midi interface/cables

[Justified]

hi,

my USB2MIDI interface just broke so now i'm looking into purchasing another one. i came across something in a store that looked like it went from 2 midi cables on one side and a serial port on the other side. i have a couple questions about this.

1. why doesn't it come with any software or drivers? can i just plug it in and have the computer recognize my keyboard without doing anything?
2. i have a PC running windows XP. will that work?
3. is it as fast as a USB interface? i don't have experience with newer USB2.0 interfaces as my old one was USB1.

thanks!

j

 

[Beck]

It goes into a MIDI/game port on the PC and the two standard MIDI plugs on the other end are MIDI in and MIDI out. Some older MIDI devices and programs won't work with USB, so these are nice to have around.

You can use either type. All other things being equal there is no measurable difference in performance.

-Tim

 

[Atterion]

Yup, the Gameport where you plugin your legacy (Pre USB) joysticks (Located on the MoBo sound card). And yes they work just fine with XP

 

[Justified]

I bought the thing, but now I realize I don't have a joystick port on my laptop. Are there adapters out there to switch it to a printer or monitor port?

 

[ssscientist]

Some older MIDI devices and programs won't work with USB, so these are nice to have around.

This is a prime example of how false information gets passed around the web. Midi is midi, whether it comes thru a USB port or thru a joystick port or some other way. There is no direct way for the midi signal to enter a PC - you always need an interface and it if it works it works.

It is true that some software designed for older operating systems - Windows 98, Mac OS 9 - won't run on newer computers, but that would be true whether or not they have USB interfaces.

 

[ssscientist]

Are there adapters out there to switch it to a printer or monitor port?

Sadly, no. At least not that I know of. Return it if you can an buy one of these if you just need midi capability, one of these if you need just one audio input at a time or one of these if you need both midi and audio. I have the US-122 and have used it with no trouble whatsoever with a laptop for a year and a half now. It's built like a tank and has features not found on competing products like insert points for the inputs.

Also - be sure it really is your interface and not your USB port that's broken. If it is the USB port they are usually mounted on the main board in laptops and can be very expensive to fix.

 

[Beck]

This is a prime example of how false information gets passed around the web. Midi is midi, whether it comes thru a USB port or thru a joystick port or some other way. There is no direct way for the midi signal to enter a PC - you always need an interface and it if it works it works.

It is true that some software designed for older operating systems - Windows 98, Mac OS 9 - won't run on newer computers, but that would be true whether or not they have USB interfaces.

I've been using MIDI since it was introduced. I'm a computer/networking consultant by day. If you would ever like to learn something about older MIDI devices and programs let me know, I'll be glad to help.

It has nothing to do with older OS versions. Many older MIDI programs have no native ability to communicate via USB. MIDI is not MIDI. We were quite busy back in the day working out incompatibilities between products and systems with the evolving MIDI spec… I guess you had to be there.

-Tim

 

[Beck]

Are there adapters out there to switch it to a printer or monitor port?

There always have been parallel and serial MIDI interfaces, long before USB. The MOTU MIDI Flyer parallel interface is a more recent product, but parallel interfaces were very common... way too many to remember or list.

The Roland MPU-401 compatible Joystick/Midi port was the early de facto standard.