Jim Cochrane wrote:
> On 2008-05-12, ChiRul <no@tha.nks> wrote:
>> On Mon, 12 May 2008 01:27:41 +0200 (CEST), Jim Cochrane wrote:
>>> ...
>>> Summary of the question: Does the Audigy 2 ZS SB0350 sound card have
>>> a "... MIDI / Joystick port ..." and can it be used, with the right
>>> cable/adapter, for standard MIDI I/O? If so, what cable/adapter is
>>> needed?
>>> ...
>>>
>>> Can anyone tell me if this port is a joystick port, if it can be used
>>> for MIDI i/o, and, if so, how to adapt it for standard MIDI cables?
>>> ...
>> Hello, Jim.
>>
>> Check the "Audigy 2 ZS and Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Users Guide"
>> found here: http://tinyurl.com/yppeo9
>>
>> What you are referring to as the "mostly-rectangular opening
>> ..." is the Firewire port.
>
> Yes, after a little more searching last night, I realized it wasn't the
> joystick port, but hadn't figured out it was a firewire port.
>
>> The 15-pin MIDI / Joystick port
>> *extension header* is on the PCB and is connected to the
>> joystick port (mounted on a second card bracket) via a ribbon
>> cable. See the 'About Your Hardware' section in the Users
>> Guide.
>
> Yes, I see from the diagram in the users guide that the port is on the
> PCB; and looking at the card now, I see 15 pins and next to them, the
> label "joystick".
>
> Now my next dilemna is, not being a hardware guy, how do I adapt this to
> hook up 5-pin MIDI in/out cables? (So that I can, e.g., plug my MIDI
> keyboard into it.) It's now obvious to me that a connector like this:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-JOYSTICK-GAME...ayphotohosting
>
> won't work, since even though the pin count is the same, the layout is
> slightly different.
>
>
> Thanks!
>
The picture of the deactivated item on Newegg, shows an example of the
included ribbon cable and PCI slot bracket with connector for SB0350.
It probably uses the standard pinout (something you can partially
confirm with a multimeter). Click on the pictures for a closeup
(click the picture with the CD disc in it).
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16829102178
I would guess, if the capability existed, you'd see some sign of
it in Device Manager or in some multimedia control panel. (I.e.
the driver would cause it to show up and be named). Even without the
ribbon cable adapter, it should show up as being present in the
computer software.
For another example of the usage of such a 2x8 ribbon cable header (with one
pin missing for keying), see PDF page 51 of this document. This particular
motherboard has a combo bracket, but you can see the part that converts
the ribbon cable header to the 15 pin connector on the PCI slot cover.
http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...010_a7v333.pdf
The Estore only sells in the USA, but you should be able to find that
ribbon cable thing, with 15 pin connector, around somewhere. This one
happens to include a couple USB ports on the same PCI slot cover.
http://estore.asus.com/shop/item.asp...=165&catid=119
Midi.org has examples of what interfaces to the Midi-in and
Midi-out signals. So actually, if you were handy with a soldering
iron, all you really need to do, is connect to four particular pins
of that 2x8 thing on the sound card. +5V, GND, MIDI-IN and
MIDI-OUT and the adapter circuit to the two DIN connectors.
It could be that your Ebay find, has the adapter stuff hidden
inside.
http://www.midi.org/images/midiadap.gif http://www.midi.org/about-midi/electrical.shtml (discusses avoiding ground loops)
HTH,
Paul