CME WIDI Bud Pro Bluetooth MIDI Interface

Joshua J. Salles

September 9, 2026

Original OP-1 & EP-1320 Bluetooth MIDI upgrade 👏

I've been wanting to experiment with MIDI more but am limited by USB MIDI on the OP-1, so I finally decided to try out CME WIDI and I am very pleased with how simple it was to set up both WIDI K.O. II plus the WIDI Uhost together.

The user guide could use some work because they're trying to account for all of the WIDI devices (which to be fair are practically identical in how they're set up) but it was very alarming at first when all I had to do was update them to get them working properly with each other.

I am now having loads of fun figuring out the possible MIDI route setups and I only wish the WIDI Uhost was able to be powered by the OP-1 as it does with the OP-Z. The WIDI K.O. II has been fun to swap between the EP-40/EP-1320 and I already want another one as they look great with the added Medieval stickers!

I was not expecting the WIDI Uhost to practically be the size of a quarter, it's very tiny and comes with a magnet to attach to stuff so hopefully it won't get lost but I guess that just makes it also super portable.

I've had no issues to report so far, I will know more once I am able to start pushing MIDI to it's limits but it's been able to keep up with whatever I throw at it - in either direction.

10/10 would buy again - especially used, for the discount 👍

Can’t use it on the devices it was built for. Don’t buy.

Garbage! I bought two of them thinking I could sync my K02 with RIDDIM, but they freak out together. I adjusted the MIDI settings on both before plugging them in to see if that would fix….they still freak out. I thought this was built for these devices. I took too long to finally try them out, and my return window closed, so I guess I’ll just throw them away or something.

0:23

SysEx Implementation Breaks Sysex on MacOS & iPadOS

WIDI Master violates the BLE-MIDI 1.0 spec which requires a SysEx split across notifications be framed so the receiver can reassemble it: an initial packet with a timestamp byte before F0, continuation packets marked by the absence of a timestamp, and a final packet with a timestamp before F7.

The WIDI Master clobbers (breaks up) Sysex header and this is the deal-breaker. Advertised as supporting SysEx, the OEM is very light on the details.

Connectivity (Bluetooth) is excellent. I did not test the sound quality.

Finally, the app was not designed for the MacOS, and many features are not available. The app works great on iPadOS.

Overall, it fails functionally for my iOS application in this one particular context.

Vmusic

June 24, 2026

Doesn't Actually Work - Consistently (IF AT ALL)

There is an error while communicating with your device. Please Retry. HOW FRUSTRATING.... PLEASE.... don't waste hours of your time chasing some fantasy that you can send MIDI messages via Bluetooth. It's a complete waste of time. Some people, with "certain" select devices, have gotten it to work.... but it's NOT consistent. I could NEVER get my Android to connect to it. One time, I did get my iPad to connect and the next time I tried my iPad wouldn't connect.

Just the very fact that you don't "pair this Bluetooth device" like you do other Bluetooth devices should be a warning that somebody has written some garage code to make something work that really doesn't.

When the instructions say things like "clear the bluetooth cache"; well yeah.... don't waste your $$$ and time (which is also $$$)

John Pork

May 9, 2026

For $60, I expect plug-and-play? Also, only use it with monophonic synths.

I bought this with the intent of making my keytar wireless. The MIDI adapter worked flawlessly out-of-the box with my iPhone. The latency is as low as you'll get, and it will connect instantly, sometimes when you don't even need it to. However!! When you use it with Windows 11 (the most popular operating system on the planet), it "connects" for a second and gives up. After scrolling through Reddit, I discovered that the only "official" fix provided by CME is to install a driver from Korg. This "fix" didn't work for me, which is why I had to find an alternative app that works with these devices, Perfect Bluetooth MIDI, which worked after I installed yet another driver (which is a problem on Microsoft's part, not CME). After all this, my keytar worked with my computer with no issues. But if I'm paying $60 for a tiny Bluetooth adapter, it should be perfect. CME should have their own drivers.

Edit: Can only play 2 notes at once, if it feels like it. Realistically, you can only reliably get away with one note at once, so don't bother using polyphonic synths with this adapter.

Best wireless midi

I have a lot of auv3 connected to it and I have Logic Pro for iPad and cubasis3 on iPad and it’s awesome and more

Great! it works seamelssly with my Ipad and Yamaha Ck61

Works well with my Yamaha CK61!

0:07

Take the time to tinker with it.

