The new UD-01 and MD BT-01 are wireless Bluetooth to MIDI interfaces which allow for greater portability and less risk of tripping over cables. Matt Vanacoro puts both to the test from a distance!  

Why Two?

Yamaha UD-BT01 Bluetooth to MIDI wireless interface
Yamaha MD-BT01 Bluetooth to MIDI wireless interface

Why Bluetooth

There’s an App For That

Conclusion

Price : $49.99 each
Pros : Quick and easy setup, extremely low latency, rock solid reliability, good range
Cons : The UD requires power to work. This isn’t a fault in the design but more of a limitation of the USB power/signal flow.
Web : http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/accessories/interfaces/md-bt01/?mode=model

Matt Vanacoro is one of New York's premier musicans. Matt has collaborated as a keyboardist in studio and on stage with artists such as Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Mark Wood (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Mark Rivera (Billy Joel Band), Aaron Carter, Amy Regan, Jay Azzolina, Marcus Ratzenboeck (Tantric), KeKe Palmer, C-Note, Jordan Knig... Read More

Discussion

Charly
Hi Matt!thanks for your nice articles. Do you think The md is powered from any device? I could think to use it with a Yamaha reface cp, and a akay mx8 for example. It would been enough to conceive a "battery powering" to complete this new product for yamaha. Anyway thanks again!
Matt Vanacoro
The MD is powered by any device that has both a MIDI in and out. I've yet to find one that didn't work when both were plugged in.
Norm Hartendorp
I heard somewhere that not all devices with 5pin MIDI out ports carry power. Can you confirm this? If that’s the case, then the md-bt01 will not work as there is no other external option to power it as in the usb unit. I ordered one for my Yamaha P95B digital piano before finding this out. I’m hoping that this being a Yamaha product that it will work. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to upgrade the P95B (which I’m using primarily as a controller). My main setup was this keyboard into a Griffin Technology Studioconnect into an iPad mini 2. Everything worked perfectly until I recently upgraded the iPad to a Pro 2nd generation. Now only audio gets through -no MIDI and the md-bt01 was supposed to be the cure. Crossing fingers...

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