MIDI Question

[riot1999]

I have a question..ok so I have a keyboard thats compatible with midi but I dont have a soundcard with a midi output..I have a really old soundcard with a midi output and I was wondering if I could use that and then set the sequencer software to use the sounds from the keyboard instead of the soundcard...does that make sense??can I do that??and will there still be bad audio quality if the sound card is that old??I just need the sound card to connect my keyboard to the pc..

[Blue Bear Sound]

The specifics will vary from card to card but in your case, I think you need another card to give your midi interface into your computer (used to be called MPU-401 I think)... you connect your keyboard thru it, and you have to set your soundcard to accept it's midi-input from the MPU-401 card............

Bruce

[AlChuck]

Bruce kind of side-stepped your questions there...

I have a really old soundcard with a midi output...

Do you also have a really old computer, or a really new one? Few motherboards are still made with slots that would accommodate an old soundcard (the so-called ISA slot). So depending on what you mean by "really old" and how that relates to your computer too, maybe you can use the old card and maybe you can't.

If you can physically get it into your computer, then yes, it should work. (I say should work because there is always the possibility that you might have a resource conflict that you cannot resolve between the old and possibly inflexible soundcard -- some of which are hard-wired to use only a certain IRQ and some fixed ranges of memory addresses-- and the other devices already installed and cooperating peacefully in your computer.)

If you do have a newer PC with PCI slots and no ISA slots and the "really old" soundcard is indeed and ISA card, then you're stuck. There are several models of MIDI interfaces available, some of which connect to the PC through standard ports like USB, serial, and parallel. That would probably be your best bet.

I was wondering if I could use that and then set the sequencer software to use the sounds from the keyboard instead of the soundcard...does that make sense??can I do that??

Absolutely, that is the whole reason such a thing as a MIDI interface exists. The MIDI interface of the card sends and receives MIDI messages to and from external devices like your keyboard. That's what its for. You are not limited to playing your MIDI tracks from the soundcard's own MIDI synth. All you need to do is select the right destination for the MIDI data in your tracks -- the MIDI Out port and not the card's synth. Then, assuming the cabling is correct and the keyboard is set to recieve the messages the way you want, you'll get the keyboard sounds.

and will there still be bad audio quality if the sound card is that old??I just need the sound card to connect my keyboard to the pc...

The audio quality of the old soundcard will have absolutely nothing, zero effect, on your intended purpose.

P.S. The fact that you even ask this question leads me to suspect that you don't have a clear notion of what MIDI data actually is and what it's for, so I suggest you read up a bit on it before you start trying to make use of it or you'll tie your brain in knots.

[riot1999]

Thanks a lot guys..you've answered my question..and yeah I have a new P4 computer with 256 ram..and I looked at the old sound card I was willing to use just for the midi input and it uses a pci interface.......once again thanks..

[TexRoadkill]

Just to head off your second round of questions-

You still need to hook up audio cables to hear your keyboard. You will need to hook up those audio cables to your soundcard to record the audio. Yes your soundcards audio quality will affect those recordings. No you cant run two soundblaster type cards at the same time (AFAIK).

[jansen09]

i have been recording music with the roland vs840 and am now trying to upload the music from it to my computer through a midi cable to get my music online to mp3 format. Im very stuck and have the right equipment but am just new with computers, any advice helps.

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by jansen09

i have been recording music with the roland vs840 and am now trying to upload the music from it to my computer through a midi cable to get my music online to mp3 format. Im very stuck and have the right equipment but am just new with computers, any advice helps.

Thats never going to happen, midi does not transfer audio. can you just use a zip disk?

[TerraMortim]

Originally Posted by altitude909

Thats never going to happen, midi does not transfer audio. can you just use a zip disk?

it can . . . . Just not in a very good way.

[altitude909]

Originally Posted by TerraMortim

it can . . . . Just not in a very good way.

That would probably be the most economical. Without going over the specs of your recorder, I am assuming it at least has a ADAT bus which would be the other way to go but the cheapest ADAT card will run you at least $150-200 and you can get a zip drive for probably $20

[cusebassman]

Originally Posted by altitude909

That would probably be the most economical. Without going over the specs of your recorder, I am assuming it at least has a ADAT bus which would be the other way to go but the cheapest ADAT card will run you at least $150-200 and you can get a zip drive for probably $20

I just took a working zip drive out of a desktop that I am revamping for a friend. If you want it, I'll send it to ya for the cost of shipping (really don't need it, and if it can go to use for someone, so be it )

That was to the person who asked the question, btw... also, start new threads - don't reply to ones that have been dead for 5 years PM me if yer interested in the drive.