One adapter came with my RK-006 bundle, so I guess I need another one, and/or to buy female adapters.

Thanks for confirming.

grit

In the meantime you can try and put something in between the cubit and the rk002, like:
cubit out -> [midi device in - midi device hardware thru] -> [rk002 in - rk002 out] -> cubit in
Thru ports generally have power. but... when you have it to the RK006 you can also use the RK002 as a MIDI FX chain on the RK006 which is very powerful (see the RK002/RK006 Yamaha FB-01 shenanigans). If you have the later RK002's you can just plug a regular TRS-TRS cable in the minijack side of the RK002 and into the RK006, you can use the female TRS-DIN5 adapter you have to plug on the output:

RK006 out -> [trs audio cable in RK002] - din5f adapter -> RK006 in

verdurin

grit
Finally remembered to add an extra TRS-A adapter to the order when buying something else, and am now able to connect. Thanks.