MIDI Keyboard

#1 Sat, 5 Sep 2009 - 01:37 68kMLA

I have a MIDI keyboard and a PowerBook 180. I also have a MIDI to 15 pin sound port cable. The 15 pin sound port can plug into the display port on the PowerBook, but it wouldn't make any sense to plug an audio device into a video port. Can someone help me connect the PowerBook to the keyboard?

#2 Sat, 5 Sep 2009 - 01:58 68kMLA

the 15 pin connector is typically a pc thing (not saying it doesnt exist on mac but) when soundcards became the primary holder of the joystick port they tossed in midi since it was there. I don't think mac's have native raw midi input

you will have to buy some type of adapter

meantime check this out

http://archive.cs.uu.nl/pub/MIDI/DOC/Mac-midi-intro

as far as plugging your midi to pc soundcard cable (i have one too) into the mac video port, no it wont work, and its possible that it could damage your video hardware, if your midi device is pumping out 5 volts on a sensitive line

#3 Sat, 5 Sep 2009 - 14:56 68kMLA

You need a MIDI interface. They range from a little box with 2 MIDI connectors (1 in, 1 out) from numerous brands, to comprehensive rackmount interfaces.

eBay would be a great place to look.

#4 Sat, 5 Sep 2009 - 15:41 68kMLA

I also have a MIDI to 15 pin sound port cable.

That's actually a PowerBook display cable AFAIK, so it won't work.

#5 Sun, 6 Sep 2009 - 01:55 68kMLA

Yeah, what you've got is definitely a PowerBook external video cable. Plugging anything other than an external monitor into that port will not work, and may damage the PowerBook, the MIDI device, or both.