Solved my issue running koala on Android. I was using USB cable then otg adapter. I kept freezing up. With the widi I was able to play longer without any hiccups after all troubleshooting. After pairing if it didn't work I would try again until it gets a stable BT connection. Very happy. My midi controller no longer collecting dust. I was really tempted to buy a new BT midi controller already built in, but nah. Why when already have MPC style pads with reputable quality by the best in pads? Or risk buying crappy pads with weak response? The widi in return saved me money. Yup. I highly recommend for USB midi controllers. Type C connection on uHost is so convenient. I'm still undecided on where to place my included sticky magnet.

Works great with Headrush Core

Works great with Headrush Core. Using BandHelper app on 9th Generation iPad.

Charles Leone

March 4, 2025

Breathing new life into an old IPad

This device is an absolute game changer for how I use my iPad for music production. I bought a set to see if I could sync my Behringer TD-3 MO with my iPad and it actually works amazingly well. MIDI over Bluetooth allows me to use my iPad to sync up my external synth to DM-1 Drum machine app on my iPad as well as a few audio plugins I use, all while freeing up the lightning port for an audio interface adapter. I run the headphones out of the TD-3 MO into the audio interface and then mix, add fx and sync the app to the synth via MIDI, creating a complete performance and recording setup. Very happy with this thing.

UPDATED: iOS firmware updates (DO NOT) break the device

New review: I was able to follow instructions by the manufacturer. The device’s firmware has been updated and it works remarkably well.

Old review: The firmware update is the only option you have when you start the app. I left mine “updating” for an hour. Then a message: “the firmware update was aborted”. The Widi device has been bricked. It no longer connects to the app. Both the device and the app work together in this moment to guarantee that nothing works.

Unfortunately- It doesn't work with every setup

I really hoped it will work but unfortunately, it doesn't work with passive midi devices (like the Midi Solutions Router).

I'm using 2 synths at the same time, controlled by a KM12STEP, so the router filters specific midi notes to specific devices.

When the WIDI JACK is connected to the MIDI Router, it doesn't pass any data since the MIDI Router uses parasitic voltage, so even if the WIDI Jack is powered, the setup won't work.

I've returned the WIDI jacks, too bad it didn't work.

M. Larsen

September 19, 2022

Good and bad.

As soon as you plug two devices in they auto sync and work fine. But when you try to sync them with Android it fails miserably. There are a few hilariously terrible steps you can take to try to make them connect with your phone but it's a waste of time.

Support was always quick to respond but the answer is always the same. Delete your connections, delete your Bluetooth stuff, turn Bluetooth off and on, reboot your phone, try again. As you can see in there screen shot it says it connected but since it doesn't populate the serial number and other info it isn't really connected and you can't configure it. Support finally admitted that it doesn't work with all Android devices and they didn't test that many. I'm running a Pixel 6 Pro. I tried it with two other Android devices as well and it failed on all of them.

I really wanted, no needed these to work. I'll keep an eye on them to see if they ever get their act together. If they would work I'd buy a lot of these for the studio and my live rig.

Works great on Linux! Plug and play!

With the release of PipeWire on POP!_OS 22.04, I started having WIDI performance issues with my laptop's built-in Bluetooth receiver. Basically, wireless MIDI would stutter on PipeWire vs. JACK. I purchased this WIDI Uhost just-in-time and by chance, and WOW! I'm back to having smooth wireless MIDI playback. It paired immediately with my wireless MIDI adapter --- no app required! Although expensive, it performs as it promises and has a load of other features that I haven't tapped into yet. Recommended!

It Just Works

I use a pair of these units to connect an Akai EWI 5000 wind controller to a MIDI switcher/router in live and studio settings. Set up is drop dead simple -- plug one unit into the MIDI in and out jacks of a port on the MIDI switcher, plug the output half of the other unit into the MIDI out of the EWI, they pair automatically, and form a wireless MIDI connection. Nothing else to it. I can discern no audible or technical difference in performance between the wireless link and an ordinary MIDI cable, but the freedom and visual appeal of performing with an instrument that has no dangling cables is unbeatable.

The design of these is especially nice with a wind controller or other small MIDI controller that has only a MIDI out. The unneeded input half of the unit is simply omitted with no extra dangling connectors as there are with other similar solutions.

I used the provided app on an iPhone to update the firmware on both units to the latest version. The user interface of the app wasn't as intuitive as it could be, but it worked as designed, and the firmware update process was successful and reasonably easy.

I also briefly tested using other bluetooth devices such my Korg MicroKey Air keyboard controller and software synths such as the Minimoog Model D app on an iPhone and had the same great experience -- it just works.