I'm just wondering if anyone has used the USB port on the kn6000. I have just bought a laptop (Dell) and it has no MIDI connectoin like my Desktop has. Can I MIDI in and out via the USB port, or will I have to use some other method.
Many thanks in advance
Pat

if your dell has a serial connector [RS232 - 9 pin D type](this is being dropped on most new high end laptops and pcs) you can still use the computer host connection.

Load the driver (check compatabilty if using XP) and switch the back of the 6000 to PC2.

I'm sorry if this sounds like a bumb question, but do you mean to connect the USB port on the kn6000 to the 9pin D connector on the laptop, or to get a new MIDI cable with midi in and out at one end and a 9 pin D connector at the other end? My current cable has MIDI in and out at one end and a 15 pin D connector at the other end.
Again, thanks for your reply and sorry for not understanding the set up.

no, it is confusing at first.

if you have a soundcard you have a midi interface built into the computer, and you buy a cable from the 15 pin D joystick port on the pc to two 5 pin DIN plugs, midi in and out. this is what you've got.

if you have no soundcard, no midi interface, if your laptop has no joystick port, you can use the 'host' computer connection if you have a 9 pin D RS232 serial port on the laptop, cable to mini p/s plug 8 pin. This will work on most existing keyboards which have a 'host' connector on the back.

if you have no joystick port and no serial port but you do have a usb port, you can buy a usb midi interface, usb to two 5 pin DIN plugs, midi in and out, but this is the most expensive solution of all.

if you buy a 7000 you need none of these, all you need is a usb A to B cable, and is the simplest, cheapest and best solution technically. Because of this the 7000 no longer has a 'host' connector because it is no longer needed, and there are a few other tricks inside to make it better for midi too.

ps there is no usb on the 6000, there is a usb on the sx6 hard disk which fits in 6000 and 6500 but is not used yet... this is a different animal though.

Now I've got it (at last, I hear you say) I need a RS232 to mini P/S plug 8 pin. This will connect to the 9 pin connector on the laptop and will have the midi in and out like the old cable. I didn't know that the USB port on the back of my 6000 was useless. (I do have a hdsx6) Many thanks for your time and effort. Now all I need to do is scource one of those cables.

Bubbles,

This is the kind of lead you will probably be looking for:


.....and heres were you can get it:
Host cable from thomann

Or from here: Brittensmusic


J5


[This message has been edited by Jupitar5 (edited 08-08-2002).]

Many, many thanks folks.