5 ms·

Is the midi connector the oldest one still in active use? It is my prime example of getting things right at the first (or at least first-ish) try.

by bjoli 8y ago

jchw 8y ago
Depending on what you'd consider a 'connector,' the headphone jack has quite a long lineage. I believe the 3.5mm headphone jack was originally created in the '50s. Of course, on the very distant planet that phone vendors live in, the headphone jack is not in active use, because people there were apparently absolutely begging for phones that were fractions of a millimeter thinner. In any case, if you count the larger variants, it's been around for a fair bit longer than that, even.
- sandov 8y ago
  I think the 3.5mm will still be widely used 20 years from now. In the wired realm, it doesn't get much better than the 3.5mm jack from a user convenience point of view.
  - TheRealPomax 8y ago
    Except maybe the 1/4" TRS jack.
- TheRealPomax 8y ago
  Interesting that you went with the 3.5mm jack, and not the 1/4" jack, which predate the 20th century and will be in use until analog electric signals become impossible, rather than being tied to whether or not "cabled portable audio devices" stay a thing or whether we give up on those.
  - jchw 8y ago
    I mentioned them, but ordinary people don't use 1/4" jacks. In fact, I don't know who still uses 1/4" jacks. Audio professionals seem to use XLR, though I am not one myself. I know 3.5mm connectors are still in active use by the general public.
    - Unklejoe 8y ago
      > In fact, I don't know who still uses 1/4" jacks. People with electric guitars, at least.
      - jchw 8y ago
        TIL. Looks like there is at least a bit more variance on the 1/4" jack, with multiple types that are in use. Meanwhile, virtually any consumer 3.5mm jack is going to be TRS or TRRS, though admittedly there are definitely some less-standard things there too. So the 1/4" jack has been around a lot longer, but may be less 'standard' in that sense. Of course, I also have no idea whether 3.5mm jacks have always been as 'standard' as they are today.
        danellis 8y ago
        They are standardized, though: EIA RS-453/IEC 60603-11
    - timc3 8y ago
      Lots of people with studios use 1/4” Jacks (and sockets!). I have hundreds of cables with them. I use XLR for Microphones, speakers, and a few other devices but all my synths and most effect units are 1/4” and some are TRS (balanced) 1/4”. 3.5mm I have a lot of because of my EuroModular.
    - TheRealPomax 8y ago
      Every person with a guitar, or an older HiFi system, or people who care just enough about audio to own an audio interface, in addition to everyone who owns, say, a mini keyboard with audio out. It's all 1/4".
aerique 8y ago
What about the headphone jack?
- pbhjpbhj 8y ago
  Spade connectors probably predate that. For it to make sense I think you'd have to say specialised connectors. Phono? XLR (microphones) are quite old and still widely used. Car "cigarette lighter" fittings, and lightbulb "Bayonet" fittings are pretty old too; not sure if the latter counts. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector
EvanAnderson 8y ago
I suppose one could dispute "in active use", but D-sub connectors predate DIN connectors and are still in use today. I see them primarily on industrial equipment and, obviously, not on PCs much anymore. Given that MIDI is pretty specialized, too, I'd say that D-sub is at least as common, if not more so.
fit2rule 8y ago
RS232, DB9 ..
- agumonkey 8y ago
  Interesting, introduction in 1960 by EIA. Also > The lack of adherence to the standards produced a thriving industry of breakout boxes, patch boxes, test equipment, books, and other aids for the connection of disparate equipment. The value of a standard is also when nobody follows it :)
yellowbuilding 8y ago
NEMA, right? I think sometime in the 1910s.
SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
In addition to the other great suggestions here, I'd like to add some of the various domestic power sockets in use around the world.
NeedMoreTea 8y ago
Quarter inch jack has to be older than most, as it's pre-1900. Still standard equipment on hi-fi, guitars, headsets and other uses. Even the screw on 1/4 to 3.5mm adaptor has become standard. Only smartphones decided to be awkward.
usrusr 8y ago
Connectors come in all ages, but it surely has to be the oldest digital interface that you might still occasionally find on new devices in the non-food section of a larger supermarket.
weinzierl 8y ago
I think MIDI over USB is most common nowadays, especially for connecting with a computer. There is no lack of devices with the 5 pin DIN connector though. I recently bought a new keyboard and it has In and Out DIN connectors besides USB. The keyboard model was released in 2016, I think, so nothing vintage.
sintaxi 8y ago
Perhaps Ethernet, or TRS.
jefftk 8y ago
The 1/4" audio jack goes back to about 1878: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)
sowbug 8y ago
The U.S. garden-hose thread dates back to 1890.

