midi to usb

[weeo]

Hi All
Just bought a new pc with vista installed.Problem is with cakewalk pro 9 .It's not seeing my jv1080 sound module.When i go to options there are no devices to choose.
I bought a midi to usb adaptor,followed the instructions on the packet.Out to Midi keyboard,In to Sound module.Is there something i'm doing wrong or do i need to get other drivers.
If i need the drivers,where do i get them from ?
Any help would be appreciated----i'm lost with no midi!!!
Thanks
Eddie

[gibbo]

Weeo, If you use a usb interface you won't see jv1080 as an option, you'll see the interface. If it's not there just reinstall the usb-midi drivers that came with the interface. (You can find the drivers at the interface manufacturers website if you don't have a disk or Windows will probably just as easily install a generic usb-midi driver). Don't forget to close and restart CW after this.
If the jv1080 has a usb input you just need to install the drivers for that from the jv disk (or grab 'em from Roland), then you'll see the 1080 in the CW midi options.
BTW, the thing with CW9 is to make sure you ONLY highlight one midi device for the output.
PM me if you're still having trouble and I'll walk you through it step by step.
PS: Don't forget to download the CW patch map for the JV1080 too so you'll see all the actual jv instruments in CW rather than just generic GM names.
Cheers, Dave.

[weeo]

Hi Dave and thanks for your time.
I'm a novice at this so please bear with me if I don't understand some of the advice.
The Midi to usb lead i bought did not come with a disc.
Can i download the generic drivers that i need from microsoft?
Im not sure what an interface is,but it says on the packet, plug the cable into your pc and your midi interface connection is completed. btw the roland jv1080 does not have a usb port.
Hope this makes some sense to you,Dave and thanks again for your help.
Regards
Eddie

[gibbo]

No worries, Eddie.
You may not need to even look for a driver, Vista will probably have it already.
Here's what you do;
unplug your usb midi interface >
turn on the pc and let it boot up fully >
plug in the midi interface >
Windows should now come up with the "found new hardware" wizard (just follow the prompts) or else it'll just automatically register the midi interface if the drivers are already loaded.
It should be all there ready to roll without any brain-strain at all, just open CW and see if the midi interface is now showing in midi devices.
Cheers, Dave.

[weeo]

Hi Dave
I tried your suggestions----no luck i'm afraid.
When i open the options page on cakewalk, on the input side there is nothing. on the output side there's Microsoft gs wavetable synth or microsoft MIDI mapper.
I'm trying to get an answer from the people who sold me this pc
Because they said there would be no problem with midi.
If you can think of a solution,please let me know.
In the meantime thanks for your time and knowledge.I'm very grateful.
Eddie

[gibbo]

Right, Eddie. It may well be a Vista thing, there are numerous items on the web about Vista problems with usb-midi drivers so you're not alone! I'm sticking with XP for now.
Here's what I suggest you try next; look at the Brand name of the usb interface and google that name and Vista midi drivers. If you can find the website for the manufacturer they probably have a driver available for download. (You can PM me with the name of the interface and I'll help you find something suitable if you like).
If that fails download one of the reputable manufacturers drivers (Yamaha, Roland etc) and try them, they sometimes work perfectly with generic products.
Once you have a driver downloaded just install it with the hardware wizard as previously described. You should be able to see the driver as both input and output in CW9.
Good Luck, mate!
Cheers, Dave.

[weeo]

Hi Dave
Just to bring you up to date--I think i've tried everything i can with no success and after reading some of the comments on microsoft forums,i've decided to ditch vista and re-install xp.
My techy friend is visiting at the weekend so i'll get him to do it.
It disappoints me that someone as big as microsoft can't even take the time to address this problem.As far as i'm aware,they know there is a problem,but have done nothing .
Anyway Dave thanks for all your advice and your time and i'll keep you informed of developments.
Regards
Eddie

[JohnG]

Hey Eddie,
Your so right. Just like Yamaha has pulled all support, web sites, documentation etc for things XG e.g. XGworks from the western world. In the overall scheme of things the MIDI user is a very low priority in Microsoft's world domination plan. Never buy a new operating system until the the first service release, at least, has hit the streets! Especially MS.
Best regards,
JohnG.

[bri]

I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome of this. My prob is, my PSR-K1 doesn't have the midi that we all know and love. It has a usb out of the keyboard to a usb into the computer. The thing is the usb (out) is a different shape to the usb (in). I have the lead but I've never been able to make it work. In the end I got a card reader to overcome some of the problems, but I just got a trial version of Fruity Loops. What you can do with it sounds brilliant, but like you, I can't get FL to "see2 The keyboard. My os is XP Home. So, as I say, I'm following this one closely.
Regards
Bri

[gibbo]

Hi Bri,
You probably need to install (or re-install) the usb-driver for the PSR. XP should have no problem with it. Hopefully you have the disk that came with the PSR.
Just do the following;
turn on the pc and let it boot up fully >
plug in the usb cable from the PSR to the usb on your pc>
Windows should now come up with the "found new hardware" wizard (just follow the prompts) and load the drivers from the PSR disk or else it'll just automatically register the PSR if the drivers are already loaded>
Open FL and check for midi devices.
Let me know how it goes.
Cheers, Dave.

