using midi input from a keyboard controller. please help

[acorrias]

Hi
I am looking for some suggestion to connect a Novation MKII to a Yamaha psr s950.

My novation has two outputs (midi 1 and midi 2) and I cannot get any input into my psr keyboard using midi input.
I have also tried to connect usb output of my novation to 2 usb inputs (to device and host usb) and I get no midi input.

I have also tried to drive my psr with an midi signal coming from a breath controller (ewi usb) and my psr says that I have connected a device that is not supported or is not compatible with the port.
I get the same message also with external Novation MKII keyboard.
I have to say that psr seems only to support the midi input coming from my personal computer through a usb2midi adapter.

please give me some suggestion
thanks in advance
ALEX

[SeaGtGruff]

I don't think you can use USB to connect them. You should use MIDI.

MKii MIDI OUT to PSR-S950 MIDI IN.

Then you'll need to go into the PSR's MIDI Receive settings and tell the PSR what to do with the MIDI coming from the MKii-- that is, whether you want a given channel of the MIDI IN (MKii) to control Right1, or Right2, or one of the Song parts, etc.

[Janus]

The 950 needs  a usb midi kabel driver on a computer
I don't no if the 950 has din midi
When it is no than you need a computer with the yamaha usb midi driver loaded

[Genos!]

I have seen advertised that there are a few hardware USB keyboards that can connect this way.

The problem is with the USB keyboard. You will need drivers loaded, and it's quite obvious that you don't have a way to load them on the other keyboard. Some USB keyboards can connect directly to external hardware, but very, very few (unless advertised).

You will need to connect the two through a computer with the correct drivers installed for the USB keyboard if they both don't accept standard midi cables.

[overover]

Hi Alex,

unfortunately, the USB-to-Device sockets on Yamaha Arranger keyboards, like the S950, cannot used to connect USB-MIDI controllers. (Only some Yamaha Synths do support this.)

So, you must use the DIN MIDI IN socket of the S950.

What exactly do you want to control with the external MIDI controller on the S950?


Best regards,
Chris

[SeaGtGruff]

I don't no if the 950 has din midi

The PSR-S950 has MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports, so it's possible to connect directly with MIDI cables-- but it's necessary to set up the PSR-S950's MIDI Receive settings.

The Owner's Manual won't help in that respect; the relevent information is located in the Reference Manual-- although it's a bit too terse to be as helpful as many users would prefer.

[acorrias]

Hi,
I followed Psr Manual, but it is no very clear. I realized to have to go to set "Midi Receive settings" but I got no signal. MidiINn monitor has channel circles white,showing that non midi signal is received.Although I was fully convinced that settings were ok.
But......after a while i realized that midi cable was interrupted at its inside. Now midi input works full.

THANKS A LOT.

I apologize for posting another question. I wish to input also midi signal coming from my new EWI USB (an Akai breath control). This instrument has a USB B female socket and a cable with a USB B male plug that terminates with a USB A standard plug.

I have inserted it inside the USB2DEVICE female socket and also inside the USB2HOST female socket (with a passive usb A2B adapter. Owner's manual explains the the first socket is for connecting usb flash memory and the second one is for connecting to the computer.

Anyway MIDI SETTINGS has in the table, at the first column, these values: MIDI/USB 1 or USB 2. And this notation gives the idea that midi could be inputted from usb. this idea si confirmed by the reference manual (https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/7/328237/psrs950_en_rm_a0.pdf) at page 108 says "The PSR-S950/S750 can receive MIDI messages over 32 channels (16 channels x 2 ports) by USB connection."
at the same page, in the bottom a picture says "MIDI transmission/reception via the [USB TO HOST] terminal and MIDI [IN]/[OUT] terminals

The relationship between the MIDI [IN]/[OUT] terminals and the [USB TO HOST] terminal which can
be used for transmitting/receiving 32 channels (16 channels x 2 ports) of the MIDI messages is as
follows:
and USB2HOST port seems to manage USB1 and USB2 input signals, while in the same picture on the right USB2HOST is used also for midi out.

So my question is: is there a way to get midi from USB? is it possible to play my EWI USB with a internal sax sound, for instance playing a midi file as accompaniment? This is my actual wish.

thanks in advance for yor answer
ALEX

[RoyB]

Alex

Midi files played on the Yamaha are transmitted out over channels 1-16 through Port B. This has caused me some difficulties because Yamaha, in its Wisdom, has decided on its Arrangers not to transit midi OUT from Port B over USB, it will only transmit midi out from Port A over USB (strangely though, Yamaha has decided to allow midi to be received IN through Port B via USB).

If you want to transmit midi out from a midi file to another device, you have to use the Physical midi port B (and use a Midi to USB converter if you want to connect via USB at the other end).

Regards

Roy

[SeaGtGruff]

is there a way to get midi from USB? is it possible to play my EWI USB with a internal sax sound, for instance playing a midi file as accompaniment?

