OK this is a long shot! I have a fairly ancient electric piano (Roland) which has the facility to input and output midi files. I would like to be able to play back midi files created via PrintMusic through this keyboard but I have no idea how to go about it - or whether it is even possible! At the moment the midi files are on a laptop but I don't know how to attach it to the keyboard. If I did manage to attach it, how would i make it play? Help!

W

I'm assuming when you say "the facility to input and output midi files" you mean it has midi input and midi output connectors? Or do you mean it can save/load files from a disk you physically put in the keyboard?

Have you got a MIDI port on your laptop? Probably not.

Ok, assuming cables and not disk. You need a USB midi interface for your laptop - the basic ones are about £20+.
E.g. http://www.dv247.com/invt/35907/

Then you connect your keyboard to that (possibly using some extra midi cables but thats neither here nor there).

Then you set the playback device in your software (never used PrintMusic) to play through your shiney new midi interface.

Press play.

Sit back and enjoy the hideous monster that is the General Midi format.

Thanks - I'll give that a try...
W

Have finally got the means to do this but now I'm stuck!

"Then you set the playback device in your software (never used PrintMusic) to play through your shiney new midi interface."
I don't know how to do this. Which software do I use? If I just open the midi file, the interface gadget is flashing to suggest that my laptop is sending midi out but there is no sound. What vital stage am I missing?

W

Hi Willobie

I have a laptop running Printmusic, and a Roland electric piano that plays the midi output from Printmusic.

The gadget I have that connects the two together is an Edirol UM-1EX USB MIDI Interface. I just plug it into both machines, select "Default Midi Output Device" in the Midi setup bit of Printmusic and off I go.

The gadget came with a driver to make it work on the PC. But other than that it's just been plug and play all the way.

Cheers

Katyjay

Thanks, that give me some ideas... I'll have another play around and report back...

W

I tried that but there is still no sound...

I'd like to point out that although MIDI was invented in 1982, the General MIDI standard wasn't established until 1991 (from top of my head). So if your instrument is older than that it there is a chance it interprets MIDI code different and it isn't able to play a MIDI file in the way you expect it. Just something to keep in mind.

SUCCESS!!!

After much wire swapping and revoicing of music we can now play midi files through our old Roland keyboard! Thanks for the inspiration Katyjay!

W

Well done Willobie