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Thread ID: 33506 2003-05-17 23:49:00 Running a midi controller keyboard into a soundcard. artyone (3741) Press F1
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145301 2003-05-17 23:49:00 I'm a music PC kinda guy and I've just got hold of a midi controller keyboard which I plan to use with a soundblaster awe 64 ISA because of its soundfont capabilities but I've run into a slight hitch.The keys only have a midi out and the soundcard has the D sub 25 input so I've got to figure out a cable to connect them.Midi speaks through current sink and current source (and ground) and would anybody know which of the serial port pins they connect to? My guess is current source goes to 2 receive data (RXD) and current sink goes to 3 transmit data (TXD).The grounds are a little more confusing as the midi has ground while the D sub 25 has both 1 shield ground and 7 system ground.Any ideas... artyone (3741)
145302 2003-05-17 23:58:00 My understanding is that for a keyboard with MIDI capabilities to plug into a speaker, you plug the cable into the game port, either built in or on your soundcard. This is also the port older joysticks etc plugged into. agent (30)
145303 2003-05-18 01:55:00 true enough,its the gameport which is a Dsub15 and I've figured,or found,that midi out is pin 12 and midi in is pin 15 so all I have to figure now is what the current sink and current source are on the midi cable. artyone (3741)
145304 2003-05-18 02:37:00 Unfortunately, the MIDi interface on the sound cards is "incomplete". You need an interface box. :-( . Silicon Chip and EPE have had articles about this and circuits for kits. I think Dick Smith and/or Jaycar have the kits. Graham L (2)
145305 2003-05-18 03:56:00 I have a direct cable from my keyboard to my soundcard... ?:| agent (30)
145306 2003-05-19 02:35:00 Well, yes, but the MIDI interface is defined as a current loop. The Soundcard has TTL levels. Direct connection (pin 12 is MIDI out, pin 15 is MIDI in) might work. But. :-(

The missing bits are the optoisolator and some resistors. I wouldn't be keen to couple a few K$ of computer to a keyboard, without a proper interface.

Here's a couple of references you can look at: one's a build our own, with reference to the kits I mentioned.

How to build a MIDI interface (www.usyd.edu.au)
Some more inf (www.chipcenter.com)
Graham L (2)
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