Customer Reviews

M-Audio USB Midisport Uno MIDI Interface

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(38)

 

 

This is a good adapter for home use. Having been a roadie, I can pretty confidently say the Midisport Uno's build quality isn't roadworthy -- the attached MIDI cables are about as thin as the RCA cables that come with most home audio equipment, nowhere near as tough as patch cords for a stage rig. But the average home user, who's not plugging and unplugging in a hurry and stepping on the equipment and such, should have no worries. I have one, and it works fine.

A note about appearance: My Uno's body (the oval part, smaller than an average computer mouse) is a deep translucent blue, rather than the opaque color in the current photo here on Amazon. Also, the cables are all one color, black, though the IN and OUT plugs are clearly labeled in molded lettering. There are three green LEDs: one that lights up when the computer recognizes the adapter, one for MIDI in signals, and one for MIDI out -- handy for troubleshooting.

I bought the Uno to connect my Roland alphaJuno-2 to my PowerBook and play with GarageBand. I took it out of the packaging (a rare treat: a molded clamshell-type plastic package that isn't heat-sealed, so it doesn't have to be cut to shreds to open) and hooked it up, and nothing happened. I initially thought that Mac OS X would recognize it automatically, so it took me a few minutes to realize I needed to install the driver software. Although there are drivers on the included CD-ROM, I downloaded the latest version from the manufacturer's web site, installed, and the Uno instantly lit up and GarageBand informed me (because I already had the Roland powered up) that a MIDI device was now connected. It's worked flawlessly since.

Simple to use; no extra cables to attach -- I think this is the perfect USB MIDI adapter for GarageBand users or anyone else connecting one MIDI keyboard to a computer at home.

I bought the Midisport Uno a few days ago in hopes that it would replace my 15-pin midi connection I have in the back of my computer (with which I have had no problems, I was just trying to free up the PCI slot it was occupying). Anyway, I have since tested it with two different keyboards, a Yamaha PSR-273 and a Casio CTK-471.

#1) My main concern was that there would be latency issues. This was not the case at all. Rather, I never experienced a single problem with latency.

#2) It worked flawlessly with the Casio keyboard, I couldn't have been more satisfied with it in that respect.

#3) It worked horribly with my Yamaha PSR-273. Imagine using it underwater, or after bashing it with a hammer. Completely inoperable with this keyboard.

I called M-Audio's tech support line, and they quickly admitted that the device doesn't work with Yamaha PSR keyboards. He also mentioned that they don't work with another Yamaha model line (other than PSR), but he claimed not to be sure as to which one. He suggested I buy a Midisport 1x1 as it has none of the known compatibility issues that the Uno has, but I have yet to test it.

Bottom line: If you're not using a Yamaha keyboard, you shouldn't have any problems. If you ARE using a Yamaha keyboard, it's very likely the Uno isn't going to work for you (100% likely if it's a PSR). If you are willing to use a PCI-slot-based piece of hardware, I suggest a cheap soundcard with a joystick (15-pin) port in conjunction with this set of cables: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008VF52/sr=8-4/qid=1149323626/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-2313201-5844738?%5Fencoding=UTF8

If you're using a Yamaha keyboard but you still want to connect via USB, you apparently have to get the Midisport 1x1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006I5HD/ref=sr_11_1/104-2313201-5844738?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=11091801

Hope this helps.

I have a 12" mac powerbook running os 10.3 panther, and a kurzweil midi keyboard. After I installed the driver from m-audio the keyboard was recognized by GarageBand (iLife '04) and I was recording midi on my computer within minutes!

I finally got my Uno to work with my Yamaha keyboard. Yes that's right, I have a Yamaha keyboard (YPT-200). Here's how I did it:
I installed the drivers before I plugged in the USB device. Strangely, the Uno was not using M-Audio drivers even though the hardware wizard looked like it figured everything out correctly. I checked Device Manager to see if the drivers were installed correctly (they were not). To get into Device Manager:
1. I right-clicked on My Computer, then clicked on Properties
2. Clicked on the Hardware tab
3. Clicked on the Device Manager button
4. Clicked on the plus (+) sign next to Sound, video and game controllers.
5. Double-clicked on "USB Audio Device" (if you have M-Audio USB Uno Driver in the list, don't go any further. Your drivers are fine though you may want to update them. As of 3/3/07 it is version 4.2.0)
6. Clicked on the Driver tab, then clicked on the Update Driver button.
7. Clicked on the "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)" radio button, then clicked Next
8. Clicked on "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install." radio button, then Next
9. The M-Audio USB Uno MIDI Driver should be in the compatible hardware list. You will have to select it, otherwise it will use Microsoft's generic drivers. Click Next.
10. You will get a scary message about "The software you are installing ... has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP... yada, yada... Just click "Continue Anyway."
11. If all goes right your "USB Audio Device" will change to "M-Audio USB Uno Driver" or "Audio USB Uno MIDI Driver" or both.

Yes, I got it to work, but for M-Audio to have me go through these steps is unconscionable. The drivers should install without fuss. This is not a true "Plug and Play" device... not even a "Plug and Pray" device. It's just stupid. Giving 2 stars is generous. For those who gave 4 or 5 stars... maybe you have a Mac... or maybe you just live right, but this is not a great product. Even though it now works, there are some latency problems (press a piano key... hear the sound a couple of miliseconds later), and it sounds a bit muddy. I can live with that (muddy sound & latency issues), but a bad install experience does not make me want to purchase an M-Audio product in the future.
Cheers!

