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Cable Requirements to Connect a Yamaha MIDI Instrument to a PC or Mac

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There are six basic configurations for connecting a Yamaha MIDI instrument to a PC or Mac computer. Each configuration is described in detail below.
  1. PC MIDI/Joystick Port to Yamaha MIDI Instrument with MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports.

    This is one of the most common cabling configurations. The requirements are as follows:
    1. A Yamaha MIDI instrument equipped with MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports. If the Yamaha MIDI instrument also has a Host Select switch, make sure to set the switch to the 'MIDI' position.
    2. A PC equipped with a 15-pin MIDI/Joystick port. The MIDI/Joystick port is usually located back panel of the PC.
    3. A Yamaha MIDI/Joystick cable, part # TW6MC1. This cable is recommended, but other cables are available. The Yamaha MIDI/Joystick cable can be purchased by calling the Yamaha Parts and Accessories order line at (888) 892-6242 (press '1' when the call is connected), or by visiting a local Yamaha dealer. Click on "Locate a Dealer" at the top of this page to find an authorized dealer in your area.
    4. MIDI/Joystick port driver installed in the PC. This driver is supplied with the sound card or the PC. The most common MIDI/Joystick port drivers are the Roland 'MPU-401' driver and the Soundblaster 'SB MIDI' driver.
    5. Connect the MIDI/Joystck cable.
      1. Connect the 15-pin plug of the MIDI/Joystick cable to the MIDI/Joystick port on the PC.
      2. Connect the DIN plug labelled 'MIDI OUT' to the MIDI IN port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.
      3. Connect the DIN plug labelled 'MIDI IN' to the MIDI OUT port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.

  1. PC Serial Port to a Yamaha MIDI Instrument with a TO HOST Port.

    The requirements are as follows:
    1. A Yamaha MIDI instrument equipped with a 'TO HOST' port. The Host Select switch should be set to the 'PC-2' position.
    2. A PC equipped with a 9-pin serial port (COM port).
      NOTE: This port should not be used by any other device such as a Palm Pilot or Digital Camera.
    3. A Yamaha TO HOST cable, part # CCIBM. This cable can be purchased by calling the Yamaha Parts and Accessories order line at (888) 892-6242 (press '1' when the call is connected), or by visiting a local Yamaha dealer. Click on "Locate a Dealer" at the top of this page to find an authorized dealer in your area.
    4. Connect the TO HOST cable.
      1. Connect the 9-pin (DB-9) plug of the TO HOST cable to the 9-pin serial port (COM port) on the PC.
      2. Connect the MINI-DIN plug of the TO HOST cable to the 'TO HOST' port on the Yamaha MIDI Instrument.

  1. PC Serial Port to Yamaha MIDI Instrument with MIDI IN and MIDI OUT Port Only.

    The requirements are as follows:
    1. A Yamaha MIDI instrument equipped with MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports.
    2. A PC equipped with a 9-pin serial port (COM port).
      NOTE: This port should not be used by any other device such as a Palm Pilot or Digital Camera.
    3. A serial MIDI interface (Purchased separately). The MIDI interface usually includes a serial cable, MIDI interface box and a serial port MIDI driver.
    4. Two standard MIDI cables (Purchased separately). These cables connect the MIDI interface to the Yamaha MIDI instrument. Visit a local Yamaha dealer to purchase a serial MIDI interface and standard MIDI cables. Click on "Locate a Dealer" at the top of this page to find an authorized dealer in your area.
    5. Connect the system.
      1. Connect the 9-pin plug of the serial cable to the 9-pin serial port (COM port) on the PC.
      2. Connect the other end of the serial cable to the MIDI interface.
      3. Connect the DIN plug of the standard MIDI cable to the MIDI OUT port on the MIDI interface and connect the other end of the cable to the MIDI IN port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.
      4. Connect the DIN plug of the standard MIDI cable to the MIDI IN port on the MIDI interface and connect the other end of the cable to the MIDI OUT port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.

