Jokeyman123 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Just when I thought I had all this sorted out. I have not been able to get the PX350 to work with a USB to midi DIN cable adapter in order to record with DAW software. I can do anything no problem if I use the USB connector from the PX350 to the USB port to computer using Windows 7 and a regular USB cable (not DIN). But no matter what driver I install, nothing seems to get through to the software with this other kind of cable and the DIN ports. I've used this cable with other keyboards and tried this with several different software programs but there seems to be no connection happening. All the correct drivers for the adapter cable are installed and show up as an option in all my software, but still nothing is playing or recording. I've also noticed after installing the Casio driver for the PX series from the website that this only seems to activate when using the USB from the PX to the computer USB port, not the DIN ports. So I'm guessing the Casio driver is only designed to work with that, and not with DIN. Is it possible the DIN ports on the PX are only there for direct DIN to DIN connections and will not work with a USB adapter cable? I know the PX will only work with either one MIDI port or the other (USB or DIN), not both simultaneously as can the XW-P1. The manual does not have much detail about any of this. I also have learned that the USB midi port is disabled when the thumb drive is connected, and I've tried the DIN ports with and without the thumb drive, either way makes no difference. Only seems to work that way with the USB midi port. If anybody can give me help with this let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Do you have an older Privia that needed a driver? The PX-350 is class compliant. No Casio driver needed. Midi din ports also do not use drivers, even when they are used with usb converter cables. The only driver that was needed was for the converter cable itself. Does your converter cable have input/output lights? What model is it? The way to know data is being sent from the 350 to the cable is through the lights. They will flash as data is transmitted. This way you know if it's a setting in the 350 or it's the software. But the cable shows up as an option in the midi devices? Do you have a way of connecting the midi din to another keyboard or sound module to test the midi din output? I would confirm this first. Then try the cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
- T - Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Jokeyman Drivers interface the specific direct connected device to the computer. If you are connecting a keyboard via a USB-MIDI adapter, then you need drivers for the adapter - NOT the keyboard, as in that case, it is the adapter that is directly connected to the computer, not the keyboard. In a sense, the drivers interface the adapter to the computer, then the adapter interfaces the keyboard to the computer. If, as Brad says above, the adapter is Class Compliant, then the drivers are already built-in to the operating system, and you do not need to install aftermarket drivers. The same applies to the keyboard if it is Class Compliant and connects directly via the "To Host" USB-MIDI connection. The fact that your adapter has worked with other keyboards indicates that you do not have a problem with it and do not need to worry about it or its drivers. Your problem appears to be with the PX-350. You need to check its MIDI setup. Most keyboards that have both 5-pin DIN MIDI and "To Host" USB-MIDI have a MIDI setup menu where you select whether you want it to route MIDI signals to the DIN connectors or the USB "To Host" connector. Once the DIN connection is establish, it will show up in your DAW MIDI device selection menu as the adapter NOT the keyboard, as here again, it is the adapter that is directly connected to the computer and not the keyboard, so the DAW software "sees" the adapter instead of the keyboard. It will usually show up there as something like "USB-MIDI". As for the computer, it is possible for it to be running both USB-MIDI adapter and direct USB "To Host" MIDI connections side-by-side simultaneously to two different keyboards. BUT . . . I am wondering why you are bothering with the DIN connections on the PX-350 as long as it has a "To Host" USB connection that works. You should be able to make MIDI recordings just as well via that connection as you can via the DIN connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokeyman123 Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Must be something about this computer or Windows 7, a Motion M1400 tablet with Windows 7 Home Premium installed. I just connected a Fuji Lifebook but with XP, native Windows driver for the cable, no Casio driver installed, same software sequencers and both worked immediately, plain USB cable and midi DIN/USB adapter cable with respective ports on PX350. Lifebook has USB 2.0 ports, Motion has only USB 1.0 ports. Another guess-maybe this is the problem. Does class-compliant hardware need USB 2.0? I have a 3rd laptop-Windows 7, USB 2.0 ports. If that works, then it must be the ports. If it doesn't work, maybe it's the Windows 7 native driver for this cable. I'll post back when I get a chance to try this next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
