The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
AN1x ?

I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
software, DAW software, etc.. but
it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
midi files.

Any help most appreciated.

John.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.thomann.de/gb/maudio_midisport_uno.htm
And if you have more than 1 midi synth, buy a midi interface with multiple ports.

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "DKTronics70 ." <johnmerrit.merrit@...> wrote:
>
> Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> AN1x ?
>
> I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> software, DAW software, etc.. but
> it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> midi files.
>
> Any help most appreciated.
>
> John.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

If you have more synths, you would benefit from having a proper MIDI
interface. Then your options depend on your operating system - if you have
a Mac, you must use some USB hardware. On Windows you can still get one of
those serial (and maybe parallel as well) port based interfaces, and get
the USB<->appropriate_port adapter.

There are some USB devices from eMagic, which you can spot every now on
eBay:
- Unitor8 MK II - 8/8 MIDI ports, comes with fancy SMPTE sync, which you
don't need
- AMT8 - 8/8 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
- AMT4 - 4/4 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
- MOTU MIDI Express, I think there's a model with USB

Those are serial based, but worked OK on my Windows machines:
- Unitor8 MKI - 8/8 MIDI ports, SMPTE
- Midiman BiPort - 2 IN/4 OUT, SMPTE

Older versions of MOTU MIDI Express were connected thru parallel port, but
I never used one, so no first-hand knowledge here.

Current prices for Unitor8/AMT8 are around 70-100 EUR, and sometimes one
can get Unitor8 MK I for 50 EUR. For bigger setups they are awesome, since
you can stack them with Mac printer/serial cables.

HTH,

Bruno



2013/6/5 DKTronics70 . <johnmerrit.merrit@...>

> Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> AN1x ?
>
> I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> software, DAW software, etc.. but
> it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> midi files.
>
> Any help most appreciated.
>
> John.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> Subscribe: AN1x-list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Unsubscribe: AN1x-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> List owner: AN1x-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This one is pretty good, works for me, and it's cheap too:

http://www.esi-audio.com/products/midimate2/


On Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 10:31 AM, DKTronics70 .
<johnmerrit.merrit@...>wrote:

> **
>
>
> Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> AN1x ?
>
> I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> software, DAW software, etc.. but
> it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> midi files.
>
> Any help most appreciated.
>
> John.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have that one too. Only problem is that it's not multi-client. -> So the AN1X editor and a DAW can't use the midi driver at the same time. No such problem with e.g. the Midisport midi interfaces.

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, achtung_999 <heinrich.himmelwasser@...> wrote:
>
> This one is pretty good, works for me, and it's cheap too:
>
> http://www.esi-audio.com/products/midimate2/
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 10:31 AM, DKTronics70 .
> <johnmerrit.merrit@...>wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> > AN1x ?
> >
> > I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> > software, DAW software, etc.. but
> > it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> > the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> > midi files.
> >
> > Any help most appreciated.
> >
> > John.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Thanks for the link, that cable does indeed look better than these cheap
cables. And, I see Amazon have them in stock.

Great, thanks.


On Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 11:57 AM, achtung_999 <
heinrich.himmelwasser@...> wrote:

> This one is pretty good, works for me, and it's cheap too:
>
> http://www.esi-audio.com/products/midimate2/
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 10:31 AM, DKTronics70 .
> <johnmerrit.merrit@...>wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with
> the
> > AN1x ?
> >
> > I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> > software, DAW software, etc.. but
> > it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> > the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> > midi files.
> >
> > Any help most appreciated.
> >
> > John.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Community email addresses:
> Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> Subscribe: AN1x-list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Unsubscribe: AN1x-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> List owner: AN1x-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi John !
want an inexpensive MIDI - USB cable ? Try the Prodipe Midi 1i/o : 1 in
- 1 out, very basic , isn't ? But it works, at least for me (PC - Win XP
SP3). I know there are some issues with some MIDI - USB cables or
interface cards, and not only the cheaper ones. The reason is not clear...
Cheers
J.F.
P.S. It even works with other synths too...

