Which connector does 5-Pin DIN Dual Right-Angle MIDI Audio Cable use?

It is built around 5-pin DIN male (right angle).

Dual Right Angle MIDI Cable, 5-Pin DIN

Last updated: 13 September 2026

Overview

A dual right angle midi cable solves a physical problem rather than an electrical one. MIDI sockets sit in a row on the back panel of a synth or an interface, next to power, audio and CV. A straight plug occupies about 50 mm of depth in front of the panel and blocks the socket beside it. This build puts both plugs at 90 degrees so the cable leaves flat against the panel, which is the difference between a rack that closes and one that does not.

Key Specifications

Connector A	5-pin DIN male (right angle)
Connector B	5-pin DIN male (right angle)
Wiring	Pins 4 and 5 straight through, pin 2 shield, per the standard
Cable	Shielded multi-core with an overall screen
Jacket	PVC
Strain Relief	Molded, low-profile right-angle bodies
Exit Direction	Clocked to order so both plugs face the same way
Build standard	Built to the pinout you send if it differs from the standard

Why the angle matters more than the cable

Nothing about the signal changes with an angled plug; MIDI is a 5 mA current loop and does not care. What changes is the mechanical load on the socket and on everything around it:

Problem with a straight plug	What the right angle fixes	Where it matters most
Blocks the neighboring socket	The plug clears the jack beside it	Patch bays and multi-port interfaces
Forces a tight bend at the exit	The cable leaves parallel to the panel	Shallow racks and wall-mounted shelves
Levers the socket when knocked	The load goes into the panel, not the connector	Touring racks and mobile rigs
Stands proud of a rear panel	Rear clearance drops to the shell depth	Equipment against a wall

One thing to check before you order: angled plugs can be clocked in different directions. If the two ends have to point the same way in your rack, say so and we build them matched.

Identifying the MIDI sockets on your equipment

Count the pins: five. A five-pin DIN socket at this size is almost always MIDI. A six-pin or eight-pin shell in the same family is not.
Check the shell diameter. Standard DIN is about 13.2 mm. The smaller mini-DIN bodies are a different connector entirely.
Look at the labels. MIDI IN, OUT and THRU are usually printed on the panel, and the direction matters: an OUT connects to an IN.
Note the clearance in front of and beside each socket, so the angled body actually fits.
Decide which way each plug should point before you order, not after it arrives.

The interface itself is described in the MIDI specification: a current loop on pins 4 and 5 driving an opto-isolator, with the shield on pin 2. Your cable is built to the pinout you send where it differs from that.

Why MIDI leads still fail

Broken shield at the relief. These leads get coiled and un-coiled constantly, and the drain wire is what goes first.
Bent pins. The pins are soft and the keyway is easy to miss in a dark rack. One bent pin and the link is dead.
Plug half out. A DIN plug that is not fully seated makes partial contact and produces intermittent note data, which is routinely misdiagnosed as a software problem.
Cheap unshielded cable. Next to a power supply or a dimmer pack, an unshielded lead picks up enough noise to corrupt data.
Angled bodies catching on rack strips and being levered sideways when the rack is moved.

Fitting and verifying a MIDI run

Power down before connecting. It is not strictly required, but it avoids surprises with older gear.
Align the keyway and push straight in until the shell seats. Never rock it.
Connect source OUT to destination IN. OUT to OUT and IN to IN pass nothing.
Send a note and watch for activity at the receiving end, not just a link light.
Wiggle each plug gently while notes are running. Any drop-out is a seating or shield problem.

Typical Applications for This Dual Right Angle MIDI Cable

Hardware synth racks where sockets sit close together
Desktop synths and controllers pushed back against a wall
Patch bays and stage boxes with limited rear clearance
Live rigs where a protruding plug would be knocked
Permanent studio wiring that never gets re-patched

How to specify your build

Exit direction on each plug, and whether they must match.
Length along the actual route.
Shielded, which is the default for this interface.
Jacket: PVC, or a softer jacket where the lead is coiled often.
Pinout if it differs from the standard.
Marking with your part number for rental and touring stock.
Quantity, and whether this is a prototype or a production order.

Workmanship and testing

Assembly and inspection follow IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 3 workmanship criteria under our ISO 9001 quality management system, and every unit passes 100% continuity and pinout testing before it is packed. Conductor range is 32 to 12 AWG. Angled bodies get a seating check so a plug that will not fully enter a socket does not reach you. Pin functions quoted above are the industry-standard MIDI definitions; your assembly is built and verified to your drawing.

Custom builds and ordering

Prototype builds start from 5 pcs and ship in 3 working days; production orders start at MOQ 500 pcs and ship 14 working days after approval. New tooling for a non-standard exit direction adds about 10 working days. OEM and ODM builds ship under your part number and labeling, with material certificates and first-article reports available on request. Factory audits and video line tours can be arranged.