Got my YPG-635 a couple weeks ago and for the life of me cannot get any computer I use to recognize it when I turn it on. It connects via A-B USB cable.

Now, the keyboard itself came with a disc with their midi driver, but I cannot install the driver itself until the keyboard is connected and the computer recognizes it.

So far, I've tried on my home computer (Windows XP), my laptop (XP as well) and my girlfriends MacBook Pro (Mac).

After exhaustive digging online, I've found that some people say that the issue is related to the computers registry as it can only register 10 midi devices total. I've checked both the home computer and the laptop and neither have had that many midi devices connected to it.

I guess I was hoping that someone here has run into that problem with the same keyboard or something similar. It's my understanding that this is common with Yamaha.

Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

This seems strange. You ought to be able to load the CD and install the driver, even without the piano keyboard connected.

"I cannot install the driver itself until the keyboard is connected and the computer recognizes it."

Are you saying that you tried to install the driver, and that failed?
Or are you saying that you were told that the driver will not install unless the keyboard in connected?

The manual says:

At first, I tried just connecting the keyboard to the computers. Turning on the keyboard, nothing happens (they keyboard LCD screen has a USB area that stays grayed out).

Then I figured maybe the driver needed to be installed, so, I try to install the driver from the disc/website and I get an error with the code of 25001. No Device Connected.

I made sure that the driver is correct for my operating system. My USB ports work on the computers as well. The only other thing I haven't checked is the cable itself. Which I got with portable hard drive that I do not have anymore. I will be trying a different cable when I get home from work. But I have a feeling that it's not the cable. Seeing as how I get an error trying to install the driver.

These might help.

http://www.motifator.com/index.php/forum/viewthread/445357

http://www.motifator.com/index.php/archive/viewthread/374771

http://www.sninety.com/forums/showflat.p...amp;Search=true

http://www.know-your-keyboard-piano.com/...-to-laptop.html

There are recurring themes in those links ...
1. Use the shortest possible MIDI cable to connect the piano.
2. Disconnect all other MIDI devices before installing the driver. (Hmmm ... Does that include keyboard/mouse? ... it's kind of difficult to run the driver without them!)
3. Definitely disconnect the USB printer, if any.

HTH

Yeah, those are the sites I've seen already, unfortunately.

I don't have a printer hooked up and the only other USB item I have set up is my mouse. I'll try it, but I can't imagine it'll fix the problem.

I appreciate the effort.

I put an email in to Yamaha with both my issue and any solutions I've tried. Hopefully they'll get back to me before the holiday.

Thanks again.

Get it working on the Mac first as it's virtually flawless compared to xp when you're trying to hunt down a midi issue.

Run Audio/midi setup in the Applications-->Utilities folder. Plug in your USB cable and turn the Yamaha on. It should pop up as a device in the midi page of Audio/Midi. If it doesn't, check with Yamaha for USB midi drivers. Install. If that doesn't work, change the USB cable. If that doesn't work it's 99% that the yammy is broken either in software or hardware.

Regards. Rimmer

Connect it to the Mac. Don't use a USB hub. Just a cable. Now click on "about this Mac" and look under "more info." and you can scroll down and see what USB devices are connected. This is purely hardware and shows everything even if the software is not "connected". The worst case is that it may show up as some oddly named device that is just the name of the USB chip inside the piano. If that comes and goes when you plug and unplug the keyboard you've found it. But I'd expect it to show up as a Yamaha DP.

If this fails the piano is broken.

If it works run the audio/MIDI setup utility and then there is an icon to click labled "test". It will beep it you press a piano key until you turn off test mode.

If this works then all is well, fire up Garage Band the make a recording.

If it does not work then Yamaha has used some non-standard software interface. Yamaha had a bad reputation with their older pianos not following MIDi over USB standard and requiring users to install special Yamaha-specific drivers in the computer. Yamaha is better now and in their higher-end pianos have removed USB MIDI.

OK, I just checked the Yamaha web site.
Yamaha Drivers
They do have drivers, So it looks like this piano is non-standards complaint and needs them. Problem is that I don't see any for Windows 95. You will need to change the operating system to one that has drivers available. Mac OS X (version 10.6.x would be a reasonable choice as that is lilely what is on the Mac already.)

This is the problem is non-standards complaint USB devices you are not likely to find a driver written for any bu the most common OSes and then only for some versions of that OS.

Next time. When you buy a digital keyboard look for "real MIDI" connectors. Those are two round DIM five pin plugs. These are the industry standard.

Thank you for the detailed posts Rimmer and ChrisA. Unfortunately, it looks like I've got a broken piano.

I tried using the Mac (which is running 10.4.11, btw). Installed the correct driver. Did the "About this Mac/more info deal" and confirmed that it does not show up. I've tried a couple different cables and ports.

So, again, I appreciate everyones responses in this thread. Even though it doesn't work, and I'm disappointed, I'm glad I learned a few things about my girlfriends Mac.

Warranty, here I come, lol.

If someone just wants to connect a keyboard to a PC, why would he want to use MIDI cabling? For a full synth rig with multiple instruments, sure. But for just a keyboard and a PC?

Computers don't come with MIDI ports. You have to buy a MIDI-capable interface at extra cost.

In contrast, a USB-capable piano requires nothing but a USB cable ... for a couple of bucks.

Cheap, simple. Works with PC and Mac.

Might not work with Amiga or Commodore 64 or VAX, but those aren't really in the running anymore, eh?

It is an either or situation really. I might try out the USB when I get my FP-7F but i'll likely stick with a midi in/out as I have a midi interface or two and am used to using midi to connect with different devices.. On top of that, if you have a module with midi, you get to chain devices together which I don't believe you can do with USB alone. Especially where midi is offered on thousands of devices and USB on few by comparison.

Regards. Rimmer