MIDI to Whatever adapter.

rtf · Sun 14/03/2004 23:04:12

I need some help
1. I just bought a good, solid, 5-pin MIDI cable.

2. I hook it up to the electric piano.

3. I move piano so it can reach the computer.

4. There is no where to plug in the cable to the computer.

So I call Radio Shack, but they say that they don't carry "MIDI-to-serial" (or whatever) adapters.
So I call Staples, but they don't have any either.

Then I call the local music store. They said they do have one, but they also said (nonchalantly) "They cost about $49.99!"

Thats 27 pounds! 66 canadian dollars! .12 ounces of pure gold! 389 Hong Kong Dollars!!! (In case Gilbot is here)

So can someone direct me to a good, yet affordable (for a 13 year old) MIDI-to-Serial or USB (or whatever) adapter?

Thanks to anyone, thanks to everyone!

BOYD1981 · Sun 14/03/2004 23:17:08

the midi cable should plug in to your soundcard, the midi cable i have has the midi plug on one end to plug into the soundcard, an extension so you can plug another midi device (or joystick) to the pc, and on the other end there's a midi-in and midi-out cable that you connect to the midi device.
you can also get midi cables that connect to a com port.
have you got a picture of the cable you bought?

rtf · Sun 14/03/2004 23:32:38

No pictures, sorry.

It is a 10' long "Shielded MIDI/DIN Cable."
"5-pin male DIN to 5 pin male DIN"
"For conecting a MIDI-compadible device to a PC"

Despite my knowlege of computers, I don't know what the hell to do.

remixor · Mon 15/03/2004 01:37:36

I have the same problem. My sound card doesn't have a midi input (unlike BOYD's, if I'm reading his post correctly), so I need a MIDI-to-USB or MIDI-to-serial, but they're all bloody expensive. I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and pay the $40-$50 they ask for these damn things...

Alynn · Mon 15/03/2004 01:54:43

For that much couldn't you just go get a new sound card with a midi port on it?

BOYD1981 · Mon 15/03/2004 02:33:12

is this the kind you have?

i think those kind of cables are better suited for professional soundcards

this is the cable i have (the site i bought it from lists it as a Multimedia Cable)

remixor · Mon 15/03/2004 02:38:49

Quote from: Alynn on Mon 15/03/2004 01:54:43
For that much couldn't you just go get a new sound card with a midi port on it?

I doubt it, but even if one could I have a laptop and there are only a very few number of external soundcard models, each of which is considerably more expensive than $50.

rtf · Mon 15/03/2004 03:49:36

Boyd:

Yeah, that's the one. (The top one)

BOYD1981 · Mon 15/03/2004 13:58:47

actually, i think that one is a midi-thru cable, it allows you to connect or daisy chain one or more additional midi devices, so you do actually need a cable like the one i have, they are pretty cheap to buy new but you could give ebay a try...