Windows 7 MIDI output device selection

Anonymous

I am an active musician who has recently made the switch from XP to Windows 7, skipping Vista. I connected my Edirol UM-1, and the drivers installed successfully. The interface works fine within my DAW software, but I also like to have WMP use the UM-1 as the default MIDI output device. When I went to the control panel to make that selection, I discovered that the MIDI device section was missing completely.

There are several threads on this topic in the Vista forums, but I haven't found much discussion about this topic in the Windows 7 forum. The fact that this problem remains from Vista to Windows 7 does not give me much hope that a solution will come from Microsoft.

My questions: Is there a solution to this problem that doesn't involve registry hacks or questionable downloads? And/or has anyone had any success in Windows 7 using registry hacks or software patches.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

Hi again Don well I've found where you are making your mistake! You are not editing the registry in the right place. You must go to the DEFAULT MIDI DEVICE folder or directory. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ActiveMovie\devenum{4EFE2452-168A-11D1-BC76-00C04FB9453B}\Default MidiOut Device

You are going to the directory in the same 4EFE2452-168A-11D1-BC76-00C04FB9453B but you are editing Tascam US122mk2 and the Microsoft Wavetable synth directories DO NOT EDIT THESE FOLDERS. You MUST GO TO THE DEFAULT MIDI DEVICE DIRECTORY! You must also re edit the two device Tascam and MS WAvetable directories back to the original zero for Wavetable and 1 for tascam. Then edit the DEFAULT MIDI DEVICE directory to either zero for onboard or 1 for USB. A simple mistake that's cost you a few folicles ;-) Terry

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Anonymous

Mike,

Its actually all to do with the drivers, not the OS.

I have an Edirol PCM30 keyboard and a Edirol SD20, bioth of which work perfectly under W7 Pro as Edirol has written W7 specific drivers for these products. I can also use the keyboard through a Presonus FS26x26 as it also has W7 specific drivers.

If your midi devicde manufacturer has not written W7 specific drivers then you'll have to try using Vista drivers (install in compatibility mode), but there are no guarantee they work.

UM1 drivers are here :

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=498#

Emu beta drivers are available here (scroll down) :

http://connect.creativelabs.com/emu/default.aspx

Cheers,

jerry

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43 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-02-20T01:37:58+00:00

Hacking HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ActiveMovie\devenum{4EFE2452-168A-11D1-BC76-00C04FB9453B}\Default MidiOut Device doesn't seem to work on my 32 bits W7. On the other hand, I found Putzlowitschs Vista MIDI-Mapper is quite useful in my case:

http://www.sierrahelp.com/Utilities/SoundUtilities/PutzlowitschsVistaMIDI_Mapper.html

Just put the .cpl into your windows system32 directory and open 'Control Panel' should you see an applet that allows one to change current MIDI output device.
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Anonymous

2012-02-20T09:11:12+00:00

Then you haven't done it right! It's a very simple edit. However "IN MY EXPERIENCE" using third party so called utilities that do hack the registry with god knows what usual results in some funny goings on to my operating system within a week. Just google some of the virus's that are attached to these so called add on programs. Any EXE file from an unknow source can be dangerous. My method which has worked on at least 20 different machines simply requires you to edit your registry which Microsoft give you the tool to do. You just need to tell your operating system to use the other USB midi device. The only reason I can think that it doesn't work for you is the operating system is not seeing the device. However if you have installed and third party device and it is working means that can't be the case. I specifically added to this thread because I was fed up with picking up malware and virus's from third party devices. My answer to the problem required you did not add anything from anywhere and it worked for me. So please let's not start a row over this but IN MY EXPERIENCE sending people off to get a third party utility that is not windows certified could spell danger.
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Anonymous

2012-05-20T17:23:26+00:00

This is not good,

MIDI should not be considered "old stuff". This is a very usefull tech, could be upgraded but never overlooked or abandoned by any serious computer platform. It is used by entry level musician, maybe, but overwhelmingly by pros and uber pros of this world : U2, McCartney, Madonna, who else. It is a powerful tool to write serious music. What do people at Microsoft think ? Providing a way to manage your midi tools, default midi output or midi routing is essential, was made in the past correctly.

What is the reason of this big joke, and in particular the fact that it was abandoned without warning. Entering "midi" in the Win 7 help system returns nothing as if it was alien tech ! Wow !

Na, this is not good at all !

Audio routing (using multiple audio devices as input and output) should also be upgraded. Computers have now so much capacities, they would be easily capable of very creative and complex setup and processes that would make professionnal studios of classic days (Abbey Road, Mama jos, LA, Morin Heights, ...) look like toys. Why isn't it more usable for these tasks ?

Hum !
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