D
dan1541
Since you posted this question in the Windows XP section,
I will provide the following:
Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000/Windows Xp do not support the
MPU-401 Interface. The reason that you are getting the
exclaimation marks is that the OS 'sees' these items, but
do not access them, nor will they ever. Microsoft, to my
understanding, never wrote any code in the above OS's to
support these devices. Now, you may be wondering, if I
have a joystick that plugs into the 15 pin port and I have
been using it and now I can't, then you might have to
reinstall the driver for your joystick. The MPU-401
Interface, which is you MIDI Port, by the way, needs
specific software drivers, as well. Problem is, Microsoft
has redirected it OS to use the MIDI Patch within DirectX.
The MIDI Music you play is actually going through the
Roland MIDI Patch utility in DirectX. That is why it
doesn't sound 'tinny' as when you played MIDI through you
FM Modulated Sound Card in the past. The only problem with
the Roland Sound Patch is that it only supports 128 MIDI
Instruments, which is pretty much standard, and not the
newer MIDI standards of over 240 instruments and sound
effects.
Besides, the 15 pin Game/MIDI Port is way to slow, anyway,
and you would probably be happier using USB 2.0 or
Firewire for you joystick input.
I will provide the following:
Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000/Windows Xp do not support the
MPU-401 Interface. The reason that you are getting the
exclaimation marks is that the OS 'sees' these items, but
do not access them, nor will they ever. Microsoft, to my
understanding, never wrote any code in the above OS's to
support these devices. Now, you may be wondering, if I
have a joystick that plugs into the 15 pin port and I have
been using it and now I can't, then you might have to
reinstall the driver for your joystick. The MPU-401
Interface, which is you MIDI Port, by the way, needs
specific software drivers, as well. Problem is, Microsoft
has redirected it OS to use the MIDI Patch within DirectX.
The MIDI Music you play is actually going through the
Roland MIDI Patch utility in DirectX. That is why it
doesn't sound 'tinny' as when you played MIDI through you
FM Modulated Sound Card in the past. The only problem with
the Roland Sound Patch is that it only supports 128 MIDI
Instruments, which is pretty much standard, and not the
newer MIDI standards of over 240 instruments and sound
effects.
Besides, the 15 pin Game/MIDI Port is way to slow, anyway,
and you would probably be happier using USB 2.0 or
Firewire for you joystick input.