34: MIDI input - how to set up

The Sibelius 6, 5, 4 & 3 User Guides gives extensive instructions for setting up MIDI hardware on both Windows and Mac. If you do not yet have Sibelius 6, get an upgrade.

On Windows, it's generally possible to connect your external MIDI devices to your computer through the gameport (joystick port). To do this, you will need a "gameport to MIDI" cable, available from most computer shops.

The soundcards in some computers do not support MIDI input through the joystick port. In these cases, you can either change your soundcard, or buy a MIDI adaptor, from a manufacturer like M-Audio that plugs into another port on your computer, generally either a serial port or a USB port.

On Mac, you will need either a MIDI adaptor or audio interface with MIDI inputs to attach external devices. Again, M-Audio manufacture suitable hardware.

On Mac OS9 (Sibelius 3 and earlier) you will also need to install OMS or FreeMIDI to get external MIDI playback - see Help Center article A204 for further details.