How does it work???

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Bobcat102122

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Hey,


I'm Trying to figure out how to properly connect my Yamaha PSR270 keyboard MIDI outs to my SBLIVE! joystick port. I have the proper cables...but im not sure how to really do it. The manuals are both considerably unclear and I would appreciate if someone could fill me in on how It should be done. If you don't know, where could I go to find out? thanks, yall are the best,

~Bobcat
 
First, if you don't have one, you need an adapter cable that will connect to your joystick port connection (15 pin) split to two midi cables (5 pin each). They run around $25 - $30 and you should be able to get one at Radio Shack or Musician's friend, etc. The two midi cables are marked - one is in and one is out.

Then you connect the midi out cable from the joystick port to your keyboard's midi in and vice versa. You probably will then have to go into your computer's settings for the joystick port and set it to midi something (I can't remember exactly what because I don't have that setup anymore) or download a driver from the net for the Yamaha. Not sure about that part, though.

Hope this helps.

mutt
 
This thread is also quite useful for me, 'cause I want to get into the MIDI-stuff now.
I've got this Roland RD500 electric piano, and a soundcard with joystick input.
Now, as you said, I'm planning to buy such a cable.
When I've got it; how do I connect it?

The 15-pin in the computer, of course, and those other two?

I've got MIDI IN, OUT, and THRU. Which two do I have to connect to the pc?

Thanks.
Maarten.
 
Well, the 15 pin connecter plugs into the joystick port on the computer like you said. The two other ends of the cord should be labeled. One will say "IN" the other will say "OUT."
Plug the end labeled "IN" into the "OUT" on your midi device.
Plug the end labeled "OUT" into the "IN" on your midi device.
You don't have to mess with the midi through.
 
I haven't got the cable yet, but another one with just two 5-pin ends.
I got another keyboard, and I found out to be able to got the sounds of that thing to be played with the Roland. That's pretty cool :).

The problem is now, I don't really what I can do with the computer and MIDI.
I would think I can use instrument sounds of the computer to be played on the Roland. Is that true?

And what more are the good things about MIDI, compared with Audio?

Sorry for the wide question, I'm really new into MIDI, not in Audio, and I'm really planning to use that in my homestudio.

Thanks again.
Maarten.
 
Any card with a joystick port will probably have crappier sounds than your Roland, but you can get a great variety of sounds if it supports sound fonts.
A major advantage of MIDI recording over audio recording is the ability to directly generate sheet music from just playing the keyboard. Editability at the note level is also very useful.
Also, a PC is a better sequencer than any of the standalones or built-ins I've ever seen.
 
Fucksia,
What can you do with Midi?

Record Songs you could never play, like Tchaikovsky or Bartok.
Record one note at a time (step recording) and speed it up.
Record things at any tempo and speed them up.
Change wrong notes with a mouse click.
Record the perfect piano part, then say " I want Organ instead". A few mouse clicks and its done.

Correct bad Ryhthm with a mouse click (Quantize).
Draw Volume Changes with the mouse.
Write keyboard parts with a mouse only.
Change Keys with a mouse click.
Take a recorded part and "Swing" it, using quantize.

Many Sequencers have a feature called "humanize", which takes a "perfect" piano part and messes with the time a bit, so it doesnt sound like a computer.

DrStawl is right, a computer sequencer will be much better than a keyboard with an onboard sequencer.

Midi can also control other stuff, like reverb machines ( Change patches and record it), and you can control lighting, Recorders,etc. You could probably operate a Toaster if it was digital!

Audio takes a bunch of Computer Power, but Midi takes almost none, which is why old Computers like Atari can still handle Midi.

Best of luck to you.
 
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