[Alsa-user] Cannot get ALSA to connect with SB Audigy Front Panel MIDI

[Jason Jones]

I've been writing and recording music in Windows now for about a year and a half (if you want to hear my music - some mp3's can be found at http://www.ldscompanion.com/music/artists/PI/ )... I got completely sick of windows, and switched to Linux, and for about 5 months now, I've been trying to successfully get my computer to see my keyboard through a Sound Blaster Audigy's front-panel MIDI connectors with no luck. I'm just about to go back to windows. Please - if anyone knows where I can find any good info, point me in the right direction. OS - MDK 9.1 Software - MusE .6.0rc5 / ALSA .9.1 Hardware - Roland RS-9 keyboard and SB Audigy Platinum EX. I'm using ALSA .9.1 (comes with Mandrake) and surprisingly, I've got most everything to work fine.  I use a microphone hooked up through the front RCA panels and it receives just fine.  I also have a CD player with an optical cable hooked up to the optical in on the front panel, and it also works fine.  The only thing that doesn't work is the MIDI ports. When I go to the port configuration of MusE (the sofware I would *love* to use to record my midi information), I get an array of ports it detects.  Here's a list of what I remember (I'm not at my computer right now) MPU401-1 MPU401-2 EMUK101-1 EMUK101-2 EMUK101-3 EMUK101-4 I've tried using all of them, but nothing happens at all.  There's a light that says "activity" in MusE (which I assume monitors activity running through the MIDI port currently hooked up) - this light has *never* gone on. I suppose I could try to hook up my keyboard through the game/MIDI interface in the back of my computer, but - I spent a bit of cash on the cabling In/Out so I could use the front panel.  No biggie, I guess - nothing but my pride... :) So, in essence, I've tried everything I know how - and using that knowledge I have successfully got everything to run on the front panel (actually, it all ran out of the box - I just had to figure out the web of faders in the ALSA Mixer) but the MIDI.  That darned MIDI.  If I was a true musician, I wouldn't need it, but - alas - I do, because I'm not :) Thanks for your help...  If you need any additional info, I'll try to get it to ya.  Anything would be appreciated. Jason PS - I've gone through my /dev/ directory and found quite a few different MIDI things in there... I have no idea how to access them / plug them in / whatever...  Would that possibly help me any? I'm so close, I can feel it!  I'm just missing some little thing, I just know it! PPS - I've tried installing the newest alsa .9.5 drivers, and every time I try - I get so fubbed up, ends up with nothing working at all. Maybe I can try again... Thanks again. Jason

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