5/12/08 (I've been wanting to update for awhile... I just got around to it now)
After I got the Uno Midi to work and played around on the piano keyboard, I turned it off and when I returned to the application that I use the Midi in again, it was back to the Microsoft Midi drivers... dang! Okay, I can drudge though setting up drivers once, but everytime I turn off the keyboard or unplug the USB? Too much work. So I purchased the E-MU Xmidi 1X1 USB MIDI interface, and it worked straight out of the box. Perhaps needless to say I have not used the Midisport Uno again.

Good luck with your usage.

First off, i plugged this into my macbook pro using a microKorg and it worked seemless on Logic Mainstage......

until i started hearing noises i shouldnt be hearing. oh by the way, it has problems with sustain. this excerpt comes straight from M-audio website:
Note: M-Audio has identified a defect in a manufacturing run of its popular MIDISPORT UNO 1x1 MIDI interfaces. The defect affects only the MIDI input and causes the MIDISPORT Uno to distort incoming MIDI data resulting in random notes, inaccurate note on/off messages, as well as pitch bend.

The following Serial Number range of USB MIDISPORT Uno's is affected:

From: S/N 31805709001 To: S/N 45805704080

The important Numbers to reference are the first 3 digits. The third digit MUST be an eight. So we're looking for numbers 318, 328, 338, 348, 358 etc up to 458. What are the FIRST 3 digits of your SN?

Please check for the Serial Number located on the bottom of the shell pack, next to the Bar Code; or if the packaging has been discarded the Serial Number is also located on the bottom of the actual UNO device.

If you have identified a Serial Number within this range of MIDISPORT UNO product please contact your dealer or the original place of purchase to return the device. M-Audio has requested that dealers extend their return policy to any customer who has purchased a defective product within this Serial Number range

Please note that until recently, MIDISPORT Uno's did not have Serial Numbers. If your MIDISPORT Uno does not have a Serial Number, or if your Serial Number is outside of the range listed above, your unit is not affected by this defect.

I did setup this adapter on a Windows XP laptop for my daughter.
She is using it with Piano Suite Premiere software and a Clavinova piano.
Excellent compatibility.

I wrote a review of this earlier that I have since deleted, because it gave too many stars. I've found that a problem I had inputting notes into my computer was apparently not a problem with my keyboard, but with this interface.

I couldn't get this to work with my Yamaha PSR-275 keyboard, and I couldn't get any support. I tried to connect the keyboard to my PC (which has an Athlon 64, 1 GB RAM, etc.; there's nothing wrong with the computer) so I could play into PrintMusic 2006 notation software. Using MIDI ExpLab, I could output to my keyboard, but when I inputted from the keyboard to the computer, the computer only picked up what I was playing in little bits several seconds apart. Same thing in PrintMusic 2006. I couldn't figure out if it's the product, or something else. I borrowed a Yamaha Clavinova, and the interface cables worked fine with that keyboard, leading me to think the interface works fine and that my PSR keyboard was the problem. But then I found an online forum where someone said M-Audio admitted this does not work with all Yamaha keyboards. Note that XP users probably shouldn't install any drivers (there is a CD included); that isn't made clear in the very sparse product insert, but the company's web site says XP should just recognize it. The company apparently hasn't obtained an XP compatable logo from Microsoft, but they swear it works on XP, and it seems to. Eventually I returned this and got the Yamaha UX16 interface, installed the latest drivers from Yamaha's online site (which, strangely, don't always seem to "stick" to my computer), and my keyboard sends notes to the computer correctly. That seems to prove that the M-Audio Midisport Uno interface was the problem. This interface works with some keyboards, but not others. If you get it, save the packaging in case you need to return it (it is very nice packaging in that it just pops open instead of forcing you to rip it apart).

I'm using a laptop (Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo D 8830, P4 3.06 GHz) and naturally it doesn't have a MIDI-port. However, I wanted to be able to play music with my external Casio keyboard and record it using the Propellerhead's Reason 2.0 software, so I bought this cute little thing.

I had read some reviews of it and most of them were very positive, but some people had had some very annoying latency, for which some of them accused the drivers or the device itself. I decided to go for it anyway, and indeed I haven't had any problems at all. The latency is practically zero so I can put my half-done song playing and record new melodies in it by playing the keyboard in real time. Also when I play chords and in general many notes at once with both hands, the simultaneously pressed notes come out at the same time and sound like they are supposed to.

All in all, if you're looking for a simple way to play melodies etc. with your external MIDI keyboard, this little device is definitely worth buying.

As others have experienced, I too was unable to get this to work with my keyboard, a Yamaha PSR-292. I am pretty computer savvy. I returned it and purchased another brand (an emagic mt4...which is discontinued so the price was good) and it works flawlessly, so it is not my computer or keyboard that was the problem. It was the Midisport Uno.

The Uno's MIDI input did not work with my Roland A-37 MIDI controller keyboard, even after downloading the latest drivers. Using Cakewalk (Home Studio 4 running on a Compaq V2000 laptop) to record and view the individual MIDI events, I could see that some of the note-off messages had been improperly decoded by the Uno as note C-zero. This caused those notes to ring indefinitely and caused an ultra-low note to sound... very unpleasant and obviously unusable.

The MIDI output did work fine driving my Roland Fantom XR and Roland JV-1010 with no problems.

After reading another Uno & A-37 user's identical problem (on Amazon), I returned the Uno and purchased an Edirol(Roland) UA-25 audio/MIDI interface. It works perfectly with all of my equipment including the A-37.