DKTronics70 . a écrit :

>
> Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> AN1x ?
>
> I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> software, DAW software, etc.. but
> it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> midi files.
>
> Any help most appreciated.
>
> John.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

What about my old Creative Labs Soundblaster Live! Platinum with the Live! Drive add-on ?

I currently have this sitting in my old P4 3.2Ghz, 4Gb Ram, WinXP SP3, full creative drivers & suite installed.
Connected my AN1x via my old midi cables to the Live! Drive, installed the AN1x editor, Midi-OX, Bome's SendSX, and none of them could send any sysex files to my AN1x.

In Midi-OX, I could see midi messages being sent, I can use the keyboard in any DAW package as a controller, yet I cannot seem to get the AN1x to receive custom sound sets.

Is there any special thing I need to do/setup on the AN1x ?
I have all the channels on 1, Device = ALL, etc..

Thanks for any help.

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Bruno <brunorc@...> wrote:
>
> If you have more synths, you would benefit from having a proper MIDI
> interface. Then your options depend on your operating system - if you have
> a Mac, you must use some USB hardware. On Windows you can still get one of
> those serial (and maybe parallel as well) port based interfaces, and get
> the USB<->appropriate_port adapter.
>
> There are some USB devices from eMagic, which you can spot every now on
> eBay:
> - Unitor8 MK II - 8/8 MIDI ports, comes with fancy SMPTE sync, which you
> don't need
> - AMT8 - 8/8 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
> - AMT4 - 4/4 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
> - MOTU MIDI Express, I think there's a model with USB
>
> Those are serial based, but worked OK on my Windows machines:
> - Unitor8 MKI - 8/8 MIDI ports, SMPTE
> - Midiman BiPort - 2 IN/4 OUT, SMPTE
>
> Older versions of MOTU MIDI Express were connected thru parallel port, but
> I never used one, so no first-hand knowledge here.
>
> Current prices for Unitor8/AMT8 are around 70-100 EUR, and sometimes one
> can get Unitor8 MK I for 50 EUR. For bigger setups they are awesome, since
> you can stack them with Mac printer/serial cables.
>
> HTH,
>
> Bruno
>
>
>
> 2013/6/5 DKTronics70 . <johnmerrit.merrit@...>
>
> > Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> > AN1x ?
> >
> > I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> > software, DAW software, etc.. but
> > it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> > the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> > midi files.
> >
> > Any help most appreciated.
> >
> > John.
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Community email addresses:
> > Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> > Subscribe: AN1x-list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > Unsubscribe: AN1x-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > List owner: AN1x-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

John was talking about USB in his first sentence. I think you can skip the parallel and serial port equipment that hasn't had working drivers for the past fifteen years on anything beyond Windows 2000.
MOTU multi interfaces are pretty expensive, over a grand for new and at least half that used. Older E-Mu and current M-Audio interfaces work pretty well in Windows XP, 7 and one can assume 8. Why not just go to a real music store like Musician's Friend or ZZounds or Sweetwater instead of futzing around with has-everything-knows-nothing Amazon?

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Bruno <brunorc@...> wrote:
>
> If you have more synths, you would benefit from having a proper MIDI
> interface. Then your options depend on your operating system - if you have
> a Mac, you must use some USB hardware. On Windows you can still get one of
> those serial (and maybe parallel as well) port based interfaces, and get
> the USB<->appropriate_port adapter.
>
> There are some USB devices from eMagic, which you can spot every now on
> eBay:
> - Unitor8 MK II - 8/8 MIDI ports, comes with fancy SMPTE sync, which you
> don't need
> - AMT8 - 8/8 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
> - AMT4 - 4/4 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
> - MOTU MIDI Express, I think there's a model with USB
>
> Those are serial based, but worked OK on my Windows machines:
> - Unitor8 MKI - 8/8 MIDI ports, SMPTE
> - Midiman BiPort - 2 IN/4 OUT, SMPTE
>
> Older versions of MOTU MIDI Express were connected thru parallel port, but
> I never used one, so no first-hand knowledge here.
>
> Current prices for Unitor8/AMT8 are around 70-100 EUR, and sometimes one
> can get Unitor8 MK I for 50 EUR. For bigger setups they are awesome, since
> you can stack them with Mac printer/serial cables.
>
> HTH,
>
> Bruno
>
>
>
> 2013/6/5 DKTronics70 . <johnmerrit.merrit@...>
>
> > Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> > AN1x ?
> >
> > I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> > software, DAW software, etc.. but
> > it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> > the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> > midi files.
> >
> > Any help most appreciated.
> >
> > John.
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Community email addresses:
> > Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> > Subscribe: AN1x-list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > Unsubscribe: AN1x-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > List owner: AN1x-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Op 6-6-2013 17:15, john_merrit_70 schreef:

