Korg Forums

[evilsweetiepie]

I got a microkorg, original one. My PC doesn't have any midi input/output, so i can't connect it like that. I know there's midi cables that have USB on one end, so i'm looking for one of those.. i've been hearing how some can't transmit microkorgs commands, so which brands are the best?

[xmlguy]

For most keyboardists, USB midi cables and interfaces are redundant and not necessary because we usually need a good quality Audio I/O box/card in order to record or send audio between the computer and the keyboard, and most audio I/O products have midi built in.

So, get yourself a good audio I/O box and you will be good to go. I recommend the Maudio Fast Track Pro, or similar products.

[evilsweetiepie]

Ok, so that's what i would need? I'm trying to control VST plugins in FL studio with it.

[xmlguy]

You only need a usb to midi interface, but it's usually not worth buying one because most of us also need an audio I/O box, which often have midi built in. You probably don't realize that you need an audio I/O box to record the audio your synth makes. But I suppose there might be a few people who only need a midi interface and not an audio interface, in which case they could buy a usb midi interface alone. I would not recommend it, since recording a synth on a computer is something that most people need to do at some point. If you do buy a usb midi interface, be sure to stick to major brands who have good tech support and recent drivers available for download. Do not buy the elcheapo feeBay usb midi "cables" unless you want nothing but trouble.

[evilsweetiepie]

ok i get it..

So the cables such as something like this: https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPq5PeUkA5fbiDn4Yw-jIXxz_4hF-IxzoI-Az9XxCun5NjENeLCw

Those are called Usb midi interfaces? And sound box/card you told me about earlier is all i would really need? So if i got that, it comes with everything i need, something to connect my computer to the microkorg and the box, then i can control the VST's?

[xmlguy]

Yes, that is an example of a usb midi nterface that is improperly called a cable. That blue dongle in the middle is the interface. There is no such thing as a usb midi cable, because a cable cannot convert midi to run over USB. There must be an interface circuit and drivers to do that. Those products are well known as having lots of problems if they are made by noname feebay importer. If you want to buy a usb midi interface, get one by a well known company like Maudio, Roland, Behringer, etc., and be sure that recent drivers are available for download on the manufacturers website.

A usb midi interface will let you send midi control data to the computer, and from the computer to the keyboard, but it will not let you record audio from the keyboard/synth onto the computer, nor will it let you send audio from the computer to the keyboard. Midi is only information like "you pressed the C5 key/note with a velocity of 105 and released it 3 seconds later. Midi is only information about what is happening, but not the sounds or audio itself.

The audio I/O box like the Maudio Fast Track Pro does both midi and audio, and it has everything that most keyboardists need for one or two keyboards, or a keyboard and a mic. If you have more equipment, you might need a more powerful audio I/O box with more input cnannels, like a Tascam US 1800 or US 2000.

Midi lets you record or control what a keyboard is doing to make a sound, but not the sound itself.

[evilsweetiepie]

Ok thanks, this all makes sense now