MIDI Keyboard to PC?

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 7 Mar 2005 6:13 am

I have a Yamaha 49key midi keyboard. The cable has a 15pin connector on the end for the pc.

I have an Audigy2 SB soundcard that has no corresponding 15pin port; it only came with 1/8" jacks.

The pc itself [eMachines] has a 25pin printer port, a 9pin serial port, and 4 USB ports, available [Epson printer goes thru another USB port].

Is there any way that this keyboard can be hooked up to the pc? Some sort of 15pin adapter? I'm kinda thinking that this may not be possible, short of getting another soundcard with the appropriate 15pin jack.
And I just bought this Audigy2 a couple of months ago. Hate when that happens.

Maybe you recording wizards have some kind of trick. I hope so.

Thanks all.

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Mar 2005 6:48 am

Chip, that is outdated. Newer sound cards, such as the Audigy's do not come with a game port/midi I/O connector.

Your best bet is to buy a USB/MIDI adapter and use that. I think a "midiman" unit is about $40. The ones I've seen have the USB cable and the DIN connector cables for the MIDI attached. Just plug the DIN connectors into your MIDI device and the other end into a USB port on the PC. With Windows XP, you may not even need any additonal drivers.

Kiyoshi Osawa · Post by **Kiyoshi Osawa** » 7 Mar 2005 6:51 am

I also own a couple of yamaha keyboards. If the small connector your talking about looks SORT OF like a PS2 mouse connection, then you have no real problem

From the late 90's on, most of the yamaha keyboards have what's called a serial port that allows you to connect directly to the computer without the need of a midi interface.

This special port requires a driver that should be available at the Yamaha website. (It took me a while to find it, but it's there somewhere). Also, the keyboard should have a small switch near the connector that allows you to select either the regular midi ports, or the serial PC connection.

The only thing is this cable is not readily available at computer stores, so you might have a hard time finding it.

---edited---

forgot to mention:

I don't know if they still have this, but some of the later 90's keyboards from Yamaha also had what's called an mLink port. Which is really just a firewire port from which audio AND midi are transmitted to a computer or other mLink equipped keyboard.

Check and see if you have this, as it's actually a very practical solution that hasn't really caught on...[This message was edited by Kiyoshi Osawa on 07 March 2005 at 06:54 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Mar 2005 8:24 am

Bob, That's only on Retail versions. OEM versions, such as Dell uses, with new PC's do not have the gameport/midi I/O panel and there is no connector on the OEM SB board for the gameport/mdidi I/O connector.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 7 Mar 2005 8:35 am

Jack,
Thanks for the reply. Before I posted this thread I went on a search at CompUSA looking for the very adapter you've mentioned.
I didn't find one there, but I didn't search hard and heavy, either. I'll try it again,
and Radio Snack, too.

Kiyoshi,
Thanks also for your input.
The Yamaha is well over 10 yrs old. The only ports on the back are; midi 5pin IN & OUT;
sustain; headphones [out]; and the AC adapter
port.

I think I'll just try to find the USB/MIDI adapter that Jack mentioned. I appreciate your expertise.

Bob,
Thank you as well. I was afraid there would be another SB card with the pin port. I think I paid around $60-65 for the Audigy2, and I'm pretty sure the Audigy platinum costs a bit more. When I bought the card, it didn't even dawn on me about the pin receptacle. Just overlooked it. Oh well.
I'm stuck with it now.

Thanks again, all.

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Mar 2005 10:25 am

Chip, you will have better luck at a music store. I know Sam Ash carries them, as does the on-line stores such as Musician's Friend.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 7 Mar 2005 11:32 am

Hey Jack, and everyone.

I found one at Radio Shack. CAT #26-164 and listed as a USB Game Port Adapter; $16.99.

But in the manual [Adobe file] it says the unit "works with IBM and compatible pc's
with 486/Pentium - Pentium II - Pentium III
operating on Windows 98 with a USB port."
No other OS's were named.

My pc, now, is a HomeXP with 340 Intel Celeron
D processor.

Maybe this particular RS unit isn't compatible. How could ya find out before buying? Call up RS and hope you get someone who knows something?

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Mar 2005 11:41 am

Go after a "midiman" unit. The RS unit apparently is an older design unit if it's made for the older OS's (and it is a 1.1 USB device).

Here's the link to the unit on Musicians Friend http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=42/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/701379/ [This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 07 March 2005 at 11:46 AM.]

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 7 Mar 2005 11:48 am

I got ya Jack. I'm aware of that USB rating. I think the newer standard for USB is 2.0 or 2.1; somewhere in there.

I came across the USB rating when installing the Epson printer. The CX4600 connects to the pc via USB.

Good advice, and thank you again.

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Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 7 Mar 2005 12:05 pm

Well.....
I just checked out the "midiman" at Musiciansfriend and read 12 reviews [that's all there were].

Seems there's an issue with WinXP. I think 3 or 4 folks said it would not install on XP, even with 'updated' drivers. Then a couple other folks said that it installed OK on XP. One fella even uses it along BIAB.

I think XP is a real fast and unquirky OS compared to what I've had in the past: 98 & ME.
But I've been noticing and reading about a lot of compatibility problems lately with XP.

When you read conflicting reviews, it gets you wondering. What to do?

Like Yogi once said, I think, - "What do you do when you come to a fork in the road? - take it."

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Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 7 Mar 2005 12:48 pm

Chip,

I use a Midiman MIDI Port and WinXP for the IVL Steel Rider as well as other hardware and don't have any problems.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 7 Mar 2005 1:52 pm

Thank you, Bob.

That's good to know. I'm thinking about all you can do is just buy one, see if does work, and if doesn't, hope to get your money back.

Maybe those "doesn't work" folk have some other issues with their pc's, other than XP.
That's what it sounds like, huh, maybe some other thing conflicting? Maybe they got some missing or corrupt DLL files. They always seem to be the culprit when things go south.

Thanks again, Bob

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Mar 2005 2:38 pm

I don't put much faith in those reviews. As you noted, who knows what they have or have done to their PC. And I've seen reviews of other equipment and it's obvious the person posting has no idea.

Same way with the reviews on Harmony Central. You can have a unit that "everyone in the world" says is top notch and some idiot will post that it's junk.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 7 Mar 2005 3:21 pm

Very true, Jack.

I've come to find out, after a lot of blown bucks and aggravation, that you have to do your homework as best you can, and then just - GO FOR IT.

Kind of like when I used to love going after some video game. You can never know what it's about or that you'll even like it, until you buy it, install it, and play it.

Unfortunately, this pc stuff is not like buying a pair of shoes. You can try the shoes on right there at the store.

There's no other way.

I agree that those reviews, unless taken with a big grain of salt, can drive you just bonkers.

Thanks Jack...

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