Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

Hello,
I am new to MIDI and the such and have one question:
I recently purchased a Roland MKB-200 MIDI Keyboard Controller off of eBay. The keyboard has 3 MIDI OUTs, but no MIDI INs or THRUs. After searching on Google, it has become apparent that I need a controller with at least 1 MIDI IN in order to connect it via USB to my computer? Or is this not possible, and I can only connect to rackmount/desktop sound modules?
Again, I am new to this, so i'm not sure as to how it all works...
Thanks!

midi out send control messages

since the board is just a controller, it doesnt need to receive any midi messages.

you will be fine with what you got, you just need to purchase a usb midi interface.

i would recommend a simple 1x1 like the m audio midisport uno, and then you will be able to work with your computer

The MKB-200 came out over a decade before USB. A MIDI controller is exactly what the word is, be it a keyboard, guitar, drum pad, wind instrument, etc, to "control" other MIDI instruments. The reason why there is no MIDI IN, is that there is no sound souce - nothing to receive the MIDI information.

To hook it up to your computer, jut purchase a USB MIDI interface and run one of the MKB's MIDI OUTs to the MIDI IN on the USB interface. The MIDI OUT of the USB interface is then connected to the MIDI IN of your sound source (synthesizer, drum machine, FX unit, etc) and then you can "daisy chain" other MIDI units by connecting the MIDI THRU of the 1st unit to the MIDI IN of the next unit and so on. It's typically not wise to chain more than 3 units and is a good idea to get a MIDI THRU box or MIDI Patchbay for more coplicated systems.

Hope this helps.
Z