Instruction Manual

1201

MIDI

Beginner’s Guide to Cakewalk Software

can be a stand-alone module connected to your computer’s parallel, serial,

or USB port; an internal module installed in a slot inside your computer; or

can be part of your sound card (the sound cards that come with most

computers frequently use the joystick port as an input and output for MIDI

data). Your computer sends MIDI messages to your MIDI interface, which

then sends them on to your MIDI instruments. That’s how MIDI software

plays MIDI instruments. A MIDI interface contains inputs and outputs,

labeled MIDI IN and MIDI OUT, which you connect MIDI cables to so you

can send MIDI messages to and from MIDI instruments. MIDI instruments

can be stand-alone synthesizers or can be built into your sound card. Most

inexpensive sound cards have internal synthesizers that can make at least

128 different sounds (if you’re using a synthesizer that’s built into your

sound card, you don’t have to connect that to the sound card, since the

connections are internal to the sound card).

A. Insert this MIIDI IN plug into the MIDI OUT port on your MIDI instrument B. Insert

this MIIDI OUT plug into the MIDI IN port on your MIDI instrument C. Insert this plug

into the joystick port on your sound card

Joystick connector—use this if your MIDI interface is the joystick

port on your sound card.