[weeo]

Hi Dave,Just to keep you up to date--I've decided that vista and midi do not like each other,so.
I have a laptop that i don't use very much so i thought i'd use it for my midi's.It already had xp and cakewalk installed so i connected it up with the usb to midi adaptor and although the light comes on to say that it is working and cakewalk recognises it,it still won't work.My sound module has agreen light for midi messages and it's not coming on.I'm beginning to suspect the usb/midi cable is the problem. i've tried downloading generic drivers with no luck.
My question is, is there a usb/midi device that does work? I've done a google and all the devices i've seen seem to have some issue or other . Does anyone out there use usb/midi,if so which interface do you use? Is it successful? Can An idiot install it?
I'll look forward to your replies
Regards
Eddie

[gibbo]

LOL! That's funny, Eddie!
Yes, they do try to make things easier for us but sometimes the idiot was the guy who assembled it in China or wherever.
Here's the deal; XP should handle usb midi with ease and the drivers should work without too much brain-strain. If it's showing up in CW then it's installed!
The first thing I'd check is the midi cable to the JV module; are you plugging it straight into the module or into a midi-cable then the module? (If so, change the cable or try it straight in?
Have you tried it the other way round? (Sometimes they're mis-labeled in = out!)
Is your module set to receive midi on all channels? (odd, I know but I'd check it or just reset the module).
Will CW receive midi from your keyboard?
I'd do a reinstall of the usb device as I described ie:
unplug your usb midi interface >
turn on the pc and let it boot up fully >
plug in the midi interface >
Windows should now come up with the "found new hardware" wizard (just follow the prompts) or else it'll just automatically register the midi interface if the drivers are already loaded.
Then I'd check all these things with the cables and finally, if none of them worked, I'd take the usb-interface back and exchange it.
I know it can get frustrating but keep at it, I'm sure you'll get it sorted.
Let me know.
Cheers, Dave.

[bri]

Hiya Dave
Right, to bring you up to speed. Re-installed the midi driver and something called the "Songfile" file. The computer recognises the midis that are on the card reader, but won't transmit or receive them. I'm allowed up to 8 characters to name the file and up to 3 to designate (I suppose) .mid so I can transmit or receive, but when I rename, say, "A Love so Beautiful" to "A Love so" for the song filer to recognise, it doesn't. I suppose it means I'll have to rename the actual midifile, rather than just call it somethong else in the "search" box. I'll have to do a lot of reading up for this one.
Fruity Loops wise, the midifile will load into FL direct from the card reader - to cut the keyboard out - and it will play, I think. The timeline is moving at least when I press play, and the midifile is named in the display. Trouble is, can't hear a bleedin' thing. I'm not the world's best - in fact, probably the world's worst - on MIDI. I basically build a midifile more or less like a multitrack recording and it works for me. The trouble is, I would also like to be able to edit midifiles a bit, but how the heck do you go about editing something you can't even hear?
I surrender.
Regards
Bri

[weeo]

Hi Dave, Just to bring you up to date,----I've managed to get the MIDI to USB adaptor working and i'm back to normal (fingers crossed).Here's what i had to do.
I know a guy who is a retired IT engineer,so i asked him for help.He knows nothing about MIDI so that side of things was new to him.He did some research on the subject and discovered a few things.My programme (cakewalk pro 9) is not vista compatable.So the choices were either buy the new sonar 7 (£399. UK) or re-install xp.
Obviously i went for the re-install. Sounds easy----it was anything but.
He spent the best part of 4 hours dual booting with xp and vista.It was the only way as vista does not like anything you try to do to it.It's a task that i could never have taken on myself.It involved partitioning the hard drive ,which was straightforward enough for him----impossible to someone like me.He also had to download various drivers ,install them etc.
He took along his own laptop for the downloads and transferred on to my pc.
All in all ,a lot of work ,and if anyone is thinking of doing the same,get someone who knows what they're doing and be prepared for the worst,because believe me it happens with vista.
Dual booting is not ideal because you have to restart your pc if you want to change between xp/vista programmes,but at least it's working and i can get back to my midi's again.
Dave, thanks for all your input and help-----we got there in the end.
regards
Eddie

[gibbo]

Well done, Eddie.
Yes, Vista is certainly a bit of a beast as far as midi goes and coming to grips with it is a whole task in itself. According to PC Pitstop ( a great pc troubleshooting site) it's sold less retail copies than any previous version in Windows history. Their 6-month-since-release review rates it as pretty ordinary but, at least, it's been fantastic for the hardware industry with all the system upgrades required to just get it running smoothly. lol
In any event, well done on getting CW back... at least you can start having some midi fun again.
Cheers, Dave.

[oldsage]

bri on your keyboard,does it have a function button? on mine i have to press it,and then scroll through all the settings.one says keyboard out.which you can select on or off.just a thought as it will stop any message from being sent. cheers steve

[oldsage]

hi bri! have just checked the K1 you can record all your performances onboard the keyboard and export as a midi file,as to your connection problem you have to go into the functions and enable the keyboard and styles out.here,s a link to your model of keyboard,with many downloads/manual which will explain what i was talking about.plus some styles and midi.it seems you also have to have the card inplace when connecting as well music.yamaha.com/products/downloads.html?productId=25

[bri]

Thanks for that Steve. Will check it out soonest and get back to you. I know about the midifile part of the functions. Basically, I just build up my midifiles as multitracks, when I make 'em. Midi? It's a mystery!!!!
Got grandkids staying at the moment, so I'm a bit stuck for doing owt, but will look into it when they're gone, later today.
Cheers
Bri

[bri]

Hi Steve
Quick update. Loaded the drivers for the PSR (which I thought were already loaded), read the section on MIDI in the manual, which was as clear as mud, and decided to call it a draw. I can, however, edit midifiles to some degree with Anvil Studio - another free, although limited in its functionality, program unless you buy the full version. I can download midifiles from the net onto the computer and from there onto the PSR card via a card reader, so all is not lost...yet.
One of the things I wanted though, was to be able to play a picture of a synth on the computer by means of the K1 and MIDI, which you're supposed to be able to do, apparently??? Who knows - maybe I'll figure it all out one day, although I doubt it!!!!! Anyway, thanx for all your time and trouble Steve. I'll let you know if I ever get it all working.
Take care
Bri