Another Midi Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Khaki
  • Start date Start date
K

Khaki

New member
I went to Guitar Center to purchase midi cables for my computer. I have a SB Live with a joystick/midi port. It does not actually have those round (din) style ports at all. Not even on the motherboard. The Keyboard guy suggested I purchase the USB midisport UNO interface and avoid the basic cables. Unfortunately his explanation was a little confusing to me being that I'm new to this stuff. So I bought them. Anyway I hooked the USB end of the interface to the motherboard (USB) jack and the midi jacks to the keyboard. Is it necessary to connect to the soundcard or is connecting to the motherboard (USB) jacks ok? Also, do I really need this UNO midi interface cable or would standard cables be ok? In otherwords should I by the midi cables with the midi/joystick jacks and connect to my sound card or is what I have necessary? Hope this explains it ok. Again, your input is appreciated.
 
I went to Guitar Center to purchase midi cables for my computer. I have a SB Live with a joystick/midi port. It does not actually have those round (din) style ports at all. Not even on the motherboard.

"Not even on the motherboard?" They're never on the motherboard. The SB Live requires a MIDI/Joystick adapter in order to connect standard cables. These things can be purchased in most compyter stores and maybe some music stores. too, for about $25 or so. You can get a pair of MIDI cables for $8-10 apiece.

Anyway I hooked the USB end of the interface to the motherboard (USB) jack and the midi jacks to the keyboard. Is it necessary to connect to the soundcard or is connecting to the motherboard (USB) jacks ok?

No, the USB interface is independent of the soundcard. You just plug the USB cable into one of the computer's USB ports, and the MIDI cables to/from its MIDI ports from/to the keyboard's MIDI ports.

Also, do I really need this UNO midi interface cable or would standard cables be ok?

Either should work just fine. You could even use both and have two independent MIDI interfaces if you wanted. I use two myself (in the form of a MIDISPORT 2x2 USB interface) -- one for my keyboard, another for my drum pad controller, so I can leave them both plugged in and available all the time.
 
Lucky me, I had my keyboard (korgX5) comes with it's own PC/MIDI IF which can be connected to serial port using optional cable. You may check if your keyboard also has this feature :) .
 
Clemie, are you using Win9X or Win2000/XP?

I have a Korg NX5R and have troubble using the serial connection cable with it because they don't support WinNT. :(
 
Back
Top