Fieva,
Thanks for your input. Yes, I have sequencing software - it's Cakewalk Home Studio Version 2 XL, which I've owned for almost 2 years. I had already gotten it to work by hooking my keyboard directly to the soundcard using a midi cable, using the midi sounds from the soundcard.
I already have a pretty good understanding as to how midi works as far as channels, instruments (sound numbers), recording, etc. and have been able to record quite a bit of music using my keyboard as well as entering notation into the softwar by had. But, I just acquired some new equipment -
a Korg NS5R sound module, which will greatly expand my instrument library, and a basic mixer.
I have managed to get sound from the keyboard and record in the sequencing software in midi in the following way:
• There is one midi cable running from the "midi out" on the keyboard to the "midi in" on the sound module.
• I have a USB-to-midi converter cable (usb plug on one end, midi in and out plugs on the other) attached to a USB port on the computer (this is what I used to hook my keyboard up to the computer before); on the other end of the cable, the "midi in" plug is attached to the "midi thru" port on the keyboard; the "midi out" end isn't in use at the moment
• The sound module is hooked up to the mixer with stereo L & R speaker cables.
• The mixer is connected to the studio monitors using more stereo speaker cables
I hope this makes sense. Using this setup, I can hear my playing, and it records in the software. But in order to hear the playback of my recording, I have to switch around some stuff:
• I disconnect the midi cable running from the keyboard to the sound module but unplugging the cord from the "midi in" port on the sound module
• I connect the "midi out" plug on the usb/midi cable to the "midi in" port on the sound module
• I move the "midi in" plug on the usb/midi cable to the "midi out" port on the sound module
Doing this, I'm able to play midi files on my computer again, but of course, I can't hear or record my playing! I tried hooking a stereo Y cable from the mixer to the audio out port on the computer , but it didn't do anything.
I want to be able to play, record, and playback without having to switch around cables all the time. I feel that there's a way, but I'm missing it. I'm sorry this is so long, and I hope it makes sense and that you have some more feedback for me. Thank you very much!