Music Quest MQX-32M question

[ratfink]

Hi
I wondered if somebody would be kind enough to tell me - do these cards need any kind of special cable or breakout box to attach something like an MT32, or just the "usual" MIDI-keyboard-to-soundcard-joystick-port cable?

[Mau1wurf1977]

I don't think it uses a breakout box. But it also doesn't use the typical midi ports either.

It looks like a 9 pin port (just like the serial). My Midiman has the same thing.

In general it's nice to get the cable with the card. Worst case you can solder your own cable!

[ratfink]

Ok, I did some googling and think I've found the pinouts:

http://www.audiobanter.com/archive/index.php/t-75092.html

If I manage to connect things wrongly, could anything get damaged...?  I mean if I do the cable wrongly; just trying to weigh up the risks in doing it myself  .

[Mau1wurf1977]

Should be fine. It's just a few wires, nothing fancy...

[ratfink]

Hmm.  Just been reading about someone wiring up a keyboard wrongly and blowing a component on the mainboard.    Could that happen with MIDI connections I wonder?

[Alistair]

I would assume (off the top of my head!) that MIDI connectors don't involve power and therefore that you could not blow anything by having a MIDI wire/port setup wrongly done. I didn't think the MIDI specs involved power, however I'm not totally sure. Cloudschatze, thoughts?

I would guess that the person you read about did something involving the electric wiring, and shorted the connection.

At the end of the day, how much is this thing worth? Cost/benefit (or risk/reward if you prefer) sort of analysis.

[ratfink]

In terms of what it's worth, it saves me trying to get one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300576810585