MIDI cable and old keyboard?

MR_MU53NDO · 19 Feb 2013 at 11:37

i have a pretty old (1988) MIDI keyboard with MIDI out only. because i basically have no money to pay for a new one, i was wondering if it would somehow be possible to plug this keyboard into my PC to use it with Fruity Loops, or is it too old to be used with a computer?

Werewolf · 19 Feb 2013 at 11:55

I'm not 100% sure, but from memory the mid interface is backwards compatible with older/newer devices, so as long as the keyboard has a working midi interface and you can get a midi interface for the PC (IIRC not all older cheap soundcards had a proper working one, and I'm not sure if modern soundcards do),it's then a case of getting the software sorted out.

MR_MU53NDO · 19 Feb 2013 at 12:21

Werewolf said:
I'm not 100% sure, but from memory the mid interface is backwards compatible with older/newer devices, so as long as the keyboard has a working midi interface and you can get a midi interface for the PC (IIRC not all older cheap soundcards had a proper working one, and I'm not sure if modern soundcards do),it's then a case of getting the software sorted out.

would it need some form of driver, (bearing in mind that there were no CDs with it) and if so, can it bee downloaded from the internet.

The keyboard is an Amstrad one (CKX100 i believe)

Gav_881 · 19 Feb 2013 at 18:04

you can get a keyboard for about £5 granted not a nice one but it will still work, surely your not that poor.

Uncle Petey · 19 Feb 2013 at 18:09

A midi-usb cable like this one should do the trick.
I used the very same one with a 1991 Ensoniq VFX and had no probs.

MR_MU53NDO · 19 Feb 2013 at 20:49

Gav_881 said:
you can get a keyboard for about £5 granted not a nice one but it will still work, surely your not that poor.

hmm... assuming your talking about piano keyboards, the cheapest i've seen is about £32, and it only has 25 keys, whereas mine has 49. 49 key ones are near the £80-100 mark, i believe...

MR_MU53NDO · 19 Feb 2013 at 20:50

Uncle Petey said:
A midi-usb cable like this one should do the trick.
I used the very same one with a 1991 Ensoniq VFX and had no probs.

thanks! i'll check that out

SheriffHD · 20 Feb 2013 at 03:03

Its simple, Ebay...Midi to USB. done

Fruity loops should detect it no problem.

done this on a roland midi keyboard, worked a treat with a midi to usb cable and reason detected it right away wth out any drivers needing to be installed or any messing about, just plug and play.