Is the midi connector the oldest one still in active use? It is my prime example of getting things right at the first (or at least first-ish) try.

by bjoli 8y ago

Is the midi connector the oldest one still in active use? It is my prime example of getting things right at the first (or at least first-ish) try.

jchw 8y ago

Depending on what you'd consider a 'connector,' the headphone jack has quite a long lineage. I believe the 3.5mm headphone jack was originally created in the '50s. Of course, on the very distant planet that phone vendors live in, the headphone jack is not in active use, because people there were apparently absolutely begging for phones that were fractions of a millimeter thinner. In any case, if you count the larger variants, it's been around for a fair bit longer than that, even.

sandov 8y ago
I think the 3.5mm will still be widely used 20 years from now. In the wired realm, it doesn't get much better than the 3.5mm jack from a user convenience point of view.
- TheRealPomax 8y ago
  Except maybe the 1/4" TRS jack.
TheRealPomax 8y ago
Interesting that you went with the 3.5mm jack, and not the 1/4" jack, which predate the 20th century and will be in use until analog electric signals become impossible, rather than being tied to whether or not "cabled portable audio devices" stay a thing or whether we give up on those.
- jchw 8y ago
  I mentioned them, but ordinary people don't use 1/4" jacks. In fact, I don't know who still uses 1/4" jacks. Audio professionals seem to use XLR, though I am not one myself. I know 3.5mm connectors are still in active use by the general public.
  - Unklejoe 8y ago
    > In fact, I don't know who still uses 1/4" jacks. People with electric guitars, at least.
    - jchw 8y ago
      TIL. Looks like there is at least a bit more variance on the 1/4" jack, with multiple types that are in use. Meanwhile, virtually any consumer 3.5mm jack is going to be TRS or TRRS, though admittedly there are definitely some less-standard things there too. So the 1/4" jack has been around a lot longer, but may be less 'standard' in that sense. Of course, I also have no idea whether 3.5mm jacks have always been as 'standard' as they are today.
      - danellis 8y ago
        They are standardized, though: EIA RS-453/IEC 60603-11
  - timc3 8y ago
    Lots of people with studios use 1/4” Jacks (and sockets!). I have hundreds of cables with them. I use XLR for Microphones, speakers, and a few other devices but all my synths and most effect units are 1/4” and some are TRS (balanced) 1/4”. 3.5mm I have a lot of because of my EuroModular.
  - TheRealPomax 8y ago
    Every person with a guitar, or an older HiFi system, or people who care just enough about audio to own an audio interface, in addition to everyone who owns, say, a mini keyboard with audio out. It's all 1/4".

aerique 8y ago

What about the headphone jack?

pbhjpbhj 8y ago
Spade connectors probably predate that. For it to make sense I think you'd have to say specialised connectors. Phono? XLR (microphones) are quite old and still widely used. Car "cigarette lighter" fittings, and lightbulb "Bayonet" fittings are pretty old too; not sure if the latter counts. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector

EvanAnderson 8y ago

I suppose one could dispute "in active use", but D-sub connectors predate DIN connectors and are still in use today. I see them primarily on industrial equipment and, obviously, not on PCs much anymore. Given that MIDI is pretty specialized, too, I'd say that D-sub is at least as common, if not more so.

fit2rule 8y ago

RS232, DB9 ..

agumonkey 8y ago
Interesting, introduction in 1960 by EIA. Also > The lack of adherence to the standards produced a thriving industry of breakout boxes, patch boxes, test equipment, books, and other aids for the connection of disparate equipment. The value of a standard is also when nobody follows it :)

yellowbuilding 8y ago

NEMA, right? I think sometime in the 1910s.

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago

In addition to the other great suggestions here, I'd like to add some of the various domestic power sockets in use around the world.

NeedMoreTea 8y ago

Quarter inch jack has to be older than most, as it's pre-1900. Still standard equipment on hi-fi, guitars, headsets and other uses. Even the screw on 1/4 to 3.5mm adaptor has become standard. Only smartphones decided to be awkward.

usrusr 8y ago

Connectors come in all ages, but it surely has to be the oldest digital interface that you might still occasionally find on new devices in the non-food section of a larger supermarket.

weinzierl 8y ago

I think MIDI over USB is most common nowadays, especially for connecting with a computer. There is no lack of devices with the 5 pin DIN connector though. I recently bought a new keyboard and it has In and Out DIN connectors besides USB. The keyboard model was released in 2016, I think, so nothing vintage.

sintaxi 8y ago

Perhaps Ethernet, or TRS.

jefftk 8y ago

The 1/4" audio jack goes back to about 1878: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)

sowbug 8y ago

The U.S. garden-hose thread dates back to 1890.