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MIDI Question

My cousin has a Reveal Musicstar keyboard with all the proper cables such as: a cable from the MIDI OUT going to the joystick port in her sound card (Aureal Vortex) and of course the power cable.  Our problem is is that we can't get any devices to show up in Record Tab: Input Device.  How do I get something to show up there?  In the MIDI Tab I do have that all configured at: Available Play Devices: Vortex AU8830 Wavetable and Devices used by Playback: MIDI Mapper.  Need some help please.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #1 –
If you have a MIDI input device, and you have installed the driver for that device, the name of that device/driver will be shown in this box.

If the Input Device box on the Tools|Options|Record tab is empty, then your system does not have a device driver installed for use in MIDI input. This device driver should be installed by the setup program for the Aureal Vortex.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #2 –
I have been struggling for a month trying to get my Reveal MusicStar MIDI keyboard to be recognized under XP operating system. HP has beeen of NO help and their soundboard is built into the mother board and has no documentation. I like the NoteWorthy software and can use it with computer keyboard notation but that is SLOW and AWKWARD as compared to MIDI keyboard input. I had some trouble making it work on my OLD 98 computer but solved the problem with the 98 trouble shooter that led me through the steps by installing an AUDIO file. However, have not found the path to success using XP. Anybody figured out XP yet. It does NOT have a Multimedia section. All I could find is ActiveX that is of NO help. Any IDEAS will be apapreciated.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #3 –
I have had the same problem with a Reveal MusicStar Midi Keyboard and solved it for Windows 98 but can NOT get the keyboard to function on my new HP 510 c under XP operating system. If yours is 98 OS, let me know and I can guide you to the routine that adds an AUDIO file that solved my problem under 98 OS.Like Jack Benny used to say: "Rots of RUCK!"

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #4 –
This situation has been asked on other message threads. The problem lies with XP. I have that problem with my MIDI interface: Worked with Windows 98, but the driver software will not install (not even hacked) under XP. The solution lies with the port driver software. If the interface manufacturer doesn't want to upgrade it for XP compatibility, you may be out of luck. Using the XP "compatibility mode" for other versions of Windows (including NT, which resembles XP in many ways), didn't help.

It seems to me that the software driver installation file *.inf might be hand-edited to place files in other folders, or insert a different registry key. But I tried the (very) few things that I knew, and none worked.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #5 –
OK --the fault must be with XP. Who do we contact to gain access to the solution? REVEAL is no longer in business so that is elilminated. If it is Microsoft -- any idea of HOW to contact the right addres. I tried searching and found NOTHING -- we need a NorthWoods guide to point in the right direction. It would seem that NoteWorthy would set someone on their staff to seek out the solution. I am not sure that ANY MIDI KEYBOARD would work under XP. --- STEW

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #6 –
Other NWC users have reported success with MIDI keyboards and XP, provided that the port (and port driver) is compatible. There are products currently on the market that can be used with USB on an XP. I haven't yet bought one, but others say that they do work.

Sooner or later, someone may figure out how to hack old Win-98 compatible port drivers to work with XP. Microsoft has nothing to say on the subject. I don't think that the music program suppliers (such as NWC) will have much to say, as it is hardware-specific, and they would not be able to duplicate results unless they had the exact hardware.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #7 –
If you upgrade to XP, any hardware that you use will need new XP drivers. If the new XP drivers are not provided by the device manufacturer or Microsoft, then your options include:

  • not upgrading to XP

  • replace the device with a newer one supported in XP

  • do without the device all together
This applies to printers, sound cards, graphics cards, modems, lan cards, and any other hardware attached to your system.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #8 –
I was looking to buy a MusicStar Midi Keyboard for my Windows XP, and I have been reading these threads, and I can tell you that I have gotten a Yamaha Midi Keyboard to work in XP, but then I have a sound blaster live card.  Maybe the guy with the sound built on his motherboard should consider upgrading.  Hope this helps.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #9 –
I recently purchased a Musicstar keyboard and also tried installing it on an XP O.S. to no avail. I tried running it in Win 95 mode (right click on the program file for Musicstar, left click on properties and check the mode you want to try using) and I still couldn't get it to work. I noticed on the disc is the name Voyetra which makes music writing software that I have so I will try their site for an updated driver. If it works I'll let you know.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #10 –
I am told that XP is closer to NT than to Win95. If nothing else works, try the NT compatibility mode. That strategy actually worked for a scanner driver (but not for a MIDI controller) that I have.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #11 –
I had the same problem that some of you are having - MIDI keyboard not working in WinXP, with built-in sound card.  Have you tried your BIOS setup, because with mine, the MIDI port was disabled in BIOS.  (Even though my joystick was working, I think)

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #12 –
I'm running windows xp and I just got my musicstar midi keyboard as a promotional free gift.  I had some trouble installing the software because my cd drive was unable to read the cd.  I then ran the install through the network from another computer that was able to read the cd.  That installed the software fine.  Then I ran the program in win95 compatibility mode and had no problems getting the keyboard to work.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #13 –
The problem is not in the Musicstar midi keyboard. It is standard midi. The problem is in the cheaper sound cards and in XP not installing the msmpu401 driver. The midi in port can be activated if you manually force the installation of new hardware, audio driver, Microsoft, mpu401 compatible. That should do it.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #14 –
In response to Bob Stewart,

Could you please give me the step by step for the installation of the driver for my Win98 machine?

Thanks.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #15 –
Hi,
just came to the forum and thought should check here since I too would like to have the dummies guide to install under win98.
Actually I am setting up a bigtower and I have installed win98 with sblive! soundcard ( supported by creative chats room in Ireland)to work with Vienna 2.3 ( free gift from creative for win98 only, needs sblive!) even on cheapest boxes the sound is just amazing.
In ebay I found the Reveal Musicstar keyboard for under $ 9,- so I thought I should try it. But since it would need to be shipped overseas from the US it still might come expensive, if there is no overseas supplier? So if the thing is not working anyhow no use for all the effort even if it seems unbelieveable low priced?

thx for any useful replies

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #17 –
After months of trying i finally got the 7 floppys that come with musicstar.  It now works...........but it also found that it works with the Roland MPU 401 driver

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #18 –
I have the Reveal MusicStar keyboard that functioned way back with Windows 3.1.  Unfortunately, I misplaced the manual and can't take advantage yet of all the function selections I recall it has (If you know where I can get a copy on line, please let me know).  Recently became interested again. I could not get the software to work in XP and had an out of date cable. So I purchased a cable by USB Midisport Uno at a Micro Center computer store (they have a website--www.m-audio.com --and it came with software to driver for the cable). It has a midi out and midi in connection. I connected the Audio Out jack to the keyboard and the USB connection on the other end of the cable to the computer.  On the net, I found "Record Producer Midi Edition Version 5.01.4103 by Voyetra" and played around with appropriate settings to get it to work.  I am using the trial version and it provides 30 days trial use.  Hope this helps, hang in there, you'll have to keep after it until you find the right stuff to drive it for your personal needs and taste!

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #19 –
I'm new to this forum, but I hope some one can help me.
I'm taking online course and suddenly my sound went out.( for my lectures) My hardware should be MPU401-compatible MIDI device, but it is grey out. I don't know where to go to get a free download. I didn't set up my computer. So, I don't know where the original CD that set up the sound. Also, I have an E-machine. Thanks, in advance for any help.

Re: MIDI Question

Reply #20 –
What's an e-machine, Jennifer?  If you can provide the following information, there's a better chance someone can help you:

1.  Type of computer (brand name, laptop or desktop, PC compatible or Mac) and any other tech. info you can provide, particularly the sound card you're using.

2.  Operating system (WindowsXP, Windows98, Mac, etc.)

3.  What sort of set up do you have for sound?  Maybe it's something as simple as the connection being loose (check the wires)