Jump to content

I have a Korg Nano Key MIDI controller. How do I use it to play the built-in synth in Windows?

Notes_Norton

By Notes_Norton
in The Coffee House

 Share

Recommended Posts

Notes_Norton

Notes_Norton

Posted
Posted

I have a Korg Nano Key controller. How do I use it to play the built-in synth in Windows?

It's MIDI via USB and I can plug it into Windows, and use it to put input into any MIDI app, and then that app will play it in the Windows software synth. (Win 11)

But I haven't figured out if there is any way to just access that synth without opening another app.

I don't even know if it's possible to directly play that windows synth. 

Anybody have a clue?

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
User 905133

User 905133

Posted
Posted (edited)

If you are talking about the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, I'd try using a utility like MIDI-OX. Not sure if it can be played with some tool within Windows itself.

UPDATE: I just did a quick test--routed my usb keyboard through MIDI-OX to the MS GS Synth on Win 10 Pro and I don't get any sound.  Too much to do today to try to figure out why.  Maybe someone else can help.

Just found this. I'll see if I can make it work this afternoon/evening.

 

Edited by User 905133
added an update; and another
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
User 905133

User 905133

Posted
Posted

I did a quick check in Device Manager and the MS GS Synth seems to be enabled on my PC.  I am not going to take out my PCI card based audio interface to try getting the MS Synth to work. Maybe I'll try on my older Audio PC which uses MoBo Audio.  In the interest of science (and because its for NN).

Link to comment
Share on other sites
orcmid

orcmid

Posted
Posted (edited)
21 hours ago, craigb said:

I've never seen a synth that came with Windows.  Ever.

On my Windows 10 Pro system, it's under Device Manager | Software Devices.  Note the date on the file.  

It's a driver, and not something that can be accessed directly via some sort of MIDI serial stream.   There are articles about it that can be accessed by Internet Search.  I didn't look hard.  The articles are a bit confusing.  The driver is also installed on my Windows 11 Pro laptop, where I have no DAW installed and the Windows 11 is pristine.  It is the same 2006 version too.

F24xy028-2024-12-18-0815-W10-MS-GS-WaveTableSynth.png

Edited by orcmid
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
User 905133

User 905133

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Notes_Norton said:

When I load Band-in-a-Box or a DAW, one of the choices is always the MS Wavetable Synth. 

I'd just like to know how to access that from a MIDI controller. I'm beginning to think it's not possible.

Having done some online research and explored my own PC since you asked about this, I have concluded that either I would need to find some built-in [i.e., Windows] utility/feature or try to write some custom code (which I am not qualified to do with Windows, nor would I want to). 

FWIW, a year or so ago while test coding something for possible use in a personal/custom module within software that uses Java to develop custom modules, I created a button that enumerates and displays all midi ports seen by / accessible to Java (and hence the software synth). ATM it's just a simple button to display what's available, but both Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Windows MIDI_MAPPER] and Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth [Internal Software synthesizer] get reported. 

I have no desire to attempt this, but based on what little I know I suppose it might be theoretically possible to create a hardware device that uses a microprocessor as a sort of Midi Solutions type box to do what you want.  It is however beyond my abilities to even do a proof-of-concept test.

Why do you want to play the MS Wavetable Synth without the use of anything other than what is built-into Windows?  Or are you going in the direction of not even using Windows or a computer? If so, and you have a hardware sampler, perhaps you could figure out how the get the wavetable samples and use those. Again, that's beyond my desire (and probably abilities) to attempt.

Edited by User 905133
added "since you asked about this"
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
User 905133

User 905133

Posted
Posted (edited)

PS: I haven't used this in years when I was playing around with code to process midi data on an Arduino Mega, but maybe The Hairless MIDI to Serial Bridge might fit into a possible solution that would meet your needs.**

Let me add: At the time using an LCD display, two banks of sliders, and some buttons, I was working on a very personalized device to process incoming MIDI and use the assignable / configurable sliders to (a) process the incoming data and/or to (b) generate data (c) to be sent to MIDI devices in real time (on-the-fly data manipulation). 

Since then I have seen a number of places online that market slider-based controllers that as best as I can tell use microprocessors to do part of what I had been working on.

I mention this because if you want to have a device to play the MS GS Wavetable Synth (or something comparable) with a usb controller, I would encourage you to reach out to the developers of those microprocessor controllers. Who knows--maybe there's money to be made!  

**ADDENDUM: I just booted my 2012 version of The Hairless MIDI to Serial Bridge (but without an Arduino connected to my PC), and (1) the MS GS Wavetable Synth shows up as an output device, and (2) my NanoKontrol shows up as an input device.

Maybe it's not beyond my ability to code something with an Arduino to do what you want!  LOL  

Related Discussions in the Cakewalk Forum:

 

 

Edited by User 905133
(2) ADDENDUM added; (1) "Let me add . . . " section added
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Notes_Norton

Notes_Norton

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, User 905133 said:

Why do you want to play the MS Wavetable Synth without the use of anything other than what is built-into Windows? 

Sometimes we have to setup for a gig early. They might be having dinner or something.

I figure I can take the laptop anywhere their Wi-Fi reaches, play some YouTube videos, and play along with the nano keyboard. Mostly for ear training instead of wasting an hour. A few other things. The sound doesn't have to be great, as long as I can hear the notes, and select a patch that is listenable above the streaming music, I'm good.

If no Wi-Fi, I have hundreds of mp3s that I can use if we take a break. Songs I've never learned. I thought I could play one on the Windows Media player, and noodle around on the nano to hear chords or anticipate melody line intervals. Just for ear training, which I feel one can never get too much of.

A MIDI Mapper type app seems like a good idea. 

Edited by Notes_Norton
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...