> What about my old Creative Labs Soundblaster Live! Platinum with the Live! Drive add-on ?
>
> [...]
>
> Is there any special thing I need to do/setup on the AN1x ?
> I have all the channels on 1, Device = ALL, etc..

The issue is the buffer size. On cheap MIDI devices (and that includes
your ancient sound card, which is from 1999 if I'm not mistaken) that
buffer is not big enough for sysex dumps. So everything would be
working, and you're wondering what you're doing wrong, but it's the
buffer size. With a professional audio interface, this buffer would be
several times bigger than on for example a USB-to-MIDI cable, and that's
the crucial difference between whether or not you get a buffer overrun.

- Peter

2013/6/6 KurtF <darkside@...>

>
> John was talking about USB in his first sentence. I think you can skip

the parallel and serial port equipment that hasn't had working drivers for
the past fifteen years on anything beyond Windows 2000.

I was using the serial Unitor8 on Windows XP over the USB/RS232 adapter
with no issues, and with no problems related to drivers. Had to get two USB
adapters though, since the first one didn't work. So I admit, it's kinda
adventurous path.

However, Unitor8 MKII and all variations of AMT are USB-based. Currently I
have all those three devices connected to Windows XP and I don't experience
any problems.

> MOTU multi interfaces are pretty expensive, over a grand for new and at

least half that used.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MidiExp128/ - not cheap, but still
way below a grand.

Still, E-mu Xmidi 2x2 seems a great and inexpensive alternative to the
cheap cable.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I had the same problem with my Creative Audigy card trying to transfer sysex to/from my AN1X with my old gameport to MIDI cable. I bought a cheap USB to MIDI cable from Amazon market place (I think it was), and that worked just fine. I believe gameport cable may have worked ok when routed through my Micron, but not sure now. There was another problem which the Micron routing definitely fixed, and that was stuck notes.
Interestingly, I later tried using the same USB cable to transfer sysex data to/from an old Prophet 600 (first ever MIDI instrument, apparently...), and that would *not* work with the USB cable, but it *did* work with the gameport one! Oh, and sending patches to the Micron works fine with the gameport cable (never tried it with the USB cable.) BTW: This is all on Windows XP.

