I've got a MIDI Keyboard, and a music program, and the instructions rattle on about it being plugged in to my computer etc.


Can you tell me how MIDI Keyboards are used, what we need to use them (in the way of harware) and is it actually any good??



Cheers

Oddball

I got a midi keyboard for christmas, and I know technically what it's supposed to do, but can't get some of it to work.
With mine, you can:
1)Download pieces from the computer into the keyboard and it'll play them back, provided they're in MIDI format on the computer. You can take out parts and add parts once it's on the keybpard
2) plug it in to sibelius to either input with the note value keypad on sibelius or use with the flexi-time thing
3) (I can't do work out this one, any ideas?!) plug it into your computer, save it onto either the USB stick or a floppy disc, so that you can transfer it elsewhere, or to make life easier, convert it into a score using sibelius, to save you typing your whole stupid composition out into sibelius!
If I could get the third to work, it would be really useful!! It helps a lot anyway, but....
Whay keyboard have you got, and what software?

I've got a Casio CTK-531. It was quite expensive (don't know how much, it was a present to my sister but she didn't want it so i nabbed it).

I'm getting Sibelius delivered sometime this week... Is there a special jack you have to use as well??

Has it got a floppy drive built in? Or is there a hole in the back which says USB output? I've got a USB cable with mine, which I think you can buy from PC world or comet or somewhere like that. You put it into your USB port, where a memory stick would go. I don't know what sort of lead you'd need if yours has a floppy drive. The same lead can be used for everything.
Once it's connected, you might have to install some drivers, which you can either download or will be on your CD disc, I had to install a MIDI driver. After that, I just loaded up sibelius and then it pretty much tells you how to make it work!

It doesn't have a floppy drive or a USB Out. It has holes for Sustain, Headphones, and 2 large rounded plugs labelled 'MIDI' left and right...

Ah, in fact, I've found something.

http://www.casioextra.co.uk/products.asp?a...&ProductID=1079


Anyway, cheers for the help, elmo!!

You need to by a computer/midi interface cable that plugs into the gameport connector at the back of the PC. You then need to install the MPU-401 driver that comes with your Windows Disc and get a software program like Cakewalk/Sibelius/Finale or freeware software like Anvil Studio and Noteworthy Player. It takes a bit of setting up, but once its done you can record yourself playing the keyboard directly, while having the music automatically notating itself, ready to save as a MIDI file or you can just have MIDI files play your keyboard from the Software program you use. Its a very useful thing to have, especially if you want to compose or record yourself playing and then want to be able to print out the music.
Try and get someone who knows what they are doing to set up your keyboard and computer at first. Once its connected and running, you're more or less ready to go. It will take a bit of time to work out the software too, but thats part of the fun.

Good Luck

QUOTE (Gae @ Jan 3 2005, 01:04 AM)

Try and get someone who knows what they are doing to set up your keyboard and computer at first. Once its connected and running, you're more or less ready to go. It will take a bit of time to work out the software too, but thats part of the fun.

I'm going to see if my piano teacher can come help sort it out, because he has a keyboard which works with a PC. I've been glued to the thing all holiday trying to work it out!
Have fun with yours Oddball!