Answers to questions sent to me-an ongoing thread.

[JazzCat]

I thought it might be a good idea for me to send some of the questions I have been getting via private email from forum members, and my replies to their questions.
Their Q's and my A's may be helpful to other forum members.
I will keep the member's IDs private.

Cat >^..^<

[ramon1108]

I am using VSC 3.2 as my midi player (lap top) but I want to use my reliable SC 55 Mk11 as my external module, what sort of things do I need? Hope I don't sound silly LOL!!!

[thingyy]

I think you need to download the driver at Roland web site.
Find out what port it uses parallel or usb get the appropriate leads made up.

[gibbo]

As well as the midi drivers, you'll need a connecting cable.
I think the sc55mk2 has a switch for a midi/serial port connection, pre-usb though, you need either a serial to mini-din lead or, if no serial port on the laptop, a midi interface from your laptop to sc55. You can wire up the serial to mini-din lead yourself, the connections are on the Roland user-group sites. If you want to use usb, just buy a cheap usb to midi interface.

[JohnG]

ramon1108 said:

I am using VSC 3.2 as my midi player (lap top) but I want to use my reliable SC 55 Mk11 as my external module, what sort of things do I need? Hope I don't sound silly LOL!!!

Hi again JazzCat,
You can often find on eBay a cable type known as "to host" (I've just bought one for my Yamaha MU128). It has an 9 pin RS232 plug at one end and the mini DIN plug at the other. My one came with an adapter that converts 9 pin to 25. As said in before in the thread, if you don't have a serial port then you'll need to buy a USB adapter for the PC end of the link. The cables are usually about 1.8 metres long. Beware of buying one much longer than this as the serial port may have trouble with timing problems at data rates of 32k or so. Hope this is of some help.
Best regards,
JohnG.

[levi2]

hey johng where did u get yer yamaha 128 from i got a mu50 do you know if the sounds are any better in the 128 or is it better because of more sounds and drum kits

[JohnG]

Hi Levi,
My MU128 was bought via eBay from a synth shop in Japan. As well as the 128 there's an MU1000 with some more voices, digital output as well as the usual analogue. You should expect to pay 150 to 200 UKP for a 128 and a bit more for a 1000. Are they better than an MU50? Is a home baked granary loaf better than white sliced? Lots more voices and drum kits, 128 note, 64 part polyphony, loads more effects, ability to add synth cards internally. In short, yep a shed load better (more). IMHO. You should be able to do a google search on 'mu128 specifications'. If you change your options to international sellers in eBay you'll see a company called Goja. They were good to me.
Hope this hepls,
Best regards,
JohnG.