Hello,

Do any of you know if you can hook a keyboard up with midi cables to a USB port? I've never seen the proper connectors for that.

We built a new computer with an SB Audigy soundcard, and now I'm not offered the MPU-401 driver for MIDI In/Out like on my older computer and cannot get sound coming from the keyboard and the computer speakers at the same time, like I used to. I've narrowed the problem down to the soundcard and the keyboard connection, not the Win operating system. I found a Roland MPU-401 emulation driver on the web, but it says you have to hook into a USB port.

Any thoughts? The keyboard is prepped properly to receive and send data. Thanks for your help and advice in advance. I appreciate it.

Regards. Teri

Hi Teri,
There are plenty of USB MIDI interfaces available. (I use one with my Mac)

I prefer the units made by Mark of the Unicorn (www.motu.com), but there are plenty of other manufacturers that make them.

One note: You do NOT need an expensive unit to connect to your keyboard. MIDI interfaces come in all shapes and sizes with various features. However it sounds like you need a very basic unit and should be able to pick on up for under $75.

Hi Steve,

Thanks so much for your help. I will check that website out that you suggested.

If I could ask you another question, since you seem to be working with midi also----

Do you get sound output from both your speakers on your computer and your keyboard at the same time? That is the way it worked with my older IBM Aptiva computer with Win 95 and a Crystal Pnp Codec sound card----hooking into a midi/game port
(parallel). I am using the same software, Encore 4.2.1 on this new computer, but I can't get the sound out both at the same time-----just one or the other! It doesn't matter how I set the midi ports up, and combination produces one or the other. I prefer both because I only have hearing in one ear----and a little like Beethoven, I crave more sound! I was wondering if it was supposed to work that way or not; I didn't encounter any differences until we built this new computer with this Audigy card.

Thanks again for you input! I am a musician, not a computer/electonics tech by the least!

Regards. Teri

Hi Teri
I don't know anything about your sound cards, so my comments are somewhat general:

It's important to note that "sound" is not part of MIDI. MIDI is a set of instructions that gets passed from one device to another. If your sound card contains a MIDI tone module, then it's possible to connect your keyboard to your sound card via MIDI. In that case, you'd get sound from your keyboard and[/b] your computer (although you'd hear different instruments). If your sound card does contain a sound set, then it seems to me that it's an issue of getting the right "drivers" for that sound card.

Maybe one of the PC guys on the board can step in and add something further?

Hi Steve, again!

Thanks for the information. The soundcard I'm using is the Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum. I have downloaded any and all the drivers from Creative that are available, that work with Win 98 Se which is the system I'm using.

The only thing Creative support can tell me is that some software requires a "Smart" MPU and that the Audigy is a "Dumb" MPU. I haven't figured out yet whether this is affecting the whole sound process or not. My software is a 1997 version, and the new upgrade is only for Win 2000 and XP. My version was released in 1995, and an upgrade (my version) in 1997, and I think Win 98 Se is just kind of in between. The company who sold Encore (Passport) sold out (to G-Vox), and with none of their original programmers on board, the new company develped their "own" upgrade, and are not supporting this older version right now, they are busy marketing their new release--hence I can't get them to answer any of my quesitons!

On my old system the keyboard and midi setup ran with a Roland MPU-401 driver, which is not available on the Audigy card. As I stated, I found an emulation on the web--but it said you had to be hooked into a USB port to install it.
I'm not sure that will solve my problem, but I am hoping it will. The Audigy card IS midi compatible, but I'm not sure about the issue you brought up. I'll e-mail Creative support and ask them! Thanks again for all your suggestions. The Audigy is a rather expensive card with extra goodies like a SPDIF In & OUT, an extra midi connection on the front panel, and a mic support and Aux. In & Out and more. I would think it has everything I need--but then my in-expertise in technical issues may be contributing.

I'd appreciate an PC user's advice if they may have any ideas for troubleshooting. I've exhausted everything I can think of here!

Regards. Teri