RPGmaster2000 Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 You see, i got my keyboard at christmas, but there was no cable included in the box that plugs it in to the computer. I got a cable that had 2 MIDI ports for the keyboard and another port for the computer, but that didn't work since i didn't even have that port. Apparently i need either a MIDI-USB cable or a USB adapter, neither which i can find anywhere for a resonable price. Does anyone have any tips? My keyboard is a Casio CTK- 481. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grimloq Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Oh, joy, I remember this problem... (Guessing that you're wanting this for some kind of computer-music thing) First, as a side note, you only need the one cable, even though there's a 'MIDI IN' and 'MIDI OUT' on each - you only /really/ need it plugged into the OUT on the keyboard and the IN on the computer. A MIDI->USB cable can be between twenty to fourty USD, so if you have the cash, great. I don't know about USB adapters, never seen them. Alternately, some (Not all) sound cards have MIDI jacks, so you could get one. But sound cards are expensive and not really worth it unless you plan to use it as much as you can. What I ultimately did (Since I was planning it anyway) was buy a sound card - an Audigy II ZS Platinum (For the front-panel component which had MIDI jacks on it). Now, this likely isn't an option for you; Sound cards (Especially of that calibre) are expensive and I had several reasons for getting it (Though ultimately it was worth it for me - not saying it would be for you). So... Unfortunately there's nothing I know of to solve that besides the USB cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZComposer Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Yeah, the Joystick port is going the way of the dodo as most game controllers are now USB, and no thought is given to MIDI. The lack of a MIDI/Game port suggests that you are using a built-in soundcard. The problem is, this card does not have a MIDI interface. USB is not considered a MIDI channel by the system, so you need a USB MIDI interface such as this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Recording/Computer/Hardware?sku=701379 The reason you won't find a good one for less that $40 is that these things do more than a standard MIDI cable. They have to act as a MIDI device to you keyboard and then have to have software to create a virtual MIDI cable connecting the USB device to your soundcard. The device is a middleman, which is why I hate MIDI over USB because it adds latency. If you don't want to spend $40, then spend $20 and get a SB16 soundcard that has a standart Joystick/MIDI interface (there are cheaper soundcards, but I would not expect decent MIDI performance out of them): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102182 You'll also need MIDI recording or notation software. How deep do you want to go into MIDI? If you just want to create GM MIDIs (like you'd find at http://www.vgmusic.com ) this will be fine. If you want to create realistic sounding music, then you better be ready to drop some cash. I've put over $1500 into my MIDI stuff over the past few years. Oh, and the Audigy 2 is a horrible card for music. I have one in my comp and I hated it so much I had to buy a second soundcard for the music rendering. Though the front ports are nice and I have to use it as a MIDI interface as the one for the music card was $50 extra.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grimloq Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Oh' date=' and the Audigy 2 is a horrible card for music. I have one in my comp and I hated it so much I had to buy a second soundcard for the music rendering. Though the front ports are nice and I have to use it as a MIDI interface as the one for the music card was $50 extra....[/quote'] At the risk of tilting the thread off topic, can I ask why? I'm not one of those hardware enthusiasts, I'm just curious. Works perfectly fine for me, as I use samplers or synths and not MIDI for my music, so bitrate is the most important thing as far as I know. Though it's not true 24-bit if I remember correctly (Because Creative was being stupid), it's a 96000 Hz, and the environmental sound and such works beautifully. If you're referring to that weird problem with the immense amounts of static (I've only seen it happen once - to me), that's fixable. Though I'm not going to dish out cash for another card soon, suggestions on audio-related stuff are always welcome, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeWalker Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 If you want to create realistic sounding music' date=' then you better be ready to drop some cash. I've put over $1500 into my MIDI stuff over the past few years.[/quote'] 1.5K, huh? What exactly is the improvement in realism we're talking about here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPGmaster2000 Posted April 3, 2006 Author Share Posted April 3, 2006 Wow, i remember when stuff used to be simple... T_T Anyway, i was never going to get a new sound card, so i guess i'll get that interface instead. Is that the only thing i'll need or is there something else i've missed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZComposer Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 You'll need software. Either a sequencer or a notation program. If you look around, you may be able to dig up a free sequencer, but it is hard. I have yet to see a useable free notator, but http://www.noteworthysoftware.com is pretty good, and cheap. Finale costs like $500, Noteworthy costs like $40. The Audigy 2 has more latency than it should for an ASIO card. The recording input is noisy. The drivers hog more CPU than they should. It's a gaminc card. Music was an afterthought. Of course for what he's likely doing, it's fine, but I meant in terms of more advanced music. If you want to use a creative card for music, get one from Creative's Emu marque. The "$1500" (rough estimate, actually more like $1300) Gets me: Garritan Personal Orchestra sample library ($250 at time of purchase) Garritan Jazz and Big Band Library sample linrary ($300) SAM Horns sample library ($85) Plogue Bidule ($70) Kontakt 2 Sampler ($220 at time of purchase) That's an upgrade price. retail is $400 Audiotrak Maya 7.1 soundcard ($85) NoteWorthy ($40) MIDI Keyboard: ($300) Cables ($20) And I'm planning more purchases of sample libraries. I kid you not there are sample libraries that cost more than I've spent on hardware, software, and sounds combined. Sample libraries vary in price. The Advanced Orchestra during it's time was one of the best orchestral libraries. GPO out does it now. I'm sure you've heard the Advanced Orchestra. If you've played SFAd, You definately have. (David Wise said he used it for SFAd in an interview. Rare now uses VSL) VSL Symphonic Cube, which is VSL's current full orchestra, costs $10,000 (that's "fully loaded" base price is $4000). That doesn't include the sampler. You can get the Advanced Orchestra for less than $200 if you can find the damed thing. o_O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPGmaster2000 Posted April 3, 2006 Author Share Posted April 3, 2006 Software is no problem. I'm using Cubase SX 3 with about 5000+ instuments or so. XD So now that i have the software, can i get that cable right now and it will work just fine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grimloq Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 I don't have the link, but 'FruityLoops' is evidently decent. Trial version doesn't let you save, though. So you have to complete your song in one go (Or minimise it and just hibernate your computer). Also DZ - yeah, I don't do recording and the primary use for it /is/ gaming. As for advanced music... Meh. I fool around with Reason and make clusters of noise that could vaguely pass as music is all, so needless to say I'm not worried. Audiophiles... Pfeh. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeWalker Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 I don't know if you do anything with vocals, DZ, but do you have any suggestions as to how one makes them not sound as though they were recorded via computer mic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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