Setting up M-Audio USB MIDI devices

Getting M-Audio USB MIDI working with Linux is a pretty easy process, thanks to Clemens Ladisch's wonderful firmware loaders. The instructions included in the README are clear and complete; most of what's on this page duplicates what you'll find there.

The only (minor) hassle is that, for leagal reasons, the firmware can't be distributed with the loader. This means that you need access to a Windows computer, as you need to extract the Windows version of the driver, then transfer it to your Linux box.

There's a list of supported devices at the end of this document. Please add any info you can.

Get the software

This document applies only to the firmware loader version 0.5. I haven't been able to bet the new version (1.0) working with DeMuDi, although it looks great.

On your Linux computer:

Download and unpack the firmware loader. The main page is at http://usb-midi-fw.sourceforge.net/, but that links to version 1.0. You can get 0.5 from the sourceforge project page: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=87777
The README's really good - you probably don't need this page anymore...

On your Windows computer:

Download the driver for your device from the M-Audio site: http://www.m-audio.com/

Installation

Still on Windows:

Run the installer, but hit "Cancel" when a dialog with a picture of the device appears. At this point, the files you need have been unpacked, but nothing's been installed.

Important: In Windows Explorer, under Tools/Folder Options... in the View tab, "Show hidden files and folders" must be checked.

Go find the ".SYS" file for your device. From the README:

• USB Uno/MidiSport 1x1: USB11LDR.SYS
• MidiSport 2x2: USB22LDR.SYS
• MidiSport 4x4: USB44LDR.SYS
• MidiSport 8x8: USB88LDR.SYS
• Keystation/Oxygen/Radium: UKS11LDR.SYS

This file will have been unpacked into the Windows temp directory. Look for C:/temp, C:/Windows/temp, etc., or do a search.

Back to Linux

Transfer this file to your Linux box; put it in the firmware loader's directory.
In a terminal, from the firmware loader's directory, as root:

make install

At this point, it should be as simple as plugging in the device. If you have qjackctl running, it should appear as a MIDI device.

Supported Devices

According to the Sourceforge page, there's support for the following MidiSport devices:

• MidiSport 1x1
• MidiSport 2x2
• MidiSport 4x4
• MidiSport 8x8
• KeyStation (old models: 49, 61)
• Oxygen
• Radium49/61
• Uno

Also, using a different loader:

• Sonica
• Ozone
• MobilePre USB
• Transit

And some work out of the box:

• KeyStation 49e
• KeyStation 61es
• KeyStation Pro 88
• MidiSport 2x4

I've had great luck with the Uno, Radium 61 and MidiSport 1x1, and have just read of somebody getting the Oxygen working without any trouble. Please add any further info you can.