  1. Mac Printer Port to Yamaha MIDI Instrument with MIDI IN and MIDI OUT Ports Only.

    The requirements are as follows:
    1. A Yamaha MIDI instrument equipped with MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports.
    2. A Mac computer with a printer port.
    3. A Mac-compatible MIDI interface (Purchased separately). The MIDI interface usually includes a Mac peripheral cable and the MIDI interface box.
    4. Two standard MIDI cables (Purchased separately). These cables connect the Mac MIDI interface to the Yamaha MIDI instrument. Visit a local Yamaha dealer to purchase a Mac MIDI interfaces and standard MIDI cables. Click on "Locate a Dealer" at the top of this page to find an authorized dealer in your area.
    5. Mac MIDI drivers installed and activated on the Mac. The drivers necessary for this configuration are included with the Mac OS (Operating System) or the MIDI interface.
    6. Connect the system.
      1. Connect the MINI-DIN plug of the Mac peripheral cable to printer port of the Mac.
      2. Connect the other end of the cable to the MIDI interface.
      3. Connect the DIN plug of the standard MIDI cable to the MIDI OUT port on the MIDI interface and connect the other end of the cable to the MIDI IN port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.
      4. Connect the DIN plug of the standard MIDI cable to the MIDI IN port on the MIDI interface and connect the other end of the cable to the MIDI OUT port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.

  1. PC/Mac USB Port to Yamaha MIDI Instrument with MIDI IN and OUT Ports.

    The requirements are as follows:
    1. A Yamaha MIDI instrument equipped with MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports.
    2. A PC or Mac computer with a USB port.
    3. A USB MIDI interface (Purchased separately). The USB MIDI interface usually includes a USB cable, the USB MIDI interface, and USB MIDI drivers for PC and MAC. Yamaha currently manufactures the UX256, an 8 port USB MIDI interface (Compatible with Windows 98 or Mac OS 8.5 or higher and OMS 2.3.3 or higher). Click to see the specifications of the UX256.
    4. Two standard MIDI cables (Purchased separately). These cables connect the USB MIDI interface to the Yamaha MIDI instrument. Visit a local Yamaha dealer to purchase a USB MIDI interfaces and standard MIDI cables. Click on "Locate a Dealer" at the top of this page to find an authorized dealer in your area.
    5. Connect the system.
      1. Connect the USB plug of USB cable to the USB port on the PC or Mac.
      2. Connect the other end of the cable to the USB port on the MIDI interface.
      3. Connect the DIN plug of the standard MIDI cable to the MIDI OUT port on the MIDI interface and connect the other end of the cable to the MIDI IN port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.
      4. Connect the DIN plug of the standard MIDI cable to the MIDI IN port on the MIDI interface and connect the other end of the cable to the MIDI OUT port on the Yamaha MIDI instrument.

  1. Mac Printer Port to Yamaha MIDI Instrument with a TO HOST Port.

    The requirements are as follows:
    1. A Yamaha MIDI instrument with a TO HOST port. Make sure that the Host Select switch on the Yamaha MIDI instrument is set to the 'MAC' position.
    2. A Mac computer with a printer port.
    3. A Mac peripheral cable, Yamaha part # MAC CABLE. The MAC CABLE cable can be purchased by calling the Yamaha Parts and Accessories order line at (888) 892-6242 (press '1' when the call is connected) or by visiting a local Yamaha dealer. Click on "Locate a Dealer" at the top of this page to find an authorized dealer in your area.
    4. Connect the cable.
      1. Connect the MINI-DIN plug of the Mac peripheral cable to the printer port on the Mac.
      2. Connect the other end of the cable to the TO HOST port of the Yamaha MIDI instrument.
NOTE: The drivers necessary for this configuration are included in the Mac OS. It will be necessary to enable/activate all MIDI-related extensions using the Extensions Manager in the Mac OS.
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