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "john_merrit_70" <johnmerrit.merrit@...> wrote:
>
> What about my old Creative Labs Soundblaster Live! Platinum with the Live! Drive add-on ?
>
> I currently have this sitting in my old P4 3.2Ghz, 4Gb Ram, WinXP SP3, full creative drivers & suite installed.
> Connected my AN1x via my old midi cables to the Live! Drive, installed the AN1x editor, Midi-OX, Bome's SendSX, and none of them could send any sysex files to my AN1x.
>
> In Midi-OX, I could see midi messages being sent, I can use the keyboard in any DAW package as a controller, yet I cannot seem to get the AN1x to receive custom sound sets.
>
> Is there any special thing I need to do/setup on the AN1x ?
> I have all the channels on 1, Device = ALL, etc..
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
>
> --- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Bruno <brunorc@> wrote:
> >
> > If you have more synths, you would benefit from having a proper MIDI
> > interface. Then your options depend on your operating system - if you have
> > a Mac, you must use some USB hardware. On Windows you can still get one of
> > those serial (and maybe parallel as well) port based interfaces, and get
> > the USB<->appropriate_port adapter.
> >
> > There are some USB devices from eMagic, which you can spot every now on
> > eBay:
> > - Unitor8 MK II - 8/8 MIDI ports, comes with fancy SMPTE sync, which you
> > don't need
> > - AMT8 - 8/8 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
> > - AMT4 - 4/4 MIDI ports, no fancy stuff
> > - MOTU MIDI Express, I think there's a model with USB
> >
> > Those are serial based, but worked OK on my Windows machines:
> > - Unitor8 MKI - 8/8 MIDI ports, SMPTE
> > - Midiman BiPort - 2 IN/4 OUT, SMPTE
> >
> > Older versions of MOTU MIDI Express were connected thru parallel port, but
> > I never used one, so no first-hand knowledge here.
> >
> > Current prices for Unitor8/AMT8 are around 70-100 EUR, and sometimes one
> > can get Unitor8 MK I for 50 EUR. For bigger setups they are awesome, since
> > you can stack them with Mac printer/serial cables.
> >
> > HTH,
> >
> > Bruno
> >
> >
> >
> > 2013/6/5 DKTronics70 . <johnmerrit.merrit@>
> >
> > > Can anyone please recommend a decent USB to Midi cable that works with the
> > > AN1x ?
> > >
> > > I have one of those cheap Chinese imports from Amazon, it works in midi
> > > software, DAW software, etc.. but
> > > it doesn't seem to support the full Midi feature set, and so won't allow
> > > the AN1x to receive sysex files, or custom-sound
> > > midi files.
> > >
> > > Any help most appreciated.
> > >
> > > John.
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Community email addresses:
> > > Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subscribe: AN1x-list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > Unsubscribe: AN1x-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > List owner: AN1x-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

Thanks for the reply, brauner_rc, but I ditched WinXP years ago and now only have it installed on a old P4 that is only around for testing old equipment. My main PC is a I5 2550k, with Win7 x64 installed.

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Bruno <brunorc@...> wrote:
>
> 2013/6/6 KurtF <darkside@...>
> >
> > John was talking about USB in his first sentence. I think you can skip
> the parallel and serial port equipment that hasn't had working drivers for
> the past fifteen years on anything beyond Windows 2000.
>
> I was using the serial Unitor8 on Windows XP over the USB/RS232 adapter
> with no issues, and with no problems related to drivers. Had to get two USB
> adapters though, since the first one didn't work. So I admit, it's kinda
> adventurous path.
>
> However, Unitor8 MKII and all variations of AMT are USB-based. Currently I
> have all those three devices connected to Windows XP and I don't experience
> any problems.
>
> > MOTU multi interfaces are pretty expensive, over a grand for new and at
> least half that used.
>
> http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MidiExp128/ - not cheap, but still
> way below a grand.
>
> Still, E-mu Xmidi 2x2 seems a great and inexpensive alternative to the
> cheap cable.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Thankyou for the info on buffer size, Peter.

Is there any way for the buffer to be set via the software, then the sysex file chopped up into smaller chunks and sent piece by piece ?

Thinking about it, would the AN1x then join together those pieces, anyway ?

John.

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, Peter Korsten <peter@...> wrote:
>
> Op 6-6-2013 17:15, john_merrit_70 schreef:
> > What about my old Creative Labs Soundblaster Live! Platinum with the Live! Drive add-on ?
> >
> > [...]
> >
> > Is there any special thing I need to do/setup on the AN1x ?
> > I have all the channels on 1, Device = ALL, etc..
>
> The issue is the buffer size. On cheap MIDI devices (and that includes
> your ancient sound card, which is from 1999 if I'm not mistaken) that
> buffer is not big enough for sysex dumps. So everything would be
> working, and you're wondering what you're doing wrong, but it's the
> buffer size. With a professional audio interface, this buffer would be
> several times bigger than on for example a USB-to-MIDI cable, and that's
> the crucial difference between whether or not you get a buffer overrun.
>
> - Peter
>