Need more USB port

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Need more USB port

Hi guys,

I’m currently using S2 and F1 and I want to add MidiFighter to my setup.

However, there are only two USB port on the side of my Macbook 13", I need 3 port to use three controller.

How can I solve this problem?

Using USB herb? I heard USB herb induces some more latency than direct connection.

How does you guys use three or more controller with this lack of port problem??

Thank you for reading and Hope you have a good day~

2

USB hub should be fine..
Use the hub for the F1 and the midifighter and put your S2 direct to the mac port.

3

You shouldn’t have latency problems. I’ve got a mac and have various Midi devices running from a USB hub including a midi keyboard, X1 & F1 and have no latency issues.

Just make sure you buy a decent hub!

I’d suggest running the S2 directly into your mac and connecting the hub to the remaining port, you’ll be fine.

4

Thanks guys~ Hub is right btw kkk

5

Yep herbs are for other things :wink:

6

What USB hub would you recommend?

Power/unpowered?

7

Powered USB hubs are usually better since it draws power externally, which means avoiding USB power drainage problems from your computer. I myself use this Belkin 4-port powered USB Hub and its treating me well

belkin-usb-hub-4-ports-speed-f4u040ak-chocobozz-1203-03-Chocobozz@114.jpg
belkin-usb-hub-4-ports-speed-f4u040ak-chocobozz-1203-03-Chocobozz@114.jpg484×431 17.8 KB

When you get the hub, just make sure it is USB 2.0 (or even 3.0 if you can find one and if the computer is compatible) so that you get the maximum bandwith

8

Using the same one as well. Works fine for me.

Only thing i disliked is if my laptop goes to sleep it wont recognize my controllers when it wakes up and i have to replug them all in.

9

I use Caffeine to prevent my MBA from sleeping when running on battery. It adds an icon to the toolbar which you can simply click to activate (or deactivate).

10

sorry for bumping an old thread…

im on the hunt for the crane 4 port usb hub. since its been discontinued. (anyone have one for sale, cheap?)
i have an external HD, S4, F1 and soon to be X1.

as for the external HD, im looking to upgrade to a thunderbolt lacie 1tb, so that will clear up a port. the crane hub will use that port and be used for the F1 and X1 and leave me room to run the S4 directly into my MBP.

anyone had any issues with the unpowered crane 4 port hub? i like if for the fact that it clips onto the crane stand. the new HD im looking at is BUS powered so that clears up a power port & thats another reason i want an unpowered usb hub (eliminate the clutter)

anyone had problems running unpowered with an X1 or F1? i can’t see that being a huge issue since the draw is very minimal.

11

I have one (Mind you I’m in Australia, so sending it is a bit out of the question). Personally I’d just find a regular USB Hub. The crane one has a super short lead, which is all well and good if you’re setting up directly in front of the mixer, but if you want to plug your laptop in away from the mixer/CDJ’s, and prep while another DJ is playing, it can be a bit of a pain. Also causes a problem if I want to run CDJ’s with my X1’s, as I often find I need the external power and have to swap to my other hub. X1 and F1 alone should be fine if you insist =P

You’re better off finding yourself a good quality Belkin or other brand USB Hub, with power.

12

Would an un-powered usb hub be fine for say two X1’s? I’m guessing an external hard drive and a X1 would be a bit of a stretch on one un-powered hub right?

13

I thought all Midi controllers needed powered USB hubs.

Here is my personal favorite. It’s stays home so it doesn’t have to look good. It does USB 3.0 file transfers to SATA drives and serves as a USB 2.0 2 port hub and Card Reader. It has an on/off switch which I think all hubs should have.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10315&cs_id=1031502&p_id=8078&seq=1&format=2

14

So I did a bit of search. By the sounds of things a powered hub is probably the way to go.

15

Two X1’s are fine on an unpowered hub, but adding anything else would be pushing it close

16

The x1 and f1 on an unpowered hub (being the only 2 controllers being BUS powered) would be fine. If adding an external HD to the hub I’m gonna guess if you were to add a powered HD you could possibly be fine.

That’s why I’m upgrading my drive to a thunderbolt drive, it’s BUS powered and frees up a USB port + it’s extremely fast.

While we are on the talk of things… Say you were to buy an unpowered hub to run a powered HD or even say the S4 using the supplied power adapter (witch should always be used IMO), there should be no problem at all since the HD & S4 are pulling its power from an outlet correct? It’s just using the USB port to send and receive the data, no power draw?

17

The new thunderbolt docks with usb slots mite solve some problems when they start coming out