- T - Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Some tablets do not provide enough power on their "Host" ports to drive something like a USB-MIDI adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokeyman123 Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 These are all Windows machines-5V USB standard ports, all have dual-core Intel CPUs, 2 and 2.5GB RAM. I think i solved the problem, partially. I had mapped out a strategy for recording multi-tracks with the PX350 using external software and that strategy, using the built-in PX350 song recorder to assign midi channels and tones one track recorded at a time, is the only way I've done this successfully. I tried recording with the PX350 with a simpler method-pick a tone, change the midi transmit channel in 'tone" mode and arm and record a midi track in software but that doesn't work, causes all kinds of problems, and I'm not sure why. But that's a different problem! What I have just realized is that in migrating from Windows XP to 7, I have had problems assigning the midi out port in software and there is no visible means of accessing the midi mapper in 7. All drivers are working, but I think the windows 7 midi mapper must not be working consistently. For example-with Anvil Studio when selecting the USB 2.0 out port, it refuses to do so stating the driver is being used by another process, even if i have no other program running-this is an old Windows problem i have not seen since Windows 95 and something I have had no trouble with using XP. Windows also sometimes kicks back "the midi port is being used by another process" with Cakewalk, even if i have no other midi software running. I also guess that since 2 computers did work-played and recorded midi data with 7 but all these have USB 2.0 ports, the M1400 with USB 1.0 just does not work with Windows 7-the Windows 7 driver must not be backward compatible with USB 1.0, at least for midi although I have no way to test this. And with all the glitches i'm experiencing-on 3 different computers with Windows 7 but not on 2 different machines with Windows XP (all of these seem like problems with not enough buffer memory to process the data correctly-skipped notes, delayed notes-even 2 separately recorded tracks playing back on one track!) I have to think that I will have to stick to XP for at least midi recording. I guess even a dual-core machine isn't fast enough to work with Windows 7 to process midi data, although given how little cpu power midi really needs (I'm not recording and playing back 64 midi tracks with audio synched to midi!) I am not happy, especially since I upgraded 3 laptops to Windows 7! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokeyman123 Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 A PS-after all this, I am rethinking the PX350 built-in song recorder-maybe its not so bad after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
- T - Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 You may have a point about the backward compatibility. When I upgraded my old Compaq laptop from XP-SP2 to XP-SP3 the USB 1.0 ports and USB 1.0 SD Card reader became intermittent. Oddly, the EIDE CD drive became intermittent also. After numerous complaints, Microsoft (after pushing the upgrade) finally admitted that there might be various driver issues with some brands of older hardware. Apparently they knew this going in, but never told anyone until things started blowing up. Withdrawing the upgrade would not work. I had to format the drive and install SP-2 from scratch. XP-SP3 was a major redesign and a sort of stepping stone to Win-7, and I am sure the overall USB driver design from XP-SP3 to WIN-7 was pretty much the same, so it would make sense that what I experienced with XP-SP3 could carry over to Win-7 machines running old USB 1.0 hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokeyman123 Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 Thank you Ted and BradMZ for your help. Yes, I can only guess that the newer high resolution class compliant ports in the PX350 need a USB 2.0 port and the compatible Windows USB 2.0 driver to work with software, at least in Windows 7. I have used the Motion M1400 with Windows XP and several different software sequencers to record and play midi data with the PX350. it was not designed for Windows 7 and is probably a little too slow to work correctly with midi. Certainly can't fault the the PX350. So my solution will simply be to use the Windows 7 machines with USB 2.0, not a big deal. In the computer field, this is called 'redundancy" and why I keep so many computers. notice the word "dunce" somehow seems to be suggested in redundancy if you cross your eyes! Just recorded 4 simple tracks with the song recorder-drums, bass, acoustic piano and sax and that works nicely every time. And to everyone with a PX350 reading these posts-you cannot record a multi-track arrangement in tone mode with a software sequencer. This may be obvious to those of you with alot of experience using workstations, software, etc but not so obvious if all this is relatively new to you. You must be in song recorder mode-whether you record using the song recorder, or with a software sequencer. Song recorder mode must be the equivalent of a "multi" with a keyboard workstation. What i am doing to record PX350 multitracks to a software sequencer is actually duplicating the same button presses as if i were using the song recorder only-each track must be "armed"-song recorder button flashing, select your tone and midi channel with the PX350, select and "arm' your track in your software sequencer and start recording each track-both the PX song recorder and the software must be in record mode. And either turn off local control in the PX, or make sure "midi thru" is turned off with your software sequencer, but not both of course! I have to go through all this because adjustments to pan, volume, effects all can be achieved with the PX350, but only connected to software capable of editing these settings. The song recorder has no settings to edit any of this internally. The