| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: midi works in DOS but not not windows?
by John_A | 04/09/01 at 20:07:35
Please help me, this is driving me NUTS!!
I have an opcode studio 64x connected to my 1 year old laptop via the 9-pin serial port. I ran the opcode setup and ran the diagnostic, which runs in the DOS environment. Every test (play scales on all ports, show midi input data, etc.) works fine, but when I go back to the windows (98se) environment and start the configuration, I keep getting "64x not found" and "check driver and restart" type messsages. I checked the system folder and the driver is there, the opcode disk indicates it's good for windows 98. Is there a big enough difference between 98 and 98se that would make the driver not work? I ran the add new hardware thing but the serial port wasn't mentioned specifically, and when I let the add hardware function search the diskette for the COM1 (serial?) and LPT (parallel?) port drivers, it didn't find anything, so I don't think this is the direction to head. What do you think I should do next? I messed around with the MIDI settings in the multimedia control panel also - that didn't seem to do anything. I don't really feel like springing for a USB midi interface.
Thanks
Subject: Re: midi works in DOS but not not windows?
by Hooper | 04/10/01 at 06:00:58
They way you're trying, via the serial port, may be possible but I've never heard of interfacing with MIDI that way. I think with laptops it's usually done via a card in the PCMCIA slot. I helped my Dad set one up about a year ago. Seems like MOTU had a card for about $99.
Subject: Re: midi works in DOS but not not windows?
by Hooper | 04/10/01 at 06:14:40
I just took a look at MOTU. Didn't see a PCMCIA card but there was a USB/MIDI interface for $79.
http://www.motu.com/english/other/MOTUProducts.html
and look under MIDI hardware
Subject: Re: midi works in DOS but not not windows?
by db | 04/10/01 at 06:30:32
::) I have a parallel midi interface on my windows 98, laptop(Midi-Man, they also have a serial interface. The tests have to be done in DOS also. Your midi software( sequencer etc.) has a lot to do with configuration, what are you useing? There is some internal windows midi, but not the same. In the sequencing software, you select the sources for your midi, that is why the software may be critical. I also have a opcode dual port, that I have not installed, bought it at a closeout sale, but I do have the drivers, and instructions. I will look at it later, hope this helps.
--db
Subject: Re: midi works in DOS but not not windows?
by John_A | 04/10/01 at 09:33:14
Hmmm.... I might have to get a USB interface - but I shouldn't have to. I'm so close! It seems like there's just some gobbledegook somewhere that's keeping windows from communicating with the port, since it works fine in DOS. To replace the 64x with a USB equivalent would set me back around $300 since it's 4 in/6 out.
I'm using Cubase 5. the first thing it does is look for the 64x, which it seems to know everything about but can't find.I've configured Cubase to use the 64x according the Cubase manual.
I'll try the parallel port.
I'm terribly vexed.
Thanks for the input.
Subject: Re: midi works in DOS but not not windows?
by db | 04/10/01 at 10:20:12
What does windows show in settings/control panel/system/device manager/sound and video controllers. also ports, in regards to the opcode? Also, some interfaces are parasidic (for power) some others may need power supply, just checking. The interface may be detected, but not doing midi. Windows Should show something in device manager. Just some thoughts.
--db
Subject: Re: midi works in DOS but not not windows?
by pcrecord | 04/10/01 at 12:10:13
I once heard that some portables internal clock is not strong enough for midi ou audio synchronisation. Be careful !!