Keyboard controller setup...please help!

[copperandstars]

Hello,

I am having problems with the Fatar cmk-49 controller I just ordered. How does the computer recognize this device? It came with a cord that goes from the midi out on the keyboard to the serial port on my computer. I use Cubase SX and can not figure out how to set the cmk-49 as the midi controller. Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ryan

[z00dave7]

Hi Ryan - long-time keyboard player here, and I have used Cubase for a while, though I'm no expert.
First off.....what exactly are you trying to control with the controller? - VST instruments? If so, hooking up your controller makes sense. You could control one or more of these with your controller, treating individual VST instruments with your controller, assigning different sounds/patches to various splits on the controller, etc.
I hook my controller (midi OUT) up to the computer via the midi IN on my soundcard, and send the midi out on the soundcard to the midi IN on my JV 1080, or my XP 50.
Be sure to make sure that the midi channels match up.
Hope this helps)
Dave

[copperandstars]

Thanks for the response Dave,

The reason I purchased the controller is actually to use it with vst instruments. I think I know how to set up the softwear the correct way, I just can't figure out how to get the controller recognized by the computer. No softwear or drivers or anything came with the controller...but I am pretty sure that is how most (or all?) controllers are. Like I said before it has a cable that goes from the midi out into the serial port. Any ideas?

Ryan

[Krakit]

All keyboard controllers are recognized the same way by your computer depending on which port they go into.

There are only two MIDI possible input ports on a computer that I am aware of.

The USB port or the MIDI port on a sound card.

I'm guessing that you have the latter and are trying to put it into your serial port. That won't work.

Is your soundcard embedded in your mother board? If you have a soundcard in your PC it should have a port that looks like this:



Carl

[dafduc]

Don't some soundcards make you use another connection? Joystick or something?

I've NEVER used a setup like that - my soundcard only handled sound, not midi. Got a separate usb midi i/o (midiman2x2).

Youy might want to take the plunge and get a midi connection, copper. But you may also find yourself really frustrated by latency issues with your VSTi's if you're not using a soundcard that does ASIO...

Daf

[Krakit]

Yes, the MIDI port on a sound card is the joystick port too.
I should have mentioned that.

It's cheaper to just get a soundcard with a joystick/midi port on it than any other PC/MIDI interface.

You can have two soundcards in your computer and use the cheapie for MIDI input only (if your legacy card is Prosumer or better).

Carl

[rvf263]

Maybe this might help.

http://musicmall.com/cmp/article6.htm

http://musicmall.com/cmp/article7.htm

[copperandstars]

Thanks for the help.

I read trough all that, tried to reconfigure everything, and still no luck. I think I might just get a usb midi interface.

This is a real newbie question I am sure, but what purpose does the midi in on the keyboard have? Mine only has an output.

Thanks.

[Krakit]

If your keyboard had onboard sounds, you would be able to control these sounds via yet another keyboard, or a sequencer or a computer or whatever else you have with a MIDI output on it.

If your keyboard is just a controller, it has no inherent sounds and therefore there is not point in having a MIDI input.

Carl

[rvf263]

copperandstars,
What kind of soundcard are you using?

[copperandstars]

Usually I am using my M-Audio Delta card as my soundcard, but it does not have any midi support. The soundcard that came stock with my computer is a C-Media AC97 I believe. In my device manager it says something about a MPU-401 compatable midi device. I'm not sure what this means.

I just purchased an M-Audio usb midi connecter...I decided it would make it a lot easier in the long run even If I could make my soundcard cooperate.

Thanks.

Ryan