nice aspect to this I'm just discovering, is that because effects and other settings unique to each '"tone" are stored in that tone, when recording a multitrack-each tone is retaining it's own effects settings (so far as i can hear) when played back as long as recording is done with the song recorder. So reverb, chorus, Leslie effect with organs and others (according to the midi spec sheet the PX350 is actually capable of many effects settings not accessible through it's own buttons and menus, something i am still trying to access) are being recorded independently for each track, and not globally. if anyone recording with the PX350 is hearing this differently, let me know as this is hard to measure even with Midiox. I am only going by what I am hearing and this is a very nice feature not described in the manual or elsewhere if i am hearing it correctly. Still experimenting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokeyman123 Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 One correction to above. When recording to software, keep PX350 in song recorder play mode after selecting your tone and track number. Arm only the software record function. I always arm and run record with the song sequencer after I choose my tone and track and before I record my playing just to be sure bank and program changes are saved on that track in the PX, even if I will only be recording with software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokeyman123 Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 Oops, wrong again. I have been able to record a multi-track arrangement using only tone mode-selecting a tone, selecting the midi channel and leaving PX350 local on, software thru off. Since I haven't created a midi map for the PX350-and it does use a variety of bank change messages to access tones not in the GM map, i find it easier to use song recorder to select a tone-this seems to embed the correct bank and tone change message in each track I record with software. In other words, it must be saving and recording the bank and tone messages in the song recorder, and software then records that. Plus-I am using the PX350 USB port/cable, not the DIN ports. And thumb drive removed! I think the prior problems I've had recording midi are due to midi messages getting scrambled for lack of a fast enough CPU and possibly the way Windows 7 allocates midi buffer memory-it may not be allocating enough and since I still do not know how to set that manually or even check this with 7, Windows XP will do. I just recorded four quick multitracks with Windows XP on a Motion LE1600 and an old version of Cakewalk and it worked perfectly. If any computer gurus here can give me a heads up about this, let me know. perhaps a setting in the registry or elsewhere............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabrinaroses Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Hi! I am also having issues with connecting my keyboard to my computer. I'm using a basic USB cord and have gone through all of the typical steps to get this setup, however nothing's working. Since I am new to all of this and don't really understand all of the technical lingo, I called for help. Casio Support told me that my Mac (Version 10.9.5) is too updated for my keyboard. I was floored as I had just purchased this keyboard a couple of weeks ago. Is there a way to fix this without having to get a new computer or piano? Since I am up at college, doing either of those things is beyond inconvenient and I am trying to find a plausible solution ASAP. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Casio model please? Also, Joe Muscara is our resident Mac guru. He might shed some light on this as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 The first thing I would tell a Mac user is to download MIDI Monitor, connect the keyboard, and see if it registers anything. I'm using Mac OS X 10.10 with my PX-5S and it's fine. The PX-350 is class compliant so it should talk to the Mac with no problem nor drivers needed. What are you trying to do with your Mac? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 It should be noted that audio will not pass over usb with Casio keyboards. USB is for midi only. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokeyman123 Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 A computer that's too updated for your keyboard? I've never heard of such a thing. I give this one over to you Joe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 I'm just waiting for sabrinaroses to reply and we'll go from there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 hello, i have tried this cable conversion and got sounds from external sources but it is very very latent and unusable. Connect midi to midi it ok. If you use MIDI-0X u can test the midi in out data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 hello again Having spent more time here, i can now confirm the 350 DOES work with usb midi to midi, AND din midi from the px350 into USB using a bulk standared cheap midi interface ( cable with usb on end and din midi In and OUT at the other.) see http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIDI-to-USB-Interface-Cable-Music-Keyboard-Adapter-Converter-Laptop-Piano-Organ-/400892455746?hash=item5d570d6b42 If you connect the din midi out cable to pxmidi in, and the din midi in cable end to the px midi out, then connect the other end USB to your external kit ie computer or module then ensure you set the buffer to a value of 1024 or higher it works first time. If the buffer is set below 1024 eg 512 or 256 then it fails. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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