MIDI Controllers and Linux

Hello everyone,

I'm considering buying a USB MIDI controllers keyboard for the holidays, and I am new to both Linux and the whole digital recording process. The online store says that the keyboard is compatible with Windows and Mac, both nothing about Linux. Will I encounter any problems using this keyboard hardware wise, and what software will I need to make it work on Linux?

This is the keyboard I'm considering:http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-KeyRig-49-USB-Keyboard?sku=700932

Thanks in advance,

Hi Sauer
I did a little bit of digging and it is possible to use a USB midi keyboard but it could be complicated (or have complications). Here's a link that I found on a Roland G70. http://forum.soft32.com/linux/connect-USB-midi-keyboard-linux-ftopict440280.html

And a link of possible interest http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Comp/comp.music.midi/2005-10/msg00066.html

I would suggest that you check up on what keyboards/MIDI devices are compatible on your linux distributions forum before you buy any thing. This bit of advice would apply to any device that you would be thinking of buying with linux in mind.

Yikes sounds complicated... between learning how to use MIDI controllers effectively and getting over the Linux hurdles, I don't know if its worth it...

Has anyone had experience with this kind of thing?

This mentions one or two things about Linux and MIDI :

http://www.linux-sound.org/one-page.html

I have an M-Audio keyboard which should apparently work on Linux, although I have not tried it yet.

Tho I raise my hand and admit completing the portmidi wrapper for BlitzMax (cross-platform, no less), Nigel Brown did most of the base work on it, and I believe has a little bit of experience with Linux and MIDI. So you may be able to fire off a mail to him if he isn't lurking around these parts.

HTH

The one I'm considering buying is an M-Audio, but it says nothing about being compatible with Linux.

Thanks for the link though, I'll continue to investigate.

I think you can use the MIDI port if there is no driver for Linux.

Here's one that works in Linux:
http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product/EMu-Xboard-25-USBMIDI-Controller?sku=706283
Edit: the 49 keys version also works in Linux see here:
http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product/EMu-Xboard-49-USBMIDI-Controller?sku=706284

Hey thanks markcw, but it looks rather complicated... how many programs/drivers would I have to install to get it to work, and specifically, which ones?

I might try plugging my keyboard into Linux tomorrow and see what happens.
From what I've read, assuming I have JACK (kernel driver) and perhaps RoseGarden (an app) installed, it should "all just work".

I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Yeah JACK and RoseGarden are two names I keep hearing, but if you could give it a try and let me know I'd really appreciate it.

Installed JACK and RoseGarden (and all the other dependencies required, using the package manager).

Ran the JACK control console, and started the server.
Turned on the keyboard, and it showed up in the devices list. :-)
Ran RoseGarden, fiddled with it a bit until I got the keyboard playing sounds via the app (well, if I'd read the manual I probably could have skipped the "fiddled" step) - mostly a case of telling RoseGarden to use the keyboard as an input device.

Working well here. ;-)

Ok cool, well then when I get mine now I can use you as a reference. Sorry :)

Thanks for trying it out, I'll be back if I have any issues!