Yes but no.

Yes, the PSR-S950 can receive MIDI over a USB connection.

But no, you cannot directly connect the EWI or other USB-MIDI device to the PSR via USB. What you'll need to do is connect both the EWI and the PSR to a USB host device of some sort, since the PSR-S950 can't act as a USB host device itself in that fashion.

Usually the easiest solution is to connect both devices to USB ports on a computer, then use MIDI routing software on the computer to route the MIDI data from the EWI to the PSR.

If for any reason you'd rather not use a computer, laptop, or tablet to act as a USB host for interfacing the two devices via USB-MIDI, you can buy a standalone USB-MIDI host, such as the Kenton MIDI USB Host MkII, or the Miditech USB MIDI Host, or a similar type of USB-MIDI interface that can act as a USB host.

Note that a simple USB-MIDI interface cable will not work!

However, a standalone USB-MIDI host interface normally requires that the devices being interconnected are USB-MIDI class compliant-- that is, they do not require proprietary USB-MIDI drivers-- because you won't be able to install said proprietary drivers on the standalone USB-MIDI host interface. That shouldn't be a problem with the PSR, because you'll be connecting the USB-MIDI host to the PSR's MIDI IN port, therefore you won't need to use the Yamaha USB-MIDI driver (since you won't be connecting to the PSR's USB TO HOST port). But the EWI would need to work without a proprietary driver, since you'd be connecting it to the USB-MIDI host's USB port.

[overover]

Hi Alex,

as I wrote above:

... unfortunately, the USB-to-Device sockets on Yamaha Arranger keyboards, like the S950, cannot used to connect USB-MIDI controllers. (Only some Yamaha Synths do support this.)

You cannot connect a MIDI controller that has only a USB-MIDI Output (USB type A plug) directly to the S950. Neither on a USB-to-Device socket nor on the USB-to-Host socket.

The USB-to-Host socket can only used for USB-MIDI connection to a Computer, iPad/iPhone or an Android device.

What you can do:

1. Connect your USB-MIDI controller (EWI) to the Computer,

2. connect the S950 to the Computer (if you are on Windows, install the Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver.

3. Use a DAW or an additional, so called, "MIDI Loopback Driver" to route the USB-MIDI OUT of. the "EWI" to the desired USB-MIDI IN Port of the S950.

When the Preset MIDI template "All Parts" is selected on the S950, via "USB 1 Receice" you can control the internal Song Parts, and via "USB 2 Receive you control (among others) the internal Keyboard Parts (Right 1/2, Left).

OR connect your" EWI" to an external "USB-MIDI Host" device, e.g. from "Kensington":
>>> https://www.thomann.de/gb/kenton_midi_usb_host.htm
or
>>> https://www.thomann.de/gb/miditech_usb_midi_host.htm

From the USB-MIDI Host's DIN MIDI OUT you go to the DIN MIDI IN of the S950. Use the MIDI Setup (Receive) to make the desired settings.

IF you want to connect your MIDI controller keyboard and also the mentioned USB-MIDI Host AT THE SAME TIME, you
can use an additional MIDI MERGE Box (to can connect the two DIN MIDI signals into the MIDI IN socket of the S950).

Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris

[acorrias]

Thanks a lot.
I have understood the problem and how to solve it

I am planning to buy  this https://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/usb-host-board-v24 and to do a USB HOST MIDI  selfmade.

best regards
ALEX

[HGuttesen]

I am getting a SX-900 tomorrow, and have an old AKAI ewi USB somewhere.

I havent used the ewi for years, since I didn't fancy the sounds available on the software that came with it.
Would you please share if you get this working?

I would love if it is possible to use the great sounds from the PSR with the ewi

Looking forward to hear about your experience, or if anybody else have succeeded in using an ewi for controlling the great sounds in the PSR

Best Regards Heini Guttesen, Denmark

[Joe H]

I have a VL plug-in card installed in my MU128 and a Yamaha BC2 Breath Controller.

Not to discourage anyone... using a breath Controller with standard XG Voices is rather limited.  Yamaha developed VL Voices which were (are) more complex using computer modelling and have many parameters (16 of them) that are affected by the CC02 Breath Controller message as well as other messages such as After Touch, Mod Wheel and Pitch Bend, not to mention there is a programmable Breath Curve.  A lot of programming is required to get optimum expression from the VL Voices.

When using a breath Controller with standard XG Voices you have to assign the Voice to respond to CC02 Breath Control or assign the Breath Controller to send CC11 Expression messages, which only controls the Volume.

Yamaha VL (Virtual Acoustic) wind instruments (and this may be true with other manufacturers) offer a lot more expression and realism due to the many nuances created by computer modelling synthesis of the VL technology. Besides using CC02, Mod Wheel, AT, and Pitch Bend, the VL Voices will respond to how hard you blow and how quickly you blow into the mouth piece as well.  It's very impressive technology!

Joe H