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Hello

I have an Asus D2X sound card that has a MIDI input capability. I bought a 5-pin cable for my DP, but I only now saw that the input card has a 6-pin PS/2 type connection.

I'm going to buy an adapter to complete the connection, but should I really care about this MIDI input? I could just buy a MIDI-to-USB cable, but I don't know if there are any advantages/disadvantages compared to the dedicated MIDI card?

Thanks
Z

Personally, I would prefer to use the direct connection, providing the soudcard interface is opto-isolated.

This would eliminate the problem with unwanted noise/hum, that usb connections sometimes introduce.

The soundcard you have, seems to be pretty high-end, so if the cable is not overly expensive, I would be tempted to try that first.

The only negative, being that you would be tied to that particular soundcard/PC, but if that does not bother you.....

Yes that's the only disadvantage I see so far....I will be limited to connecting to that PC.

Thanks for the other info, I'm not sure about your comments about the 'hum'....if I am using it for VSTs, won't the cable just transmit the MIDI data and the actual sound processing will happen on my PC...ie, there shouldn't be a hum in the sound output?

That's correct, there should be no hum using either MIDI or USB since you're using your computer to generate the actual sound.

I am simply quoting from my own experience.
My DP has both MIDI and USB connections.
Using the USB connection, introduces a high pitched hum, at times.
Using direct MIDI connection, is never a problem.

I believe others have experienced this, also.

Yes. See http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2488410 and scroll down to message #2488467 and read the page from that point to the bottom. Also
http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2473835

Sweeeet...yup was just asking the question, thanks for the info!

Quite interesting, plus I guess there would be a susceptibility to this stuff with the cheap cables that are actually available too..

MIDI connections have always been opso-isolated exaclty to avoid hums and other unstable situations. I've never heard of midi via PS/2 but it should be isolated, if only at the musical instrument end of the connection.

USB can introduce other types of interference owing to digital data overspill - it depends on your USB set up. And USB nodes can get clogged and slow the system down. So I'd definitely try the midi - ps/2 MIDI route first.

Yeah, I'd never heard of the connection either, but only noticed it was a 6-pin after I bought my 5-pin cable and tried to connect it hehe. I will go ahead and buy an adapter to complete the connection, thanks..