The old MIDI IN/OUT instruments: What options exist for them?

[rasputin1963]

I may be given as a gift an old Yamaha electric piano...   bearing no USB capabilities,   but still having those old MIDI IN/OUT pluggies.

What options (now) exist for computer use of instruments like this?   

 

[AlamoJoe]

I have a adapter for my Audigy sound card that contains a midi in/out jack. I'd check Musicians Friend and other retailers. Not knowing what you are using to record in to your computer now..I'd say you can run from the audio outs on the keyboard to whatever interface you are going back into your computer with.   try doing some research here.

 

 

[philbo]

You can buy a USB midi port if you need to hook them to a PC. (Input: MIDI Din jacks Output: USB)

 

Here's a nice inexpensive one: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Uno.html

 

If you have more than one synth, try this one: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MIDISPORT4x4AnniversaryEdition.html

[WRGKMC]

Midi is still a good technology for creating music and nothing out there has come along and replaced it yet. Even if the device has a usb connection instead of actual midi din plugs, its still used for communicating midi data. It may be more convenient for the user to just plug in with a USB port, but A direct connect to a midi card plugged directly into the main board will still provide the fastest transfer of information.  You may not realize the need for high speed until you're dealing with some high CPU consumption virtual instrument plugins.