Disklavier

This is where ebay might be useful.  You really, really need either a serial
or parallel port MIDI interface.  Unless your laptop has a game port that a
joystick would plug into which would allow you to use a simple pigtail
interface. They used to be available by the hundreds of thousands, so I'm
sure someone, somewhere still has one!  I do, but I use mine. Todd is right
about not even thinking about using USB with a 486.  .

Carol Beigel

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003, Leigh Whitley wrote:

> I have struck situations where the "simple pigtail" connector to the
> gameport would not reliably recognise all notes and signals especially
> with Yamaha equipment basically because the computer end is relying on
> "voltage" transition and MIDI is a function of "current". These
> situations could only be resolved with a proper interface.

I dont think those cables can claim to be proper MIDI cables - most decent
"joystick port" cables have the required 5mA current loop conversion and
isolator circuitry on them (I've taken quite a few apart over the years
when the cable has become damaged).

Apparently the MPU-401 interface design (which many cards implement) is
seriously flawed anyway and it is often difficult to get things to
synchronise accurately.

I would avoid USB devices on slow machines too. If your disklavier has a
"to-host" connector, it might be worth using that (simply connects to the
serial port and uses an easily obtainable driver), or buying a
parallel/serial port MIDI interface as others have suggested.

Regards,

James

I found two suitable Midi interfaces first try on Google.  The Midiman
BiPort 2x4/S is a serial port interface for $125, and the Midiman Poprtman
Pc/P for $61.95 is a parallel interface.  Both are for laptop use without
USB ports.

http://www.kraftmusic.com/catalog/software/pclaptopmidiinterfaces/index.asp?
brand=14

Carol Beigel

Thanks Carol,

rgds
Budds


>From: "Carol Beigel" <crbrpt@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: "dug" <disklavier@...>
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] should be MIDI interface
>Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 22:16:21 -0500
>
>I found two suitable Midi interfaces first try on Google.  The Midiman
>BiPort 2x4/S is a serial port interface for $125, and the Midiman Poprtman
>Pc/P for $61.95 is a parallel interface.  Both are for laptop use without
>USB ports.
>
>http://www.kraftmusic.com/catalog/software/pclaptopmidiinterfaces/index.asp?
>brand=14
>
>Carol Beigel
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online 
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

Hi,

My control box does not have a host port. Looks like there is no other 
option other than to go for a serial /Parallel midi interface.

On a nother note, I am using the diskcopy function on my computer with XP to 
make E-seq files for my disklavier and all work well when converting midi 
files and playing it back on the disklavier. I use the normal 1.44mb disks 
and cover the extra hole and use the disk copy function makes them to the 
same format as the original 720 disks. However when I try and do the same 
with my 486 Toshiba Laptop with windows 95 the disklavier fails to recognize 
the files. Does any ione know why this happens?

Thanks
budds.

>From: James Fry <linx@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [disklavier] should be MIDI interface
>Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 20:06:59 +0000 (GMT)
>
>On Tue, 28 Oct 2003, Leigh Whitley wrote:
>
> > I have struck situations where the "simple pigtail" connector to the
> > gameport would not reliably recognise all notes and signals especially
> > with Yamaha equipment basically because the computer end is relying on
> > "voltage" transition and MIDI is a function of "current". These
> > situations could only be resolved with a proper interface.
>
>I dont think those cables can claim to be proper MIDI cables - most decent
>"joystick port" cables have the required 5mA current loop conversion and
>isolator circuitry on them (I've taken quite a few apart over the years
>when the cable has become damaged).
>
>Apparently the MPU-401 interface design (which many cards implement) is
>seriously flawed anyway and it is often difficult to get things to
>synchronise accurately.
>
>I would avoid USB devices on slow machines too. If your disklavier has a
>"to-host" connector, it might be worth using that (simply connects to the
>serial port and uses an easily obtainable driver), or buying a
>parallel/serial port MIDI interface as others have suggested.
>
>Regards,
>
>James

_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online 
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

If you can do the job with an old Roland MPU compatible that works 
fine in old compters with ISA o EISA BUS, please mail me.

I do not know how to send it to australia or how much the shhiping 
cost is. It is just a small box.

--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Carol Beigel" <crbrpt@b...> 
wrote:
> I found two suitable Midi interfaces first try on Google.  The 
Midiman
> BiPort 2x4/S is a serial port interface for $125, and the Midiman 
Poprtman
> Pc/P for $61.95 is a parallel interface.  Both are for laptop use 
without
> USB ports.
> 
> 
http://www.kraftmusic.com/catalog/software/pclaptopmidiinterfaces/ind
ex.asp?

> brand=14
> 
> Carol Beigel