I thought of that too, but I am trying to figure out how to play back MIDI data in the DAW, out to the Focusrite 4i4 via MIDI cable (like the one you showed me) and then record audio from the Yamaha keyboard back into the DAW. My goal is to convert the MIDI data into audio data.On second thought, there might not be converters available that go from USB-B to 5-pin midi. So yeah, just plug your keyboard into your PC.
What is giving you the error message? Reaper? or Windows? The sound card shouldn't make a difference if you are trying to send MIDI data to the keyboard, Be sure to read the manual to fully understand how to use MIDI.I've tried going directly from the keyboard to the PC (it's a laptop) but an error message comes up that says there is no soundcard. I have been working around that with the audio interface, which is why I am attempting to do what I mentioned in my last post.
Connectors A or B don't make any difference. If your keyboard has a USB output then when you connect to the computer, it should load a generic USB driver, or the manufacturer provides a USB driver that offers keyboard specific extra features. If you check the manufacturers site and see if there are drivers, use them - if there are not drivers, then your computer may not be using a driver that works. If the keyboard has the usual 5 Pin DIN connectors then I think your focus rite has these too - so try those. Using USB is critical for extra features not supported by MIDI - so my Kontakt keyboard has to go in via MIDI as it is a two way connection and the two devices need to communicate properly. My Korg synth I use from time to time, goes via MIDI.
If you computer asks about audio - it's an inside thing - the computer can't talk to the computers sound system fro some reason.
Your DAW converts MIDI to audio - If you wish to record the actual sounds from the keyboard then that is an audio connection - as in keyboard jacks to the interface sockets. MIDI is only control - it does not ever carry audio, totally a different thing altogether.
Ah, I see. That might work for me, thanks. I tried a plugin yesterday and it played beautiful, but I couldn't get it to record into Reaper. I must need to check my input on that track and try again maybe?DAW hosts virtual instruments (VSTi), keyboard triggers VSTi via MIDI data over USB, DAW sends audio out through interface.
[Edit] Except I misunderstood. If the MIDI data is already recorded, then you should be able to assign a VSTi to it and just play it out of the DAW. No need to go back to the keyboard.
Actually, I meant I tried it in Anvil Studio 64 bit. The error message comes up from Anvil saying my laptop has no MIDI connection on the soundcard, which I know. I tried an old driver for the keyboard, which they don't support any more. That didn't work either. I understand how MIDI works in a generic way, there are 16 channels, note on, note off, velocity, sysex messages, etc. I just though maybe I could play a MIDI file to the interface, to the keyboard and run audio out from the keyboard into the interface and record in real time into the DAW, which would be REAPER if I got that far. Reaper has been great with everything else I have tried. That is why I tried for the MIDI out of the keyboard and directly to the laptop, just to see if it would communicate but the error message from Anvil stated what I wrote a few lines up in this post.What is giving you the error message? Reaper? or Windows? The sound card shouldn't make a difference if you are trying to send MIDI data to the keyboard, Be sure to read the manual to fully understand how to use MIDI.
Remember, MIDI isn't audio, there is no sound, it's only data to tell a sound generator (your keyboard) what to play.
I'll check it out. I downloaded the most recent driver I could find, but maybe this article will clear it up for me as to where to find it. Thank you.Here's a thread on connecting your particular Yamaha to a computer via USB you must download the Yamaha drivers into you computer...
DGX230 Midi connection problem
I got one of those usb to Midi din cables adapter but it won't communicate with a Midi patcher or any other Yamaha midi keyboards, but the usb cable (printer type) works fine with my laptop. Will appreciate any suggestion on this matter. Thaks. Denmarwww.keyboardforums.com
I will check it out tomorrow - got to get ready for work right at the moment. I have that cable and have downloaded the driver. When I open Anvil to use it to record MIDI Anvil says there is no soundcard. That's all I can say about that aspect. I have the cable and the driver was installed. But no go so far. I will try to get back tomorrow at some point after another attempt.I'm really confused. The USB connector on this unit is the same as practically every keyboard I've ever seen - the same as the ones I have and with the Yamaha driver should work fine? I misunderstood when you said "My goal is to convert the MIDI data into audio data." I imagined you expected some kind of MIDI in to Audio out process. Good to hear you were using VSTis in your system.
The kind of USB cable you need is pretty common - printers and even some external drives used this connector at the far end.
If you have the driver on your system, when you plug in the keyboard, does it make the usual noise and appear in device manager? In Cubase, you should also see an entry appear in the inspector for the new MIDI input. Can you check these things and report back, otherwise we're guessing. Tell us what works, what appears in the inspector, what your input routing is - and of course there is a setting on the keyboard to turn OFF sending MIDI data - could this just be set to the wrong setting?
Thanks, like I told Rob Aylestone, I will try again tomorrow and get back with more exact information and most likely screenshots as well. Got to head to work now, but thanks to everyone so far for being patient.There are a number of steps you need to go through, but if your keyboard has USB, you don't need a USB-DIN connector.
1 Connect keyboard to computer via USB. Unless you need special drivers, your system should recognise it and set it up all by itself.
2 Open Reaper, go to Options/Preferences/Midi Devices where you shouold see the keyboard listed. If you see <disabled> against it, you need to right click on it and enable it. If you don't see it listed, then something has gone amiss and requires further investigiation. You need to enable it as both an input and out device.
3 To record midi you need to arm a track, and select the input source as being midi and yor keyboard (or simply select all midi).
4 To use the midi to go back to your keyboard and play its internal sounds, you need to go to the routing panel and under where it says "midi harware output", select the keyboard.
5 If you then want to capture the keyboard's audio, connect its line out to the focusrite, create a new track in Reaper, arm it to record and select the focusrtie as input.