I've always had this problem and haven't found anything to fix it, so I decided I would ask here.

I tried using a Casio CTK-900, and a Roland HP201 Digital Piano to record MIDI files to my laptop running on windows vista.

The cable I use was said to be vista compatible, and didn't require any drivers.

The problem is, when I try to record something, it tends to leave out a lot of notes. Sometimes it fills up the blanks with an awful hiss, and it even changes voices sometimes!

Here's a recording of the first few bars of one of Bach's Minuet's from the Anna Magdalena notebook. (BWV Anh.114)

http://www.mediafire.com/?nyjmy2haywm

It was recorded using the General MIDI Harpsichord voice on the Casio. Attempts to record using the Roland resulted in no sound at all.

What if you simply record the MIDI data and don't have the computer generat sound? Does that work?

I think you ar having the typical problem that many Windows notebooks have with music. They are not set up for it. The problem is that the computer has other programs running in the background and a lot of other non-music related software and drivers installed.

There was a recent thread here called something like "best software for ..notebook". There is was pointed out that Windows computers are setup for office work and need some setup effort if they are to be used for music. Basically you have to either buy a very powerful PC or strip out the "fat" from a typical notebook.

Certainly you don't need to have any network stuff intalled or anti virus or disk indexing or a web browser or email on a music computer.

"Music computer" - what is it? Mac? Unix? Win? These are computer only. Music - it is not a computer. Beethoven, Bach, Mozart do not use computer.... musical computer..... any computer. And phrase "background program" - mac do not inform user about internal background program and processes (and you may consider your system free from network, touchscreen, bluetooth, antivirus and other drivers). With a powerful notebook PC I perform all tasks (sound, typography, web, programming, text). But now I have some problems with Vista and Win 7 with sound hardware, but all problems can be resolved (if you wish!)

"Music computer" - what is it? Mac? Unix? Win? These are computer only. Music - it is not a computer...[/quote]

In this context "music computer" means "The computer you are using for music production."

The OP is having very serious drop out problems likely as a result of his "music computer" being overloaded with non-music activity.

There are only three solutions to this problem:

1) Run an operating system that "knows" how to keep the non-music activity at bay and prevent it from interfering with music production. This would require Mac OS or UNIX.

2) Buy a computer so powerful and fast that it can still handle music production even with the interfering non-music tasks not held in check.

3) Remove/disable all tasks not directly related to music production from the current (un-powerful) computer.

Given unlimited funds doing both #1 and #2 would be the ideal solution. But seeing as most people are on a budget #3 is the least expensive but has the down side of requiring the greatest amount of technical expertise.

I see your solution was #2 plus moderate amounts of #3.


The OP will have to decide which way to go.

Gosh, and too think I bought this laptop because I thought it was convenient to carry around and hook up to different instruments. :P

I even welded a laptop stand at work that I can place in the groove originally intended for the music stand on my casio!

I'll try shutting down everything I can miss, probably with the help of someone less "computer impaired", and give it another go!

Thanks for your input!

This piano requires a driver from Roland in order for Windows to recognize it. Just looking at the driver download page for this piano, I don't even see a driver for Vista or Windows 7. It seems strange to me that they wouldn't have a driver for these OSes but I can't find it on Rolands website. Without the proper driver you probably won't be able record MIDI from the Roland.

The Casio has standard MIDI In/Out ports so you should be able to record MIDI data to your computer, assuming the computer itself is set up properly. I don't know anything about Vista since I skipped over it and I'm still learning Windows 7 but here are a couple of guides to help you get started.

Vista Optimization Guide
Another Vista Optimization Guide

I have no idea whether these are the best resources available since I just found them doing a Google search but the point is that there are a lot of websites available to help you better understand how to optimize for system. Quite frankly, the PC can be a pain when it comes to getting audio/MIDI recording to work properly but it can be done. I've done it and a lot of other people have, too. You're just going to have to spend some time learning more about your computer. Or you can buy a Mac and have about 95% of this done for you.

Computer is a instrument (not such easy as hummer), and require tuning as any other instrument for differrent tasks. For big sample (for program sampler) you need very fast HDD (and large) and big RAM. Without it you can get dropout and clicking (both unix, win, mac) etc... For MIDI record you must decide problem with device connecting (and you don't need a powerful comp.)
It is a problem for win vista/9 (can be not problem for mac - don't know)

the amount of cpu/disk load from midi input is tiny, and all midi devices should be compatible plug & play using the generic windows midi drivers.

Maybe you are running into a bug with your MIDI to USB driver for windows, so you'll want to force windows to load the specific device driver for your MIDI to USB interface.

Do this: go to the manufacturer's web site for the MIDI to USB device you are using and download their device driver. Install it, and then verify that windows is using that device driver.

Also remember since it is MIDI, it wont sound like a roland or casio. It will just be notes and it's up to you how to program those MIDI notes on your pc. If you need the actual audio from the roland or casio, use the audio out and record the sound, not the MIDI out.

Once your MIDI to USB interface is working right, you can plug in your roland or casio or whatever, those devices do not require drivers. It's only the MIDI to USB that requires drivers.

I understand that the USB to MIDI device said it didn't "need" a driver from the manufacturer, but if it's not catching the notes, that's where the problem is.